Ludhiana, September 4
Incessant rain that lashed the city last night disrupted power supply in many localities with the people in the affected areas having to go without power for five to eight hours.

A waterlogged street at Police Lines in Ludhiana. Tribune photo: Himanshu Mahajan

Officials of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) claimed that supply in most parts of the city was restored by 7 am and in some other areas by 9 am and a few of the line faults and non-functional transformers were still in the process of being rectified.

As the rain, accompanied by high velocity winds hit the city 10.30 pm in the city, many feeders broke down, and as intermittent rain continued, more feeders developed snags.

Rachpal Singh, Chief Engineer, Central Zone, PSPCL, said some 85 feeders in different parts of the city out of the 550 feeders were affected due to rain and mild storm. “Our technical staff remained on the job to restore power supply all through the night and by morning (between 7 to 9 am most of the affected feeders were made operational,” he said.

Braving the rain: A woman ferries her children home on a scooter as it rains in Ludhiana on Thursday. Tribune photo: Himanshu Mahajan

The PSPCL officials said uprooted trees in many localities, especially those alongside the Sidhwan Canal, made the task of restoration of power supply difficult as at many places, LT or PVC cables had been snapped and the repair work could not be undertaken before the day break.

As residents in the areas where power supply had been disrupted woke up to a “powerless” day, their normal routine was thrown out of gear as scheduled water supply in the morning was also hit.

Several residents from Sarabha Nagar, BRS Nagar, Dugri, Model Town and Haibowal said that by the time the power supply was restored, the scheduled time for water supply in the morning was over and they had to go without water for the entire day.

Another brief spell of rain in the afternoon today led to a snag in the grid sub-station on Old GT Road, which once again led to power failure for four hours. A few localities in Civil Lines, fed from the sub-station, remained without power till late evening when the snag was rectified and normal supply restored to the affected areas.

Ludhiana, September 4
The Municipal Corporation authorities cited intermittent rain and shortage of police force as the main reasons for the cancellation of the demolition drive, which was scheduled to be conducted here today. The next date of demolition drive has not yet been decided though the hearing of the encroachment-related case in the High Court is scheduled for September 9.

Pradeep Aggarwal, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, said that since it was raining since morning today, the officials did not want to take any risk while demolishing illegal structures. The safety of residents was more important. Besides, there was also a shortage of police staff. Keeping in mind the previous incidents the MC had asked for more police force, said Aggarwal.

The drive was cancelled, yet the MC officials, employees, workers and policemen, earthmoving machines, other vehicles of the corporation had gathered at Civil Lines at 10 am. A meeting of officials was also held to discuss the line of action, but it began raining and there was no sufficient police force to conduct the “massive” drive.An employee with the municipal corporationon on condition of anonymity said that “lunch” for about 500 persons had been ordered by the corporation and an advance was also paid. “We were all ready, waiting for the orders. But at the last moment, we were told that the drive will not be conducted today”, said the employee.

The drive was to be reportedly conducted in “controversial” areas, including the Sem Nullah. Earlier too, the MC authorities had gone to Sem Nullah for removal of encroachments but due to political interference, the drive was not carried out.

Ludhiana, September 4
Under the directions of HS Sohi, Director, Income Tax (Investigation), Punjab, the department conducted a raid on the premises of Longowalia Yarn Group in Nalagarh (HP), Panchkula, Doraha and Payal today. The raid was conducted under the supervision of Sanjiv Kaushal, Joint Director, Income Tax (Investigation).

According to available information, the Income Tax Department teams started the raids at 8 am, simultaneously at all the four business premises of the group. The owners of the group were reportedly getting tax exemption from the Himachal Pradesh Government and the manufacturing of the yarn was being done here.

Simultaneous raids were conducted at their sister-concern A.V.Agro Spintex. All the six lockers of the company owners have been seized by the department officials while the raids were going on at all the four business premises and four residences of the group till the filing of the report.

Ludhiana, September 4
A foster father has been booked for attempting to rape the girl from the first marriage.

This is the second such case in the past one week. Earlier, the city police had booked a foster father for sedating the family and raping with his step daughter.

The accused has been identified as Karan, alias Raj Kishore. The case has been register on the complaint of the victim’s mother.

In her complaint, she stated to the police that she got married nearly 14 years ago and had two children from the first marriage.

However, the marriage did not materialise and the couple got separated. Nearly eight years ago, the victim’s mother got married to Karan of Vishal Vihar on the Tibba Road.

The victim’s mother has three children from the second marriage. She told the police that on September 2 she spotted Karan trying to rape her elder daughter from the first marriage.

She raised alarm following which Karan fled the spot. Yesterday, she reported the matter to the police.

The Jodhewal Basti police today registered a case and started investigations.

Ludhiana, September 4
The activists of Democratic Teachers Front (DTF) and other teachers union staged protest and gave memorandum to District Education Officials against the broadcasting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech on Teachers’ Day. The union leaders stated that it is unconstitutional to impose political ideology on school students.

Hardev Singh Mullanpur, president, DTF, said teachers work on minimal salaries in the country. The students don’t have basic facilities but Narendra Modi is increasing the burden. We oppose the move of government to hijack the Teacher’s Day for their political motive.”

Sarav Shiksha Abhiyan and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan Teachers Union also gave call to its cadre to observe the Teachers’ Day by wearing black badges. Amandeep Singh, Sarav Shiksha Abhiyan and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan Teachers’ Union stated that they oppose the orders of department to listen the PM Modi’s speech in schools.

“The government did not fulfill our demands so we will observe the Teachers’ Day wearing black badges,” he added.

Ludhiana, September 4
Despite all odds, Vikas Kumar, 32-year-old physically challenged person has been serving as teacher at Government Senior Secondary School, Sarabha. Though in childhood days, studying in school was a major challenge for Vikas but with the dedication and help of parents and teachers he was able to overcome all hurdles.

Vikas has been working as vocational master of Export Import and Documentation since July 2011. Government offers this subject in 3 schools of all the districts.

Vikas Kumar, a resident of Chander Nagar, has polio and his spinal cord and legs do not work properly. He uses wheel chair to move.

Speaking about his struggle, he said,“Schooling was one of the biggest challenges in my life. It was a tough time to reach school and study there. But I never gave up.”

“I wanted to be a teacher to serve the nation. I applied for vocational master in Export Import and Documentation in 2011 and got the job. Teaching in a school is a great experience. My disability never becomes a hurdle for me while teaching in school. Principal Baldev Singh Jodhan always motivates me and makes my journey easy,” said Vikas.

“I work hard and teach the students by adopting new techniques. I feel proud when all the students pass in board examination with good marks,” he added.

Jagraon, September 4
The removal of 31 sewermen and 15 pump operators working on a contractual basis for the Jagraon Municipal Council has not gone well with them. The contractual sewer men and pump operators fired by the Municipal Council have threatened to hold massive protests in the coming days if the decision was not rolled back in near future.

In fact, these sewermen and pump operators had been working on a contractual basis for the local Municipal Council for the past many years. But now the state government has handed over their work to the Water Supply Board following which these sewermen and pump operators have been fired by the Municipal Council.

According to the sewermen and pump operators, they had been performing their duties with utmost dedication but now the Municipal Council had ended their services without issuing any prior notice to them.

“A few months ago, we had appealed the state government to not to hand over the work of sewermen and pump operators to the Water Supply Board or any private company, but the government paid no attention towards our demand. Following the decision by the state government to hand over our work to the Water Supply Board, we have been on the brink of starvation,” said Bhola Nath, a sewerman.

A delegation of these sewermen and pump operators today handed over a memorandum to Jagraon MLA SR Kaler and requested him to intervene into the matter to save their jobs. The MLA assured them that he would take up the issue with the state government. The union members have also demanded to regularise the services of sewermen and pump operators who have been working on a contractual basis for the past several years and end the contract system.

Annoyed over the decision of shifting the work of sewermen and pump operators to the Water Supply Board, members of the Jagraon Sewermen and Pump Operators Union have threatened to hold massive protests against the state government if the government fails to roll back its decision of handing over their work to the Punjab Water Supply Board.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, September 4
Even though huge money will be spend during forthcoming Chhapar Mela, commencing on Sunday, the government will be earning negligible revenue from the mega event.

Barring nominal fee and charges for issuing permits to certain categories of venders, the state or union government has not been reported to have collected taxes to be levied on transactions taking place at the Chhapar Mela every year.

In absence of checks and regulations by the authorities concerned, the rights of consumers had always remained at stake at the largest rural fair of the region.

Owing to lack of proper checking by officials of departments concerned, owners and managers of various vends and stalls fix and charge rates arbitrarily. Majority of them exploit the situation and make huge profits, with the government making no proper arrangements to check the quality and the quantity of eatables and other items sold during the Chhapar Mela.

Contrary to provisions of the Weights and Measurement Act and the Consumer Protection Act, a majority of the vendors do not get their weights and equipment checked. Crude scales and weights made of stones and iron cubes are no exception at the fair.

The authorities do not even bother to ask the vendors to display prices of various commodities.

Observations revealed that the government treasury has also been failing to earn much in the form of taxes, while the organisers have been making huge gains at the expense of the visitors.

Social and constitutional bodies, renting land to vendors have also been evading taxes. Over a million devotees are expected to visit the fair in case the weather remains favourable. The temple authorities, owners of the land surrounding the Guga Mari, and the organisers of fun rides and vends expect booming business this year too.

Although sale tax officials generally do not allow shopkeepers to sell anything without proper billing, the procedures have been going for a ride at the fair where business in crores of rupees is transacted every year. None of the consumers have ever received bills for goods or services availed by them. Even in the case of entertainment tax, no proper records are normally maintained.

Though the state government spends a lot in organising the event every year, negligible revenue is earned from the largely attended fair. Hundreds of vendors, fun game organisers and cattle traders do brisk business during the fair, but there’s a little that comes as fee or taxes to the treasury.

Ludhiana, September 4
Ludhiana city witnessed a change in the weather this week. It has been raining intermittently since Monday. The city received 42.6 mm rainfall today.

According to the report of the School of Climate Change and Agricultural Meteorology, Punjab Agricultural University, the weather is expected to remain cloudy with possibility of moderate to heavy rainfall at many places over Ludhiana and its adjoining areas in the next 24 hours.

Though the rain has disrupted normal life, the weather has become pleasant. Today, the maximum temperature remained 29 degree Celsius, while the minimum temperature remained 24 degree Celsius.

However, the relative humidity of morning and evening remained 92 per cent.

Dr LK Dhaliwal, director of the School of Climate Change and Agricultural Meteorology, Punjab Agricultural University, said: “The rain is good for paddy and fodder crop.”

The rainfall has resulted in a decrease in the temperature by 4-5 degree Celsius.

Ludhiana, September 4
A telephone exchange of Bhartiya Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), situated at 1134 8, B, Gobind Colony, Jamalpur, near gurdwara, was sealed by the Building Branch Zone B of the Municipal Corporation here today. The exchange was being run without fire safety and building norms in the area.

As per available information, the officials from the Zone B of the MC went and sealed the telephone exchange. The building in which the exchange was being run, was not given a no-objection certificate of by the Fire Department for fire safety. Besides, as per the National Building Code, no fire extinguishers were installed in the entire building. Apart from that, the building was a “residential” complex with a height of 20 feet from where the exchange was being operated.

The building was located in the congested areas with narrow streets and was surrounded by residential buildings. The electricity wires were hanging low in the streets, which could prove fatal. Besides, in case of any emergency, no fire tender could reach near the building due to narrow streets. A formal complaint had also been lodged against the exchange by the Fire Department through letter number 1718/F.B/D on October 8, 2013.

Prior to the letter written to the Director, Local Government, Punjab, by the Fire Officer, Fire Brigade, Ludhiana, a complaint was made against the the exchange authorities by an RTI Activist, Rohit Sabharwal.

Ludhiana, September 4
It appears that the state government's initiative of protecting girl child is just an eyewash. Schemes only exist on paper as things remained unchanged down the ladder.

The rescuing of a 13-year-girl, who was dumped by the kidnapper in Ludhiana four years ago (when she was nine-year-old), has been a classic case of departmental red tape.

The lackadaisical attitude of the police could be gauged from the fact that it has been nearly a week since the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) had issued orders to shift the girl to Government Children's Home in Jalandhar, but the policemen are not cooperating with the administration in rescuing the girl.

Despite being duty-bound to rescue the girl as soon as possible under the Protection of Child from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), the policemen are showing reluctance in rescuing the girl and not conducting the medical test of the girl from the Civil Hospital.

In the meantime, she has been again forced to work as a child labourer at a factory unit.

While lambasting the police, veteran politician Sham Singh Harika said: “Unfortunately, it was happening in the same state where Deputy Chief Minister's wife and Union Minister for Food Processing and Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal is running the Nanhi Chhaan Foundation that is fighting against the adverse gender ration. We have a woman Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP). At least, she should take a note of the matter.”

It is learnt that Child Protection Officer Shilpa visited the police station on two occasions (Monday and today) for seeking police help in rescuing the girl but the policemen appeared to be too busy.

“We cannot take the child and sent her to Government Children Home at Jalandhar without getting her medical examination done. The police will make the record of all formalities. Only then, we can take the child,” said Shilpa.

Social activist Sukhbir Singh Sekhon said the girl was currently in the custody of her guardian, Jaspal, who has been looking after her for the past four years.

Sekhon said ever since the matter was highlighted in the media, Jaspal and his other family members were fearing police action. They have allegedly thrashed the girl for driving them into trouble.

The girl was married to a construction labourer, Shiv Kumar, in July this year. She was then taken to Gonda in Uttar Pradesh.

Her guardian, Jaspal, brought her back to the city after she was allegedly thrashed by Shiv Kumar.

The girl was made to work as a child labourer as the boy’s family started pressing Jaspal to return the money spent on the wedding. She recently met her schoolteacher, Manjit Kaur, and narrated her ordeal.

Manjit Kaur further reported the matter to Sukhdhir Singh Sekhon, president of the Nav Chetna Bal Bhalai Committee, an NGO working against child labour, who highlighted the issue.

Ludhiana, September 4
Bringing about a sea change in its traditional role of a regulatory authority, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) is all set to become an industrial-friendly body in order to give effect to an innovative “green governance programme” to address the chronic problem of conventional waste treatment methods, which are not yielding desired results.

Outlining the new approach for better management of wastewater, PPCB chairman Ravinder Singh said in a press conference here today that having been declared as notified areas by the Central Ground Water Authority for the registration of groundwater abstraction and critically polluted area by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Ludhiana was prioritised for the launch of this programme.

He said the city abounds in dyeing and electroplating units that drew millions of litres of water daily from underground strata, unaware of its serious implications.

The PPCB chairman said several meetings were held with members of the industry in order to effectively implement the wastewater minimisation programme. As a follow-up measure, a green governance cell was established in the city in June 2013 with the appointment of a dedicated environmental engineer for this purpose.

He said a survey conducted in the dyeing and printing industry here had revealed that 25 per cent to 30 per cent of water saving could be achieved easily by simple water conservation measures with meagre investments and handsome paybacks.

“The measures include good housekeeping, little process modifications, better engineering practices and reuse of good quality waste streams like indirect cooling water and steam condensate etc,” he said.

Ravinder Singh said the initial results of efforts made by the green governance cell had indicated that about 130 lakh litres (13 million litres) of water began to be conserved daily, which was about 10 per cent of the total water consumed for dyeing industries.

He said the board aimed at reaching a target of conserving 15 per cent of water equivalent to 20 MLD by end of this year and 25 per cent by March 2015 from the dyeing industries alone.

Elaborating on other benefits of the programme, he said with the reuse of high temperature good quality wastewater streams, heat and energy requirements and fuel consumption in boilers for steam generation had been reduced drastically. The industries having boilers of 4-5 tonne capacities and having adopted this programme had stated that their fuel bills had been reduced by Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh per month.

The PPCB chairman asserted that this programme would also help in reducing the load on the upcoming Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) for dyeing units, eventually on the capital investment and operating cost of these CETPs. Also, the load on the sewerage system will be reduced significantly due to reduction of wastewater.

In view of the successful trials at Ludhiana, the board was planning to extend this programme at the state level and had decided to implement it in a more aggressive way, he said.

Ludhiana, September 4
The District Bar Association (DBA) has decided to observe a strike on September 5 in order to show resentment over lodging of false FIR against an office-bearer of the DBA under the SC & ST Act.

DBA president Vijay B Verma and vice-president Rakesh Bhatia criticised the act of booking a lawyer under political pressure to be unjust and unfair.

Earlier, the police had booked assailants for forcibly entering into the house of Lokesh Batta, executive member of the DBA. Later, the lawyer was booked by the police on the version of another party.

Ludhiana, September 4
Local girl Amanjot Kaur Bains performed well to help India finish at the sixth place in the LG World Baseball Championship for Women held in South Korea, recently.

Amanjot, a student of MA (Political Science) at the Khalsa College for Women, Civil Lines, Ludhiana, along with another girl from Punjab, Amanjeet Kaur of Patiala, four girls each from Goa and Andhra Pradesh and five from Delhi represented the country in this event in which teams from eight nations took part.

Playing at left-out position, Amanjot contributed her lot as India secured the sixth position. In the first match, India trounced Hong Kong (16-2) in which Amanjot played the pivot role. However, India went down fighting against Taiwan (6-8) and (10-11) in the match against Australia.

Japan emerged as champions. South Korea and North Korea secured second and third positions, respectively.

In the North Zone Baseball Tournament held at Srinagar in July last year, Amanjot stole the limelight as she was declared the best player. She was the member of the Punjab contingent that won a gold medal in the National Baseball Championship held last year at Sholapur in Maharashtra.

She also played a major role for her team’s (Panjab University) outstanding performance to clinch a gold medal in the All-India Inter-Varsity Baseball Tournament held in Chandigarh. Amanjot owes her success to coaches, Sukhdev Singh and Harbir Singh Gill.

Dr Varinder Kaur Thind, Principal of Khalsa College, appreciated Amanjot’s performance and wished her more success in future tournaments.

Ludhiana, September 4
Punjab Ranji player and wicket-keeper batsman Geetansh Khera has been selected to lead the Ludhiana team (seniors) in the upcoming Punjab State Inter-District Cricket Tournament for the Katoch Shield to begin on September 6 at different venues across the state.

Vinod Chitkara, honorary general secretary, Ludhiana District Cricket Association, said the selection panel had named Geetansh captain of the squad for the first match to be played from September 6 to 9 at the Gandhi Ground, Amritsar.

The other players include Karan Goel, Deepak Bansal, Anil Sihag, Amritpal Singh, Sunny Pandey, Abhinav Bhatia, Devender Sidhu, Vaibhav Narang, Ankit Pursharthy, Sandeep Singh, Paras Bhardwaj, Rahul Singla, Simran Singh, Sahil Tyagi and Rohan.