Ludhiana, November 18
Despite the Punjab and Haryana High Court directing the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) and the Municipal Corporation to take action against illegal change of land (CLU) use in residential properties and shop-cum-flats, the authorities seem to have done precious little in this direction.

While the LIT authorities have initiated proceedings such as issuance of notices to the allottees where violations of CLU have been identified, the menace continues unabated, if residents of Shaheed Bahagat Singh Nagar and Rajguru Nagar are to be believed. At some places, residential portions in SCFs or residential houses are being brazenly put to commercial use in violation of terms and conditions of the allotment.

The vigilance wing of the Local Government Department had also conducted a probe into the complaints of illegal change of land use and unauthorised extensions, deviation from approved building plans made in built-up properties of the Trust in various schemes. On the basis of their findings, senior officials of the vigilance wing had directed the LIT authorities to initiate penal proceedings against defaulters.

However, on the face of it, no worthwhile action seems to have been taken to bring the defaulters to book and curb the increasing menace of illegal change of land use and violation of building bylaws in the Trust properties. Rules framed under the Punjab Town Improvement Act contain adequate provisions for cancellation of allotment (resumption) of properties for illegal change of land use in residential buildings constructed on plots allotted by the Trust as also in commercial sites or built-up properties where part of the building is meant for residential purpose (SCFs). Penal provisions have also been incorporated for unauthorised extensions or deviation from approved building plans, admit the LIT officials. Being under fire from various quarters for giving a long rope to the defaulters, the LIT authorities have now issued show-cause notices to several allottees of the SCFs in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar and Rajguru Nagar where residential portions of the properties were being put to commercial use.

LIT Executive Officer Jiwan Bansal said from now on, the Trust action will not be limited to just issuing notices in cases of illegal change of land use. “We have already issued final notices for resumption of properties (cancellation of allotment) to eight allottees of HIG flats in the 5.54 acre scheme on Maharani Jhansi Road for carrying out commercial activity in residential flats. Similar follow up action will be taken against defaulters in other schemes of the Trust as well,” he added.

Rule book

Rules framed under the Punjab Town Improvement Act contain adequate provisions for cancellation of allotment (resumption) of properties for illegal change of land use in residential buildings constructed on plots allotted by the Ludhiana Improvement Trust.

Ludhiana, November 18
Residents will have to go without water as the afternoon supply (from 12 pm to 2 pm) will remain suspended till February 2015.

The civic authorities have taken the decision to save electricity and check wastage. Senior Engineer Manjit Singh said, “Sewers/manholes are being cleaned in city. We urge the residents to cooperate with us.” Another official said the MC was taking cost-cutting measures. “It is making efforts to save money. If we stop the water supply for two hours in the afternoon, we can tide over the financial crisis. The residents will start using water judiciously this way. There will be no wastage,” said the official.

The MC’s decision has not gone down well with the residents. Amanpreet Kaur, a resident of Ashapuri, said they needed water in the morning for household chores.

The water is supplied for three hours in the morning and for four hours in the evening. The officials are of the view that a seven-hour supply is sufficient. 

Ludhiana, November 18
Illegal shanties/vehras dot Ward No. 59. As far as basic amenities are concerned, residents have no complaints. They said the authorities could ease congestion by rehabilitating slum-dwellers. Punjab Mata Nagar, Karnail Singh Nagar, New BRS Nagar, Jawaddi Village, Prakash Nagar, Bhagat Singh Nagar and Vishal Nagar fall in Ward No. 59.

Residents of Punjab Mata Nagar complained that contaminated water was being supplied to the area and that many were taken ill during the rainy season.

Area councillor Tanvir Singh Dhaliwal said: “Sewerage pipes need to be replaced and we are awaiting funds. Illegal vehras and dairies in the area were vacated.”

Roads in the ward were constructed three years ago. The construction of two roads has been put on hold. The projects costing Rs 65 lakh and Rs 84 lakh, respectively, could not take off as there were no clear guidelines on the TP Scheme. Dhaliwal said three major projects needed to be completed at the earliest. The City Centre Project has been hanging fire since 2006. The work on Indoor Stadium was started in 2001. An amount of Rs 45 crore is needed to complete the project. “Slum-dwellers have raised illegal structures near the railway lines. Although the MC is ready to give them bank loans, they seem in no mood to shift to apartments constructed by the government in Giaspura,” said Dhaliwal. 

Residents speak

"There are no parks in the ward. The Ludhiana Improvement Trust should cooperate with us and solve our problems."— Dr Daljit Singh, a resident 

"Slum-dwellers should be rehabilitated as they do not maintain cleanliness."
— Pradeep Dhall, a resident

"The area should have parks. The government should coordinate with various departments. Many a time, a re-carpeted road is dug up the next day." — Prof Narinder Singh, a resident

"A few roads in Punjab Mata Nagar and Guru Ram Dass Nagar need repairs. The development is possible only if funds are sanctioned on time." — Jasvir Singh,  a resident 

“The status of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar is still not clear. The area is taken care of by the MC and the Ludhiana Improvement Trust. It should be handed over to the civic body.~"— Ramesh Talwar, a resident 

Ludhiana, November 18
Former SAD sarpanch of a village in Tarn Taran Surjan Singh, who along with 17 others, was booked for running an international drug smuggling racket, has cried foul and claimed that the police had implicated them in false cases.

Surjan Singh of Rakh Sarai Amanat Khan village, who claims himself to be a SAD loyalist, said the act had devastated him and led to the death of his two buffaloes.

While demanding a CBI inquiry, Surjan Singh said the Tarn Taran police had registered cases against his family, including his bed-ridden sister-in-law.

When he objected to it, the police booked him and his two relatives for possessing 5 grams, 4 grams and 3 grams of heroin, respectively. Satnam Singh Dhaliwal, member, Universal Human Rights Organisation, said false cases were slapped on Surjan Singh to show the drive against drug peddling a success.

Dhaliwal said Surjan Singh had got an attempt to murder case registered against two policemen. Dhaliwal claimed that there was no drug peddling case against them till 2011, but once they got the case registered against the two police officials, the department started registering drug peddling cases against him and his family.

“Surjan Singh and his family fear that if they will return to the village, they will be booked again,” said Dhaliwal.

Youth booked

A day after the 14-year-old daughter of former councillor of the Congress committed suicide by jumping off the roof, the Division No. 6 police have registered an abatement to suicide case against Rohit Kumar on the statement of deceased’s father.

The girl’s father Ashok Kumar said the youth was harassing his daughter and drove her to take the extreme step. 

Ludhiana, November 18
A national symposium on agricultural diversification for sustainable livelihood and environmental security began at the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) today amid eminent farm scientists and delegates from across the country.

The three-day symposium has been jointly organised by the PAU and the Indian Society of Agronomy (ISA). Padma Bhushan awardee Dr RS Paroda, chairman, Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences, and ex-director general, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, was the chief guest on the occasion.

In his remarks, Dr Paroda said natural resources were dwindling and land availability was shrinking.

“The need of the hour is to adopt foresight , re-reorient research agenda, conduct innovative and farmer’s participatory research and provide low-cost and less input requiring technology to the farmers,” he said.

Further, Dr Paroda expressed that crop diversification is essential for livelihood of small and marginal farmers, and that horticulture, floriculture, beekeeping, livestock, fishery and poultry need to be taken up.

The guest of honour, Dr Panjab Singh, president, Foundation for Advancement of Agriculture and Rural Development, and ex-DG, ICAR, maintained that sustaining the resources was the biggest challenge as climate change can turn the tables.

Another guest of honour Dr JS Samra, CEO, National Rainfed Area Authority, Government of India, said, “Be innovative and think out of the box.”

The “Make in India” mission, launched by India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, is going to be a real challenge for all the sectors including agriculture, he added.

In his presidential remarks, Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, said, “We have made tremendous advancement in agriculture.” Although productivity is being enhanced, yet there has been three-time increase in the use of agro-chemicals in Punjab and Haryana during the last three years, he revealed. “Multi-dimensional expansion of research, studying ecological consequences, doing introspective analysis and human resource development are the key factors in tackling the issues of climate change and depleting natural resources,” he said.

On the occasion, Dr TS Lamba, Dr Ambika Singh and Dr Arvind Kumar were awarded ISA Life Time Achievement Awards. Besides, seven scientists received ISA gold medal, 16 ISA fellow, two best PhD thesis and two best MSc thesis awards, two best research paper awards and one PS Deshmukh Young Scientist Award.

Eight publications were released by the dignitaries. An exhibition was also put up by various departments of the university.

Ludhiana, November 18
Children’s week was inaugurated at BJS Dental College, Hospital and Research Institute today. Chairman Baba Jaswant Singh inaugurated the event.

Students of Government Primary School, Moti Nagar, Ludhiana, also attended the special camp. Gifts and educational pamphlets on healthy eating and Colgate- sponsored toothpastes and brushes were distributed among the children on the occasion.

The guest of honour was a renowned local dentist Dr Vivek Saggar.

The head of the Department of Pedodontics, Dr Bharat Suneja, on behalf of everyone present, pledged to promote excellent quality dental healthcare for all the patients visiting the department.

The principal, Dr DS Kalsi, while addressing the audience, congratulated the doctors and students of the Departments of Pedodontics and Community Dentistry who were participating in the children’s week and praised Dr Amanpreet Singh for celebrating children’s week with the motto ‘Swacch Bachpan, Swasth Bachpan’.

Ludhiana, November 18
On the second day of the NCC week, cadets of the Khalsa College for Women took a pledge against female foeticide and dowry system. Members of PI staff from 3Pb girls Bn NCC graced the occasion. 

Khamano November 18
Fourth international conference on the theme civil paths to violence free world and global peace, search for alternative strategies concluded on the Cordia campus, Sanghol.

Prof Ronki Ram, Prof Rajiv Lochan, Prof Satya, P Gautam, Dr Naveen Singla, Dr Thomas Frazer and Dr Paresh Rughane from the UK presented their papers on the occasion. Various research scholars and paper presenters also took part in the two-day conference.

SK Sharma DGP Punjab Police, Dinkar Gupta ADGP, Dr Rajni Alexander, Prof David Lelliot (Deputy High Commissioner, UK), Prof Lyriki Kokonen and Prof Sanjay Chaturvedi attended the conference as guests of honour.

The conference was organised on the Cordia campus, under the leadership of Lord Diljit Rana, the chairman of the Cordia Group of Institutes, and Urmil Verma, director of the Lord Rana Charitable Trust. The campus director, Dr Kulvir Singh Rai, and convener of the conference Dr Satish Kumar Sharma played an important role in making the conference a grand success.

A cultural programme was also organised to mark the successful completion of the conference. 

Mandi Ahmedgarh, November 18
Campuses of various local schools are buzzing with activities on the occasion of Bal Swachhata Week. Responding to a call made by the school principal, Pardeep Sharda, volunteers from various classes of MGMN Senior Secondary School cleaned laboratories, art room and dispensary today.

Earlier, constituents of the school vowed to adopt cleanliness as an element of their lifestyle. Cultural programmes and athletic events were organised at local DAV Senior Secondary School, Victoria Public Senior Secondary School, Lehra, and Government Senior Secondary Schools at Guram, Dehlon and Bilaspur villages.

“Sada Pind” at Government Senior Secondary School, Guram, remained the centre of attraction for residents on Day 2 today. Darbans guarding the locality, traditional kitchen, small village kiln (bhathi) and traditional store boxes (sandook) were appreciated by one and all.

Students illustrated various aspects of urban and rural life through projects in science, social studies and mathematics. Geometrical tinge was given to items of rangoli prepared by mathematics students.

Kusam Medireta, Balwinder Singh Grewal, Amarjit Kaur and Krishan Sharda, principals of various schools, presided over the concluding functions. Mohit Jindal, branch manager of the State Bank of India and Annapuran Arora were the guests of honour. Patriotic songs, poems, skits and dramas highlighting various social issues were presented by students. One-act play ‘Toya’ bringing forward the shortcomings of the political system was appreciated by all.

Ludhiana, November 18
Calling statements made by certain political leaders their “personal grudge” against some other leaders, the Punjab Irrigation Minister, Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, today said the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party combine was “rock solid”.

Dhillon was speaking in the backdrop of recent statements made by BJP leader Navjot Singh Siddhu against the alliance partner SAD.

Dhillon said it was due to such personal grudges and frustration that “they” issue false statements, merely for the purpose of misguiding the alliance workers.

“But the SAD-BJP workers are well aware of such mischievous tactics and will not fall prey to their ill-willed tactics,” said Dhillon to mediapersons after inaugurating a pedestrian underpass at Aggar Nagar here today.

Dhillon said the main agenda of SAD-BJP combine was development and that is why the political opponents are “misguiding” people by issuing false statements. He said some political opponents had claimed on social media websites that the state government was shying away from giving tax-free status to the Punjabi film “Char Sahibzade”.

“Our government has already sanctioned tax-free status for the film and the people should remain cautious of such unscrupulous elements who try to misguide them,” he said.

Prof Rajinder Bhandari, vice-chairman, Punjab State Planning Board, said that both SAD and BJP had a common goal, which was ensuring development of Punjab.

“We don’t have any differences,” he said.

Minister inaugurates underpass for pedestrians

Punjab Irrigation Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon inaugurated a pedestrian underpass at Aggar Nagar on Tuesday. The underpass, which had its foundation stone laid by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal in September 2010, has been constructed at a cost of ~3.5 crore. It is 177 feet long and 45 feet wide and houses 13 shops (10ft-by-15ft in size). Speaking to mediapersons after inaugurating the underpass, Dhillon said it was a long-pending demand of the area residents. He said the 13 shops located inside the underpass would be auctioned soon. 

Ludhiana, November 18
A high drama took place during a police-public meeting at HL Colony when BJP leader Prem Sagar Aggarwal and SAD councillor Sukhdev Singh Gill came on the verge of exchanging blows.

However, police officials and party workers intervened and saved the situation from taking an ugly turn.

The police-public meeting was conducted by the Moti Nagar police. Besides ACP (East) Gurjit Singh, ward number 13 councillor Sunita Aggarwal and ward number 15 councillor Sukhdev Singh Gill, BJP leader Prem Sagar Aggarwal attended the meeting on behalf of his daughter-in-law Megha Aggarwal, who represents ward number 14.

Prem Sagar was reportedly made to sit in the public, due to which he left the venue in a huff. However, police officials reportedly placated him and brought him back to the venue.

When Prem Sagar expressed his anguish over Gill’s interference in his ward, it led to a war of words between the leaders. Soon, they came on the verge of exchanging blows, but others intervened.

The ACP said that the meeting was conducted for better coordination and to address the grievances of residents. Residents expressed concern over the increasing snatching incidents and lack of police presence. The residents also raised the issue of drinking in public.

Ludhiana, November 18
Five vans were flagged off from the local Verka plant to supply milk products to 862 cooperatives in villages.

Plant chairman Ajmer Singh Bhagpur said in order to provide milk products to people residing in villages, the milk plant has been divided into five zones.

Bhagpur said the availability of milk products would not only curb adulteration, but also provide healthy alternatives to villagers. He said this initiative would also generate employment for the youth.

The chairman said Verka Milk Plant, Ludhiana, has become the first milk plant in Asia to produce milk and milk products for both villages and a city.

Ludhiana, November 18
Television actors were in the city to promote their shows today. Purvi Mundada, who stars in a Star Plus television show, “Nisha Aur Uske Cousins”, besides Sumeet Raghavan and Rupali Bhosale from “Badi Door Se Aaye Hain” (Sab TV) talked to the mediapersons.

Starcast of SAB TV's “Badi Door Se Aaye Hai”; and (below) actor Purvi Mundada from the Star Plus series “Nisha Aur Uske Cousins” strike a pose in Ludhiana on Wednesday. Tribune photos: Himanshu Mahajan

Sumeet said the show is now going to have a Punjabi connection as lookalikes of the Ghotala family, hailing from a village of Punjab, have reached Mumbai. So there is going to be a lot of confusion and fun in the series, he said.

“Badi Door Se Aaye Hai” is an innovative comedy series with a plot that revolves around an alien family coming to Earth in search of their lost son. Equipped with superpowers, they assume a human form to blend in with the civilisation. The series shows the moral struggle of the alien family to fit into society and ensuing funny encounters with human beings, said the team.

Rupali said it was her first Hindi television show and she was enjoying it thoroughly. She has also done theatre before coming to television, and most of her plays have been comedy.

Actors Vinay Rohra and Puneet Talreja from the show were also part of the visiting team.

Purvi Mundada, meanwhile, talked about her show “Nisha Aur Uske Cousins”. She said that the show in which she plays a character named Dolly was a fresh concept. It shows how cousins in a joint family take a common stand and solve problems they come across.

“The show is also about respecting elders,” she said.

Despite the difference with the older generation, they try to find a solution to it. In the backdrop of the decreasing number of joint families in the country, the show depicts merits of such a family, she said.

Purvi, who hails from Pune, said she always wanted to become an actor. Starting with modelling, she auditioned for this show and found it interesting. She said she wants to play meaningful characters.

Ludhiana, November 18
The Punjab Tax Bar Association has opposed the Excise and Taxation Department’s proposal of making it mandatory for VAT dealers to submit details of dates and other particulars concerning statutory returns and forms online.

In a meeting held today, association president Ashok Kumar Juneja said if the proposal became law under the PVAT Act, it would create difficulties for most of the registered and taxable dealers as they lacked the infrastructure to follow such a system. He said most VAT dealers were petty and did not have computers.

“In the absence of computers, the entire burden will be shifted to their counsels-cum-tax practitioners. Consequently, tax practitioners will be left with clerical job, rather than providing legal services which is not acceptable to any Bar member,” said Juneja.

The members said the department was already charging Rs 800 to Rs 5,000 as processing fee and therefore it was the department’s duty to keep proper records.

Ludhiana, November 18
A bag containing Rs 45,000 and important documents was allegedly stolen from a parked car after breaking its windshield at Karimpura the previous night.

Harsharan Singh, who runs a mechanical spare parts shop at Books Market, told the police he had stopped at Karimpura to purchase turban cloth while returning home after closing his shop.

When he came out of the shop, he was shocked to find the windshield of his car broken and the bag containing cash and important documents missing, the complainant told the police.

The police have registered a case in this regard against unidentified thieves and have started the investigation. 

Doraha, November 18
With promotion of rural sports on its mind, Punjab Youth Welfare Club organised an inter-school athletics meet in collaboration with the village panchayat at Lopon today. Students from 12 schools participated in the event.

Punjab Youth Welfare Club president Jarnail Singh Bangar said the meet was an annual feature.

“Through this meet, we try to encourage students from rural background to take part in sports. Many athletes who have shown promise in these games have been given a chance to play in other competitions as well. So our aim is to take our athletes from villages to the national and international arena,” said Bangar.

Akal Academy, Dhindsa, won the first prize at the meet, securing a total of 40 prizes including 16 gold, 14 silver and 10 bronze. Government High School, Lalkalan, came second with 20 prizes, including seven gold, eight silver and five bronze. Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Madpur, grabbed the third position with 12 prizes, including seven gold, two silver and three bronze.

For their outstanding performances, Jaspreet Kaur of Government High School, Lalkalan; Jasmeet Singh and Gurjot Singh of Akal Academy, Dhindsa; and Manjot Singh from Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Madpur, were declared the best athletes.

Other schools that participated in the meet included Baba Hast Lal Model High School, Madpur; Government High School, Begowal; Government High School, Jatana; Government High School, Ruplon; Panjab Public School, Rupalon and RS Khalsa High School, Jaspalon. Village sarpanch Manjit Kaur Lopon and 
zila parishad member Barjinder Singh Bablu inaugurated the meet.