Ludhiana June 25
With the state government starting the process of introducing the local transport system in the city, people of Ludhiana may get rid of illegal autorickshaws that are considered to be the main cause of air pollution.

The department of transport has already issued a notification on the proposed routes in the city that cover all areas. In fact, the routes have been proposed for all major cities of the state, including Ludhiana. Six main routes have been identified for the local transport covering the entire city. The routes range between 12 to 16.6 km in length.

The department has sought objections and suggestions from people lest some areas remain uncovered under this network.

In Ludhiana, the routes proposed include a 16.6 km stretch from Jalandhar side octroi post to bus stand via Jalandhar Bypass Chowk/Grain Market, Shivpuri Chowk/Nurwala Chowk, Kailash Nagar Chowk, Chowk Basti Jodhewal, Tajpur Road Chowk, Samrala Bypass Chowk, Transport Nagar Chowk (Truck Union), Moti Nagar, Cancer Hospital Chowk, Sherpur Chowk, Dholewal Chowk, Partap Chowk, Gill Chowk, Atam Nagar/Dugri Road, Bus Stand/Jawahar Nagar.

Another 12 km stretch starts from Jalandhar side octroi post to bus stand via Jalandhar Bypass Chowk/Grain Market, Shivpuri Chowk/Nurwala Chowk, Kailash Nagar Chowk, Chowk Basti Jodhewal, Tajpur Road Chowk, Samrala Bypass Chowk, Transport Nagar Chowk, Truck Union (Link Road), Cheema Chowk/Gill Chowk, Atam Nagar Dugri Road, Bus Stand Jawahar Nagar.

The third route of 13.3 km has been identified from Ambala side octroi post to bus stand via Pawa village, Jugiana, Kanganwal Road Chowk, Dhandari Kalan village, Dhandari Kallan village, Dhandari railways station, Giaspura Chowk, Apollo Hospital/Sherpur Chowk, Dholewal Chowk, Partap Chowk/Gill Chowk, Atam Nagar/Dugri Road.

The fourth routes of 16.6 km starts from bus stand to Jaladhar side octroi post via Atam Nagar, Dugri Road, Partap Chowk/Gill Chowk, Dolewal Chowk, Sherpur Chowk, Cancer Hospital Chowk, Moti Nagar, Transport Nagar Chowk (Truck Union), Samrala Bypass Chowk,Tajpur Road/Chowk, Chowk Basti Jodhewal, Kailash Nagar Chowk, Shivpuri Chowk/Nurwala Chowk, Jalandhar Bypass Chowk/Grain Market, Jalandhar side octroi post.

The fifth route of 12 km starts from bus stand/Jawahar Nagar to Jalandhar side octroi post via Atam Nagar/Dugri Road, Partap Nagar/Gill Chowk, Cheema Chowk (Link Road), Transport Nagar Chowk, Truck Union (Link Road) Samrala Bypass Chowk, Tajpur Road/Chowk, Chowk Basti, Samrala Bypass Chowk, Tajpur Road/Chowk, Chowk Basti Jodewal, Kailash Nagar Chowk, Shivpuri Chowk/ Nurwala Chowk, Jalandhar Bypass Chowk/Grain Market.

The sixth route of 13.3 starts from bus stand to Ambala side octroi post via Atam Nagar/ Dugri Chowk, Partap Chowk/Gill Chowk, Dholewal Chowk, Apollo Hospital/Sherpur Chowk, Giaspura Chowk, Dhandari railway station, Dhandari Kalan village, Kanganwal Road Chowk, Jugiana, Pawa village. 

Ludhiana, June 25
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has initiated proceedings against officials of United Insurance Company on the charges of wilful non-compliance with its orders, even after a lapse of one year.

Proceedings were intiated on the complaint filed by Parveen Kumar of Sunshine Dying Private Ltd, Industrial Area, Ludhiana.

Accusing senior divisional manager P C Pant of disobeying the orders of the forum, the complainant has urged the forum to punish him with imprisonment of three years, besides imposing a fine of Rs 10,000 as enshrined under Section 27 of the Consumer Protection Act.

The complainant has also sought action against managing director of United Insurance Company M K Garg, regional manager C S Tandon as they also failed to follow the orders.

Ludhiana, June 25
Hira Singh Gabria, minister for jails, culture and tourism today said that during the first 100 days in power, the SAD-BJP government, led by Parkash Singh Badal, had mobilised the investments of more than Rs 25000 crore in the state and had launched infrastructure development projects, costing about Rs 7000 crores, with a view to accelerate the pace of investments further in the state.

Addressing a press conference here today to mark 100 days of SAD-BJP government, the minister said that in addition, the government had also got sanction from the union government for the execution of oil refinery at Bathinda to be set up at the cost of Rs 18919 crore, which would create job opportunities for 1.5 lakh persons.

The minister said, to fulfil the promise of providing atta and dal at subsidised rates, a survey had been conducted to identify the poor families and now the scheme would be launched from August 15 and subsidy amounting to Rs 600 crore per annum would be given to 13.53 lakh families under this scheme.

The annual plan of the state for the year 2007-08 had been enhanced to Rs 5100 crore, from last year’s Rs 4000 crore. He said the government had succeeded in enhancing the funds under various central government schemes to Rs 2433 crore for this year as compared to Rs 1359 crore for 2006-07. Gabria said to strengthen the infrastructure, the two World Bank projects worth Rs 2780 crore, to improve water supply and sanitation in rural areas and strengthening of roads network, have been launched in the state.

Out of these, Rs 1280 crore were being spent to execute potable water supply schemes in 3000 villages and Rs 1500 crore on the rehabilitation and widening of 1300 km long roads.

On the power front, the minister said the government had chalked out a comprehensive plan to add 6000 MW more power during the next five years and three new thermal plants, one each at Talwandi Sabo with a capacity of 1800 MW, at Nabha with 1200 MW and third at Goindwal with 600 MW capacity, were being executed and funds amounting to Rs 1062 crore would be spent during the current financial year to generate 3000 MW power.

Gabria said to clear the pending backlog of capital subsidy to the industry, funds amounting to Rs 100 crore had been released and another instalment of Rs 100 crore would be released during this year.

The minister informed that the government would soon develop Ropar, Ludhiana and Kapurthala as ‘leisure tourism’ by developing tourism spots/lakes on the adjoining banks of rivers Satluj and Beas in these districts and the department of tourism and cultural affairs has planned to develop a pilgrimage circuit at a cost of Rs 9.20 crore, which would cover all major cities of religious importance.

Listing the plans for development of Ludhiana, Gabria informed that under the Jawhar National Urban Renewal Mission, projects amounting to Rs 2053 crore in Ludhiana City have got clearance from GOI and as part of it, 15 flyovers/ROBs/RUB, water supply, sewerage, city bus service etc would be completed.

Special projects for de-silting of Budha Nala, costing Rs 10 crore, and construction of the 62.5 km long ring road, costing more than Rs 1500 crore, would also be executed shortly. He said an ultra modern computerised Suwidha Centre with 36 counters, costing 1.2 crore, and Dr Ambedkar Bhawan, were near completion.

A modern fully computerised single window service system at DIC, Ludhiana, had also been taken up to facilitate the industry. The minister informed that to improve the environment in rural areas, a project for de-silting and development of ponds in 800 villages had also been launched. In Ludhiana district, an international airport at Sahnewal was also being developed.

Among others present on the occasion included Payank Bharti, officiating deputy commissioner, R.K. Jaiswal, SSP, and B.K. Gupta, joint commissioner, MC.

COMMUNITY

Now,cops seek help to check drug addiction
Our Correspondent

Raikot, June 25
The local (rural) police has called upon activists of various social and religious organisations to join hands against the menace of drug addiction. The local police organised a seminar on the “Role of social organisations in curbing drug addiction”, in association with a local branch of the Rotary Club at the bus stand road here today. DSP Narinder Singh Ruby presided over the function and Attar Singh Chadha was the chief guest.

In his keynote address the DSP said the addiction of any kind was dangerous. Moreover, the quality of liquor and intoxicants was so inferior that it could prove fatal. Though, the police had been trying hard to curb the evil, it could not be eradicated without active participation of social organisations that served as a bridge between the administration and the people.

He claimed that special teams had been constituted to identify those who were minting money by supplying poppy, opium and smack to youths. “These teams will always remain on standby and act on the basis of information provided by office-bearers of the social and religious organisations. We have been directed to keep the names of our “crusaders” secret," said Ruby adding that the “helpers” would be felicitated at the district-level function.

Other speakers, including Attar Singh Chadha, Swaran Singh Dilkhush and Jagtar Singh claimed that the main aim of the organisations represented by them was to discourage social evils like illiteracy, dowry, female foeticide and atrocities on women. “As these evils have their genesis in drug addiction we will impress upon other social organisations to join hands with the police in crusade against the drug addition,” the speakers said. 

Ludhiana June 25
Punjab and Sind Bank employees today celebrated the centenary of the bank here today.

A special ardas was organised at Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha,Model Town, by the staff members.Kirtan was also performed.

Balwinder Pal Singh, head, Department of Economics, GHG Khalsa College, Gurusar Sudhar, and editor, Sada Virsa Sada Gaurav, spoke about the history of the bank and its foundation.

He said Bhai Vir Singh, noted Punjabi writer and scholar along with Sunder Singh Majithia and Tarlochan Singh, performed ardas at Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar, on June 24, 1908 and the bank started functioning from Amritsar.He said the main aim of the bank at that time was the uplift of the Punjabi community.

S.A.S Anand, deputy general manager, zonal office, Ludhiana, announced that two kirtan darbars and one seminar would be organised shortly by the bank in Ludhiana.

Gurmeet Singh thanked the staff members and their families for attending the ardas samagam and announced that such functions would continue till June 24, 2008.

Ludhiana, June 25
The slogan of the UNODC anti-drug campaign to be launched on International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26, is "Do drugs control your life ? Your life. Your community. No place for drugs." The slogan will be used for three years with focus on different aspects of drug control like drug abuse in 2007, drug cultivation and production in 2008, and illicit drug trafficking in 2009.

Says Dr Paramjit Singh Khurana, consultant psychiatrist and drug de-addiction specialist at Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital here: "With this campaign, UNODC aims to raise awareness about the major problem that illicit drugs pose to society. No individual, family or community is safe where illicit drugs take control. The goal of the campaign is to inspire people and mobilise support for drug control.The proposed campaign and the generic slogan are flexible."

Expressing grave concern over the alarming rise in the incidence of drug abuse among the youth and adolescents, he said children reposed their trust in the adults and could easily be influenced. In this respect, teachers could be role models for students and dissuade them from abusing drugs.This was all the more important if young people did not have supportive families to guide them.

"Young people may have to contend with the pressures associated with experimentation and with life in a complex and demanding society. Substance abuse is basically a mechanism to cope with or escape from feelings of insecurity."

Focusing on the role of parents, Dr Khurana stated that to start with a good parent-child relationship ought to be built. The parents must assure the children that they cared and were interested in what their wards did. "Talk with your children, not at them, and keep the lines of communication open.Pay attention to what they are saying. You may not always have the answers. Do not talk down to them; it might surprise you how much they know about life and about drugs."

Dr Khurana maintained that children were never too young to learn responsibility.They should be given varied tasks at home and the degree of responsibility should be increased as they got older. At their own level, the parents should set a good example by not using intoxicants and drugs. "One should never forget that children lose respect for adults whose behaviour suggests - do as I say, not as I do."

He further asked the parents to help their children recognise drug pushers and the places where they operated. Pushers would tell children that drugs helped them study better and pass examinations but the children should be taught to outsmart the peddlers. It was imperative to help children to practice saying no to drugs.

Commenting on the increasing tendency of medication abuse or use of illegal drugs among the grown-ups, he advised the people to make healthy choices. "Remember, if you resort to alcohol, tranquilisers or illegal drugs when you are stressed out, you are setting a bad example for your children. Maintain a balanced diet and be active. Sport is a healthy activity that will help you feel better both physically and mentally."

The parents and teachers of the children, and adolescents should remain on the lookout for warning signs which would indicate if the child was taking some harmful or addictive substances. But rather than jumping to conclusion, it must be ensured that such signs were not the result of other problems.

The emotional and social signs of drug abuse included moodiness, excitement, anger, hostility, depression, constant lying and stealing, refusing to admit to the harmful effects of drugs, avoiding old friends or people who could confront them about behaviour changes, being secretive about phone calls, having friends they do not want you to meet or talk about, being evasive about their whereabouts, loss of motivation, falling grades and poor academic performance, short attention span, forgetfulness, loss of interest in school or extra-curricular activities and playing truant from school.

Ludhiana, June 25
Monsoons are round the corner but a number of manholes are lying uncovered in Transport Nagar here.

Residents fear that with the monsoons setting in, the roads would get waterlogged and people would not be able to anticipate these ‘deathtraps’ and serious accidents could occur.

But this does not seem to be reason enough for the authorities to swing into action as the manholes continue to be uncovered even as the residents claim they had complained to the area councillor concerned.

Ludhiana, June 25
A resident of Laxmi Puri, Netaji Nagar in Salem Tabri here has complained that another resident of his area had encroached upon a piece of government land meant for a park but the municipal corporation authorities were not taking any action against the alleged encroacher despite repeated complaints.

Balraj Sahni, a resident said after his complaints, the concerned ATP had issued a notice to the alleged encroacher for usurping 50X19 feet area and constructing a basement.

The violator was asked to demolish the building within three days otherwise action would be initiated against him under Section 246 read with 269 of the Municipal Corporation Act.

Though the notice was issued on May 15 but no action has been initiated even after a month. Neither the owner demolished the building nor the MC took any action, alleged Sahni.

He said the MC had, itself written to him, that there was no record available with it regarding the building. The owner had not got any site plan approved from the MC and a notice had already been issued to him in this regard. All this information was provided to Sehgal under the RTI Act.

‘‘Despite all this, the encroacher is having a field day. Moreover, as per the MC, the piece of land was actually a park. But it was encroached upon, years ago,’’ said Sahni. 

Ludhiana, June 25
Charnjit Singh Atwal, Deputy Speaker, Lok Sabha will attend a regional seminar on " A protective environment for South Asian Children; The role of Parliamentarians in the protection of children in the Juvenile Justice System" being held at Islamabad from June 21 to 29.

The seminar being organised jointly by the Inter- Parliamentary Union (IPU) and United Nations Children"s Fund (UNICEF) and hosted by the Senate of Pakistan, aims at facilitating debate in ways and mechanisms of developing a protective framework for children, with a particular focus on parliamentary mechanisms.

The seminar will address all functions of a Parliament, legislation, oversight and representation and examine how these can serve to protect children.

Ludhiana, June 25
Heat wave claimed the life of a mule on Jagraon brigde in the afternoon here today.

The mule collapsed on the bridge after a brief halt and breathed its last.

Its owner, Isharat Ali, who was walking the mule on the road, said he had bought it for Rs 50,000 some days back and it was hale and hearty. He added that the mule was not suffering from any disease. ‘‘It died due to heat probably, ’’ he said, sobbing.

Ishrat Ali said the mule was the only source of his livelihood. ‘‘How will I manage my family now, I do not know. I wish the mule could have told me that he was not feeling well in this heat. I could have offered it some water,’’ said a grieving Ali.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, June 25
Amrit Lal Garg, president, Shiv Shakti Sewa Dal, Malerkotla, and Sukhdev Singh, SHO ( City), flagged off 11 trucks having ration for langar to be organised at Bal Tal, a pilgrimage spot in Jammu and Kashmir.

Volunteers of the local unit of the dal and the CB Welfare Committee acting under the supervision of Ravinder Puri, a social activist and president, Journalist Association, monitored the collection of foodgrains and other eatables from the town.

Tarsem Garg, chairman of the local branch of the organisation, claimed that the association had been organising langar for pilgrims during the Amarnath Yatra for the last nine years."Besides arranging eatables, blankets and medicines, we have ensured that adequate number of medical professional are included in about 100 volunteers accompanying the trucks," informed Garg, adding that warm water would also be supplied during morning hours. 

Ludhiana, June 25
For a meagre amount of Rs 20,000, Janak Raj Singla, a local resident, has been making rounds to Indian Overseas Bank, Civil Lines Branch, here for the past six months. Till date, he has not been able to get the money, which his brother had sent him through postal order from England in January, 2007.

Sore over the callousness on part of bank officials, Janak Raj has already filed his complaint to general manager, central office, Indian Overseas Bank, Anna Salai, Chennai; regional manager, Regional Office Zone, Civil Lines, and chief manager, main branch, Clock Tower, but to no avail. He said,"They are taking me for granted. They ask me to meet one official or the other. No doubt that it is not a big transaction but why should I not get my money", asked Janak Raj in an agitated manner.

Janak Raj had deposited the postal order of 250 pounds on January 25, 2007, at Indian Overseas Bank, Civil Lines. But the money has still not been transferred to his saving account. He was told by the officials that the copy of his postal order was "misplaced".

K.S.Prabhakar, senior manager, Indian Overseas Bank, Civil Lines, said the entire matter was in the notice of the chief manager, Main Branch, who was taking it seriously. "Since this was a foreign transaction, it will take some more time to get the details. The collection of foreign instruments or postal orders come through main branch. We are also in touch with the courier service to find out where the postal order was misplaced.", he claimed.