Ludhiana, May 2
The municipal corporation inquiry into the manhole tragedy has given a clean chit to its employees and the owner of the house in Jeewan Nagar where the incident took place on Friday.

The inquiry, conducted by joint commissioner Ashok Bajaj, the report of which is yet to be submitted to the commissioner, has held that neither the employees nor the owner of the house could be charged with negligence for causing the death of 3-year-old Geeta.

Sources in the MC said prima facie evidence suggested that the girl had fallen into the manhole accidentally when her elder sister, who was also a minor, was carrying her. The elder one tried to remove a plyboard to pick a cardboard from the place and lost balance. The younger one fell into the manhole and drowned.

The investigation revealed that the area was transferred to the MC by PUDA, but the manhole was private and it was not constructed by PUDA. Sources said as per the inquiry, the owner of the house near which the incident took place, was renovating the house for quite some days.

He was taking a sewerage connection also and the manhole was dug in the middle of the road. As it was uncovered, the owner had placed a cardboard and a plywood over it to avoid any untoward incident. He had even placed bricks over it to warn passersby.

These girls were ragpickers and seeing a card board they tried to pick it. “When the elder one removed the bricks and picked the cardboard, the younger one fell into the gutter,” the inquiry officer held.

Ashok Bajaj, inquiry officer, refused to comment on the report unless he submitted it. He was away to Chandigarh today to attend an important meeting, otherwise he would have submitted the report today only. He added that he was yet to check records of PUDA to find out the plan of the area.

Ludhiana, May 2
As the water table continues to fall in the state, scientists at Punjab Agricultural University have warned against early sowing of paddy. As farmers have started the process of sowing paddy, the scientists warned it would prove disastrous for the water resources as the water table was declining at an alarming pace, particularly when over 100 blocks in the state had already been declared to have come under the "danger zone" of getting dry sooner or later.

N.S. Malhi, director of extension education, PAU, has appealed to the farmers of the state to abstain from early sowing of paddy. He was referring to the recent news of early sowing in the Shutrana region of Patiala district. He said "aping" this trend would spell doom for the water resources of the state. He remarked, "sow it early and perish for good".

For the past few years, PAU has launched a sustained campaign against the early sowing of paddy as it drains out maximum water leading to further decline in the water table. Warning against sowing before recommended date of June 15, Malhi appealed to the deputy commissioners of all districts to dissuade farmers from early sowing of paddy as the resultant water scarcity could have a serial effect on the country's food security.

G.S.Hira, former director of research, PAU, also cautioned against this trend and said only declaring early sowing of paddy a social crime could prevent the exploitation of natural resources.

Indiscriminate use of these resources might cause food shortage and the nation might have to depend on foreign support to survive, he argued.

Ludhiana, May 2
A young love-smitten couple sits hand in hand, huddled together under a shady tree in the Rose Garden. But the starry-eyed lovers can't sit with eyes set deep into each other. For, they are forever on the lookout of burly cops or the self-styled moral police, who abhor such meetings of young hearts.

With the Mumbai Municipal Corporation carving out a unique Raja-Rani Park, exclusively for lovers, Preeti and Sudhir (not real names) feel a similar exercise in the city is needed.

They know very well how harassing the interference can be. They have seen and heard stories of sufferings of fellow love-smitten couples, who were either booked under Section 109 of the IPC that empowers cops to arrest them for loitering around and face social stigma for the 'crime' or forced to dish out heavy amounts to escape.

They, like many other such couples, meet secretly to avoid being caught. They wonder if the local authorities would take a cue from the Mumbai Municipal Corporation and earmark a special park exclusively for the lovers to meet free of any fears.

The park aptly called Raja Rani park is hogging immense attention these days leading to nationwide debates on whether the time has come to have social acceptability of the meeting of lovers.

Demand for having such an exclusive park is gathering momentum in the city. Gautam, a youth sitting with his beau in Rakh Bagh recalled how he was subjected to immense harassment in convincing an intruding cop that he was sitting with his fiancée. They were taken to the police station when they refused to grease his palms. Eventually, their parents came and freed them.

Police crime figures reveal that last year 251 youngsters were booked under Section 109 of the IPC for meeting in a garden, which under the law is termed as loitering, called archaic by those advocating police reforms. Another 92 have been booked till date this year.

Gautam desires that there should be a place for youngsters to meet. "Rich people meet in hotels and rooms but the majority of us cannot afford such luxuries. We have no option but to meet in gardens. I wonder why the cops harass us. We are not doing any crime. Being in love is such a natural feeling. Moreover, if there is openness, exploitation of girls could be less also."

Ludhiana, May 2
Barring the ruckus created by a Congress leader during the Municipal Corporation's Sangat Darshan programme today, the programme went off peacefully and complaints of residents were taken up.

As the commissioner, Vikas Partap, was away to attend an important meeting, additional commissioner Mohinder Singh Kainth and joint commissioner B.K. Gupta supervised the redress programme.

Sham Sunder Malhotra, Congress leader and former councillor of ward number 62, got engaged in a heated exchange of words with B.K. Gupta over the issue of a water bill. He alleged that MC employees were demanding bribe from him to convert the commercial bill into a residential one.

He said he was asked to pay Rs 500 as bribe if he wanted to get the work done.

Later, several residents resented the slow pace of work of MC employees. They said the complaints were not redressed even during the sangat darshan today and they were asked to come tomorrow.

Gurcharan Singh and Santokh Singh, two residents of Kabir Nagar, said they had applied for TH-1 forms to the MC many days ago. But even after making several rounds to the office, they were asked to come later.

‘‘I came thinking that my problem would be solved today. But still they have asked me to come tomorrow,’’ said a dejected Gurcharan Singh, a senior citizen.

Meanwhile, the MC claimed that around 80 cases of water bills, 17 cases related to sewerage, complaints related to the B&R branch, eight cases of tehbazaari, 15 cases of TH-1, several complaints of non-lifting of garbage and shortage of water were received. 

Ludhiana, May 2
The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) is working towards providing a good quality regular power supply to its rural customers in the forthcoming paddy season. Besides, drinking water supply in the coming days would remain unaffected in case of scheduled power cuts.

While the board is working towards strengthening infrastructure so as to minimise unscheduled power cuts, residential customers too can look forward to better summers ahead.

"By strengthening the network, we will endeavour to provide a regular supply in the paddy season. The problems faced by consumers last year will be taken care of. We will also coordinate with the Municipal Corporation so that water supply does not suffer when cuts are imposed," said B.S. Bath, who joined today as Chief Engineer (Central Zone), while talking to the Ludhiana Tribune here.

A control room is also being opened with direct supply circles so as to monitor power supply during the paddy season. The control room would remain open round the clock. Besides, officers have been instructed to stay at the headquarters to redress public complaints.

Bath said upgradation of existing lines and other measures would be taken so that quality in supply is maintained. "Currently, the situation is under control. But for the coming days, when demand rises, a strong network will ensure better supply. The number of hours of supply and of scheduled cuts for other categories of consumers are yet to be decided."

The electricity board would soon put to operation its call centre which would include a customer care centre as well.

"We will create such an environment that electricity consumers would be certain of getting their problems resolved irrespective of the nature of complaints. The image would be of a friendly and quick organisation," said Bath.

He said board employees have already been instructed to deal with customer complaints in a cordial manner. "If the complaints can be resolved on the spot, they would be and in case the nature of complaint is such that it needs time, our staff would maintain it in their record and make sure that it is deal with on time."

For those engaging in power theft, there is bad news. The board, using its computerised billing systems, will identify areas and customers that are suspect, and deal with power theft. "Since systems are computerised it is quite easy to get details. Unlike earlier when genuine customers too had to face problems at times, now it would not happen."

Ludhiana, May 2
But for the joint efforts, determination and will on the part of a host of contributors, staff and students of Dayanand Medical College and Hero DMC Heart Institute here, 11-year-old Rajnish would have succumbed to the potentially fatal heart disease.

Rajnish, son of a city resident with meagre resources, was originally admitted to DMCH under the care of Dr H.S. Pannu and Dr H.S. Dhooria. His investigations and diagnostic tests revealed that his heart had two severe defects - an infection of a valve and a congenital hole.

The boy was subsequently shifted to heart institute, where the cost of his treatment was worked out to be around Rs 2.5 lakh which was way beyond the means of his poor father, who worked as a daily wager with a local dyeing factory and his salary being barely sufficient to support his family of five.

The plight of the boy moved the doctors treating him so much that they took upon themselves the task of mobilising the required funds for his treatment.

“From our past experience, we have realised that residents and social organisations of the mega city are always in the forefront to help genuinely needy patients. Therefore, we decided to seek their contribution, besides providing a concession on the treatment cost,” said Dr G.S. Wander, chief cardiologist and coordinator at the heart institute.

The onerous responsibility of collecting the money for the noble cause was taken over by Dr Bishav Mohan, consultant cardiologist. “The first to make sizeable contribution for the cause were final-year students of DMC who came to see Rajnish as part of their training. An appeal was then issued to local philanthropic organisations and individuals. Confirming our faith in their generosity, the people responded enthusiastically and we managed to collect the necessary funds within a week's time. It is because of their help that we were able to replace the defective valve and close the hole in Rajnish's heart,” added Dr Mohan.

Expressing gratitude to all those who contributed in restoring the boy back to health, Dr Wander said Rajnish had since been discharged after all his reports confirmed a normal status of his heart. 

Jagraon, May 2
As many as five offenders have been arrested by the police for various crimes in this district.

Amrit Kumar Lusi of Mohalla Basti Mithu, Islamabad, a proclaimed offender in a case under Sections 380, 34 of IPC, registered on July 1, 2006 by the Sidhwan Bet police has been arrested at his house in Jalandhar.

This was stated by SSP Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, police district Ludhiana (Rural).

He disclosed that Balwinder Singh of Mehma Singh Wala, another proclaimed offender was arrested in a case registered by the Dehlon police under Sections 448, 454 and 380 of the IPC.

Surjit Singh of Harim Singh Wala, was also arrested by the local police. He was wanted in a case under Sections 9, 1 and 78 of the Opium Act, as far back as November 28, 1982.

On the same lines, Pal Singh of Chak Kalan village, was arrested in a case under Sections 452, 448, 427, 506, 148 and 149 of the IPC.

Ludhiana, May 2
The Bank of Maharashtra has chalked out major expansion plans for Punjab and Haryana. The bank will add 50 branches across the country, and more than 15 branches in this region within this financial year. The bank would also enter into liaison with several mutual fund companies for distribution of their products and with leading brokers to provide online trading facility to its customers.

Executive Director Rajiv Madhok in an interview to The Tribune here today said: "We are making special efforts to increase our presence in this region as a part of which we would not only open more branches, we would bring most of them under CBS."

The bank, that has tied up with LIC and United India for the distribution of insurance products, is planning to liaison with several mutual fund companies this year. Besides, customers of the bank would be provided with a facility to trade online.

"The idea is to make the bank a one stop shop for customers' financial needs. From insurance to mutual funds, shares and banking ofcourse, consumers would get all kinds of services with us. We would tied up with atleast two mutual fund companies within six months and more such agreements are on cards."

Talking about the key focus areas, Madhok added that retail and lending to small and medium enterprises had been the target segments. "In Punjab, corporate lending also has given us good results."

Rising interest rates, he said, had resulted in a significant 27 per cent growth in savings. "We added 10.5 lakh new accounts last year. Growth has been tremendous."

To provide good quality consumer services, the bank availed itself of the services of professional agencies to provide training to its staff members. "This initiative has been giving good results and our staff are able to deal with consumers in accordance with the best of standards."

For technological upgradation the bank has budgeted Rs 75 crore for this year and plans to bring 600 new branches under the CBS.

Ludhiana, May 2
The Indo-Myanmar Chamber of Commerce and Industries will hold 'SME India 2007', an exhibition, at Yan Gon in November this year.

U Kyi Thein, ambassador, Union of Myanmar, while giving details on business opportunities to city's industrialists said bilateral trade between the two nations had witnessed an eight-fold rise since 1980. He was addressing a seminar conducted by the Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings and Indo-Myanmar Chamber of Commerce and Industries here today.

He said trade between the two countries touched $557 million in 2004-05. While India exports machinery, spare parts, steel, steel products and various other items, Myanmar's major export items include textiles, pharmaceuticals and machine tools.

Over 70 per cent of total export from the country goes to Asian regions and it meets 90 per cent of its import requirements from these countries only, the ambassador said.

Exhorting industrialists to participate in the industry exhibition and road show, he said the participation would contribute in further strengthening trade ties between the two countries.

President of the chamber G.L. Goenka, said Myanmar has adopted a market oriented economy and is encouraging private investment and FDI.