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PRECIOUS WATER GOES WASTE
Ludhiana, May 5 The Superintending Engineer, O&M cell, said it had come to the notice of the civic body that many residents were spraying water in front of their houses. This caused wastage of precious water. Besides, the roads developed potholes, leaving a perfect breeding space for mosquitoes and flies. ‘‘The water supplied by the MC is chlorinated for human consumption. It is not meant for washing cars and even spraying on roads. Moreover, the water table is already going alarmingly down. It is a sin to waste water under these circumstances. Anybody found doing so would be booked under Section 223 of Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976,’’ said the SE.He added that the residents were to blame for the shortage of water. But it was the MC which was always held responsible. The water table in the city has gone down over the past decade. Still, the residents in the city were seen wasting a lot of water. A quick round of the city in the morning reveals that hundreds of cars are washed everyday with plenty of water. Moreover, some residents use tullu pumps to fill overhead water tanks which often leak and lots of water goes down the drain. In the old city, several taps flow continuously during supply hours at public places. But there is no check on the same. ‘‘If it is used with little sensitivity, things can go better. Otherwise, we will face severe shortage down the next 10 years. It is time to put a stop at the injudicious use of water, ’’ said Vikas Partap, commissioner, MC. He added that they had decided to be vigilant this year and anybody found wasting this commodity would be acted upon.
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Sewer overflows as manhole chokes
Ludhiana, May 5 The officials concerned of the MC have been made abreast of the situation a number of times, but no action has been taken. The manhole continues to overflow and the stinking water gets collected in the corridors. In view of the summers, the shopkeepers in the area have complained that it might lead to several diseases as mosquitoes and flies are breeding there. ‘‘Customers of these shops and persons visiting the newspaper offices have to cover their noses due to the stench emanating. This is quite an embarrassing situation for us. But nobody is listening,’’ said a shopkeeper. The problem is continuing for the past several months. A number of times, MC employees have visited the place, but the manhole has never been cleaned.
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...Meanwhile, city goes sans power, water
Ludhiana, May 5
The situation is unlikely to be better as the Punjab state Electricity Board (PSEB) has announced major cut for tomorrow as well. For the residents, the day was particularly bad as water supply also remained affected due to the cut. While today's power shutdown was to carry out maintenance work, industrialists said the board had already started imposing undeclared cuts which was leading to losses for their units, particularly those in the small and tiny sectors. Power remained off in a majority of areas, including Sarabha Nagar, Ghumar Mandi, BRS Nagar, Aggar Nagar, Rajguru Nagar, SBS Nagar, DC Complex, Bharat Nagar, DMC Hospital Area, College Road, PSEB power colony, Mall Road, Rose Garden, Kundan Puri, New Kundan Puri, Shahi Mohalla, New Upkar Nagar, Manakwal village, Tera Nagar, GK Vihar, Roop Nagar, Dhandra, Dugri and nearly 10 colonies that get their supply from the 66 kv Giaspura feeder for six to eight hours. "Despite tall claims, the power situation has not improved much. We faced a seven-hour cut today. There was no water either and worse, there was no power supply when I went to office. The only hope now is that power cuts remain restricted to the declared ones," said Pankaj Aggarwal, an employee with a private company residing in the Ghumar Mandi area. Traffic chaos prevailed on most roads as traffic signals too were not functioning. Absence of traffic cops in several areas added to the chaos. Besides high usage of generators resulted in heavy pollution. "A large number of people are using generators which emits smoke and makes even breathing difficult. We were cautious using invertors today as a longer cut would have meant that we went without power," Manju, a home maker said. While the PSEB is yet to declare official cuts, industrialists said poor power situation was affecting their functioning. "When cuts are declared we are still prepared. But unscheduled cuts for one to even four-five hours have already begun. Particularly for small and tiny units, these undeclared cuts mean that labour is not put to use as a result of which costs rise. Most tiny units do not even have generators so that they could continue their functioning. Usage of generators is also quite costly. The government must ensure that industry does not suffer on account of poor supply of power," said Rajnish Ahuja president, Focal Point Industrial Shed Association.
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Cow milk less fatty than buffalo milk
Ludhiana, May 5
According to doctors, surveys have indicated that people who consume cow milk are found to be less prone to cardiac problems than those consuming the buffalo milk. According to dieticians working at hospitals and slimming centres, the reasons are too obvious. They feel that the buffalo milk is more fatty than that of the cow. “Earlier, it was oil and ghee which people would avoid. Nobody ever thought that milk would also be one of the causes leading to high cholesterol in the body,” said Pooja, a dietician at a local slimming centre. While the doctors have been arguing, giving chemical reasons for the preference of cow milk, there is a traditional and religious view also. Yoga guru Ramdev has also been advocating the use of cow milk which is considered to be sacred and health friendly. Darbara Singh, dairy farmer, says, “With the change in lifestyle and less physical activity, the extra fat remains unutilised which leads to health problems like obesity and high cholesterol. To avoid such problems, people should take low-fat milk.” Dairy owners have also started procuring more cows as the demand for milk is growing much faster. Jaswinder Singh, another dairy owner at Haibowal Kalan, says that in the past one year, he has added about 20 cows to his dairy. Earlier he had none. This was done to meet the demands of the consumers. Medical experts, keeping in mind the modern-day lifestyle, suggest that people should take cows’ milk as it is low on fat.
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Modern mandi to be set up at Ladhowal
Ludhiana May 5 Disclosing this here today, the chairman, Punjab Mandi Board, Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, said the move was aimed at providing farmers with the facility to dispose of their products in the nearby places. He said the mandis would have the best facilities available anywhere in the world. He observed that the farmers would be encouraged to sell their produce in domestic mandis only. He said potatoes were first transported to Delhi and sold there and then they came back to the Punjab markets. He said once best infrastructure was made available in the state, the farmers would not look for other places. Lakhowal, who is also the state president of the Bhartiya Kisan Union, disclosed that he was going around the state and seeking opinion from various quarters to improve the lot of the farmers.
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Progressive farmers set up market intelligence wing
Ludhiana May 5 Disclosing this here today, the president of the chamber, Avtar Singh Dhindsa, said this was important to ensure that the farmers sold their produce at the right time when they could get the best prices. The chamber is an apex body representing various farmers' organisations. It held its first meeting here today under the chairmanship of Dhindsa, a well-known flower exporter. He said the chamber was a forum of progressive and educated farmers who were keen to give a modern shape to farming. He said the main agenda of the chamber was to educate farmers about latest technology and its use. About 100 progressive farmers from different areas of the state attended the meeting. Among other things, the chamber exhorted upon the farmers to ensure that they did not sow or transplant paddy before June 15 as it would put an extra pressure on the water resources. The chamber appealed to the deputy commissioners across the state to ban the sowing and transplantation before June 15 and every progressive farmer would support it.
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Part of park left to benefit an individual
Ludhiana, May 5 While all this is happening to help a commercial establishment allegedly, residents of the area are seeing red. They have threatened to launch an agitation if the matter is not resolved soon. According to the residents, the green belt measuring 30 foot by 60 foot (number-D-141) was ignored by the MC for many years but the body had suddenly started developing it. A part of the belt was being converted into a metalled road and around 15 square foot of the 60 square foot road was being included in the green belt. Protesting against the narrowing of the road, the residents said they were shocked that the MC, which was supposed to check violations, was encroaching on public land to benefit an individual who wanted to use the green belt as a parking space. ‘‘As per the map of town planning, there is no road adjoining the west side of plot number 1142 in Phase I, Dugri. But the MC is leaving around 30 square feet land, earmarked for the green belt adjoining plot number 143 for use as a road. Why should they do so? We will not allow the MC to become a violator instead of a law enforcer,’’ said a resident. In a signed representation to the MC, the residents said the violation should be checked with immediate effect. Otherwise they would be forced to agitate. Structure comes up in park In another case, residents of Model Town Extension alleged that some employees of the MC were allegedly helping a resident to construct a structure in their area meant for a park. They added that the raising of the outer boundary wall had started some days ago. Producing the map prepared by the Improvement Trust in which plot number 23 was earmarked for a park, residents said that alleged encroachers were usurping this piece and the MC was continuing to be a mute spectator. ‘‘We want the illegal structure demolished. Otherwise, we will knock at every possible door to get the land vacated. If the MC does not listen to us, we will go to a higher level,’’ said a resident. MC halts work
Hakim Singh, SDO, MC said the road was included in the green belt by the contractor who was allotted the contract of the site. ‘‘The contractor went by the map released by the drawing branch of the MC and included the road area in the green belt. But we have stopped the construction as the residents came to us today complaining about it,’’ he said. About the illegal road also, he said they would resolve the matter amicably and consider the pleas of the residents.
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Villagers made aware of drug menace
Mandi Ahmedgarh, May 5 Meanwhile, various teams, acting under the supervision of their respective circle officers, organised meetings with residents of various villages in the area. Gautam Cheema, SSP, Khanna, while inaugurating the move at a public meeting in Malaudh town, near here, on Friday, warned that drug addiction if not checked immediately, would prove disastrous for all sections of society in near future. He said police or any other uniformed force could not curb the danger without the active participation of social organisations. “As police officials usually come from distant localities, they cannot easily differentiate between good and bad people easily. However, they can easily curb any evil in case consistent information about violators was provided by office-bearers of social organisations of the area,” said Cheema, adding that the drug addiction had increased during the past decade. Referring to information collected through NGOs and officials posted in the district, Cheema disclosed that a large number of students were falling prey to addiction as drug peddlers, in an effort to mint money, had been exploiting their innocence. “As we understand that students are being trapped by smugglers and their agents, we will take a lenient view of their fault. However, we will take strict action against those, who have been supplying contraband to consumers to make money,” said Cheema while talking to the Ludhiana Tribune. He suggested that parents should spend more time with their kids for their welfare.
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Ludhiana, May 5 He said he had talked to the local bodies minister and a submersible pump would be provided to solve the water shortage problem. — OC
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3 booked for assault over land dispute
Jagraon, May 5 A dispute over land is said to be the reason behind the attack.5 held for gambling In five separate incidents, the Sudhar police has arrested five persons on charges of gambling. The police registered cases under Sections 13-A, 3 and 67 of the Gambling Act. Jaspal Singh of Dugri was arrested from Abbuwal with Rs 1,550, Satnam Singh of Durgi from Mohi with Rs 1,570, Gurcharan Singh was arrested from Jodhan with Rs 4,500, Ajay Kumar of Sandor from Saholi with Rs 470 and Bhushan Sood of Dhandra from Dhaipai with Rs 480. In all cases, number slips and other material were also seized by the police. The five allegedly were enticing people to multiply money by gambling.
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Land banks to be created for industry
Ludhiana, May 5 By creating land banks, the government plans to boost industrial development in the state without interfering with fertile land. "We would also start identifying such areas," A.R. Talwar, principal secretary, Industry and Commerce, told Ludhiana Tribune here yesterday. He said developing land banks for industry was one of the focus areas which would go a long way towards attracting industry to the state. Local industry has been demanding for quite some time that residential areas where industry units in large numbers are located be designated as industrial areas. Talwar said the government was not averse to the idea and was considering the same. "However, details are yet to be worked out." On pending subsidy, Talwar said detailed reports were being collected and Rs 30 crore would be disbursed when such details are received. The government is also reviewing cases wherein units had shut down and subsidy is still pending. The government plans to clear backlog of the entire pending subsidy of over Rs 300 crore within the next two financial years. This would include an additional Rs 100 crore disbursement this financial year itself. 
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