Ludhiana, May 7
Despite the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (LMC) fixing parking charges for the parking lots in Feroze Gandhi Market here, the contractor concerned has been accused by many residents of overcharging them.

Investigations by Ludhiana Tribune have revealed that the A.P.R. and Company Parking lot in Feroze Gandhi Market is overcharging the persons who park their vehicles in the lots, even though the MC, in its terms and conditions, has fixed the parking rates.

Many residents, who are parking their vehicles on a daily basis in the market, said that the contractor was charging Rs 225 for car, Rs 125 for scooter and Rs 50 for a bicycle per month, while the MC had fixed Rs 140, Rs 90 and Rs 40, respectively. The terms and conditions, fixed by the MC, a copy of which is with Ludhiana Tribune also, clearly states the same.

The Traders and Property Dealers Association of the market has sent a number of written complaints to the Teh Bazaari Department of the MC and other senior officials. They had sought explanation from the contractor who, in his reply, stated that the lots were auctioned at very high prices. So they were forced to raise the rates of parking.

An office-bearer of the association said the contractor was charging Rs 3, Rs 5 and Rs 10 for cycle, scooter and car, respectively, on a daily basis, while as per the terms it was Rs 2, Rs 3 and Rs 8, respectively.

The footpaths, meant for pedestrians, were also being used for parking and even the area on the roads near Nehru Sidhant Kendra were serving as extended parking lot contrary to rules. Even the green belts and vacant plots were being put to use by the contractor in violation of rules.

‘‘While the contractor is supposed to put up a board in the lot, stating the rates, monthly passes and persons responsible for the parking area, these are not being put. And wilful obliteration of parking rates has been done on the board to fleece the customers, ’’ said K.S. Monga, a representative of the association.

‘‘We have made a number of representations to the civic body, but nobody listens to us. If they have political compulsions, why should we suffer? They should at least respect the chair on which they are sitting, ’’ he added. 

Ludhiana, May 7
Bibi Upinderjit Kaur, education minister, Punjab, has said that the government hopes to fill maximum out of 32,000 vacant posts of teacher after the summer vacations (July). Bibi Upinderjit Kaur was in the city today as the chief guest during the convocation and the annual prize distribution function at Ramgarhia Girls College here.

Talking to Ludhiana Tribune, she said that 22,000 vacancies were there in the secondary education department, while 10,000 posts were there in primary education. She said in the next Cabinet meeting, everything would be decided and a majority of teachers would be adjusted.

She also said that it was unfortunate that under the Sarv Siksha Abhiyan, the position of the state had gone down to 16. "Education needs to get a boost, as the future of the state and nation depends on good quality education. It needs to be improved. Students, on the other hand, must realise the importance of hardwork and value of time," she added.

On asking why teachers were being put on election duties, Bibi Upinderjit Kaur, on her maiden visit to Ludhiana as a minister, said that she would try that teachers were not put on duties other than teaching.

She also said that people wanted the primary schools to be shifted to the primary education department instead of panchayats, but any change (if need be) would take place after considering all aspects. The education minister said that in colleges more emphasis would be laid on technical and professional education.

"We are requesting the government machinery to emphasise more on Punjabi language. Other than Hindi and English, the matter should be translated in Punjabi also," she added.

Ludhiana, May 7
He is a victim of police apathy. Forty-five- year-old Bhajan Singh, a resident of Saidan Mohalla here, has not suffered so much from hip displacement as from police attitude.

He suffered the hip injury, that left him crippled and unemployed in June 2005, when his associate, Raju, a resident of Jalandhar, allegedly pulled a ladder he had climbed to put banners of films near Sheetla Mata Mandir in Aggar Nagar. Raju, according to Bhajan Singh, did not want to pay him Rs 50,000 that was kept with Raju. Since then, Bhajan has been making rounds of police officials with a crutch for justice.

Khamano, May 7
Dharmpal Varma (82), famous freedom fighter from Khamano who died yesterday, was lit to flames by his eldest son Paramjit today around 10.30 am with state honours.

Ravinder Kumar, SDM Khamano, placed a wreath on the body. A local police party under the command of SI Ratanjit Singh presented a guard of honour.

Some prominent persons and a large number of local residents were present at the cremation.

Dharampal had taken active part in the freedom struggle and was later involved in social service.

Ludhiana, May 7
Taking up the issue of stray dogs with the municipal corporation authorities, Dr Sandeep K.Jain, state coordinator, People for Animals (PFA) and honorary animal welfare officer, AWBI, has stated that the MC officials were shrugging their responsibility regarding these animals.

After the statement of MC officials that they could not do anything about the dogs, and that the PFA was equipped to handle the matter, Dr Jain has shot off letters to the MC chief and the local bodies department.

He has stated that either the officials were ignorant about the provisions of Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001, or were just trying to shake off the responsibility in the dog biting cases that had shaken the city in the recent past.

Stating that the local authorities were responsible for the implementation of Dog Rules with the help of the animal husbandry department and NGOs, Dr Jain said that they were required to set up dog pounds to check the menace.

Moreover, the MC was required to train its staff regarding the techniques of catching dogs, identifying, transportation and release in the same area after sterlisation. He added that all necessary information had been provided under Dog Rules for managing cases of rabid, dumb rabid, furious dogs.

He added that councillors of the municipal corporation had unanimously decided to adopt this programme in 2004. The then DC had also tried to launch this programme in the district and many subdivisions had showed the results, but it failed due to the lack of initiative of the MCL.

"It is a known fact that if this programme is adopted aggressively and 70 per cent of the dog population is sterlised in two years, a state of equilibrium can be achieved. It is required that officials of the MCL are sensitised on this matter and posting/training of staff needed to carry out their job be ordered," he added.

Other agencies can also be involved as per rules to control the stray dog population.He has further asked the MC to direct the officials concerned to implement this programme for effective control of dog population and rabies.

Ludhiana, May 7
The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has started the preparations for the forthcoming elections of the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation, while its alliance partner Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is yet to make its start.

The party held a closed door-meeting at the Circuit House, here, yesterday. The state president, Rajinder Bhandari, and the additional party incharge, R.P. Singh, were present at the meeting.

Buoyed over the success in the assembly elections, the party is trying to bargain for maximum number of wards with its alliance partner SAD.

So far, the two alliance partners have shared 35 seats each, with the understanding that whosoever has the maximum number of seats in the MC would get the post of the mayor.

During the recent delimitation, the number of wards is proposed to be increased to 75. Although the final notification about the delimitation is yet to be issued, the BJP is learnt to have staked its claim for the additional wards with the argument that its influence in the urban areas is more than that of the SAD.

As on now, the BJP and the SAD share two assembly seats each, from the city.

One semi-urban seat of Dakha, which has some municipal wards in it, is represented by the SAD. But the BJP leaders are arguing that it is just incidental that some city areas fall in a rural assembly segment and the same yardstick cannot be used for the MC elections and the assembly elections. “It is basically the areas of influence of the party where we want to field our candidates”, a senior party leader said.

So far, the BJP has got the mayor’s seat once, when Chaudhry Satya Prakash was elected the mayor. Subsequently, it went to the SAD and the Congress in the elections.

The BJP leaders for a record have been maintaining that the mayor would belong to the SAD-BJP and not to any particular party.

Ludhiana, May 7
Mini-bus owners have urged the district administration to check the illegal plying of auto-rickshaws beyond the municipal limits.

In a memorandum to the deputy commissioner, the Ludhiana Mini-Bus Owners Association said the service of mini-bus operators in rural areas was adversely affected, as three-wheelers and four-wheelers were continuing their operations despite not having the permission to do so.

"Three-wheelers are allowed legally to operate their vehicles within the municipal corporation limit, but they are operating even in rural areas . If our staff tries to stop them, they do not hesitate to resort to violence," said J.S. Grewal, general secretary of the association.

The association said this action was causing heavy financial losses to mini-bus operators, who were already passing through a tough phase due to the heavy burden of taxes and rise in fuel costs.

"Four-wheelers that are allowed only to carry goods even ferry passengers, which hits our industry," added Grewal.

The association said so far drives to check such illegal operations had failed to bring the desired results, as the checks were done only for a short period after which three-four wheeler operators restarted their operations.

Jagraon, May 7
Baljinder Singh of Patti Sua Manuke was arrested by the police from the area of Chahhar during patrolling. They have seized 11430 ml of illicit liquor from his possession.

In another incident, Darwara Singh of Chak Bhaika was arrested by the Raikot police from the area of Dhurkot. They have seized 15000 ml of illicit liquor from his possession.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, May 7
While the Punjab Government is yet to initiate the process for excavating reasons behind the exceptionally large number of suicide committed by members of peasant families in the state, the incidents continue unabated in this part of Malwa.

Though the immediate cause of deaths might be varied in reported cases, frustration due to financial constraints dominates.

However, the police did not insist on registering cases under the abetment to commit suicide Section in a majority of cases, obviously to minimise harassment to the victim’s family. In certain cases, kin of the deceased cite mental imbalance as the cause of committing suicide.

Investigations by the Ludhiana Tribune reveal that there has been a spurt in suicide incidents in this part of Malwa during the recent past. The victim had resorted to drowning in canal and consuming insecticide in most of the cases.

Iqbal Singh, son of Jit Singh, a farmer of Jhordan village in Ludhiana district, reportedly consumed insecticide to end his life yesterday. The deceased took the extreme step as he had reportedly lost hope to repay loan he had borrowed to sustain agriculture in a hired piece of land measuring 10 acres.

According to Amarjit Singh Khaira, SHO of Raikot, a case was not registered as kin of the deceased had stated in the presence of social leaders of area that nobody was responsible was for the incident.

Tejinder Singh (34), son of Zora Singh of Saholi village, was feared drowned when he had reportedly jumped in the Abohar branch of Sirhind Canal, near here. Though the exact reason for the attempt is yet to be ascertained, the members of the family maintain that he had received a head injury during a brawl at Chandigarh a few years ago.

The body of Bahadur Singh of Dhaler village who had gone missing three days ago was found in the Bathinda Branch of Sirhind Canal near Kalyan Bridge yesterday. According to an FIR registered under Section 306 of the IPC against two farmer brothers of Jhaner village, economic issue was the reason behind the reported suicide.

Last week, Baldev Singh, son of Kartar Singh of Bassian town in Ludhiana district, had ended his life by hanging with a fan. He was running a tractor repair workshop and was reported to have committed suicide out of frustration.

Earlier, the body of Gurpreet Singh Gora, son of Gulab Singh of Goh village, near Khanna, was recovered from a canal near Khanauri in Haryana. The youth had gone missing about three weeks ago.

Ludhiana, May 7
The 4th district conference of BSNL Employees Union (BSNLEU) today made scathing attacks on the Congress-led UPA government in the Centre for what it described as sustained attempts to dismantle the private sector undertakings (PSUs) and continued policies of privatisation.

The conference, which opened at Punjabi Bhawan, here, under the presidentship of Balbir Singh, was attended by about 250 delegates.

The BSNLEU district secretary Balwinder Singh, in his report placed before the house, congratulated the workers for their massive support to the union in terms of three membership verification and for their continued support which had led to the BSNLEU emerging as the largest union in BSNL at the national level by 60 percent margin for the second term In succession.

Inaugurating the open session, CITU general secretary Raghunath Singh charged the government with overt and covert efforts to dismantle the Indian PSUs under dictates from bodies like the World Bank, IMF and multinational corporations. "Vigorous attempts are being made to disinvest and privatise even profit making public sector companies."

He said the recent attacks on BHEL, Nevyeli Corporation and increase in FDI (foreign direct investment) from 49 to 74 per cent in telecom sector were some of the examples of the anti-public sector policies of the government. Serious effort were being made to increase FDI In Insurance sector as well which was nothing else but a bid to enable foreign companies take over control of insurance and telecom sectors.

Circle secretary of the union (Punjab Circle) Balbir Singh, condemned the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India for its soft corner towards private operators in the telecom sector. He maintained that each and every decision of TRAI went in favour of private operators and against the public sector companies — BSNL and MTNL. The recent decisions of TRAI asking the BSNL and MTNL to share their towers and other infrastructure with private operators was a clear indicator in this direction.

Punjab circle president of the union R.L. Modgil, while addressing the workers, criticised the UPA government for its policies of privatisation. He said the decision to hike the FDI limit in telecom sector will virtually transfer the control of telecom services to foreign companies, thereby putting in jeopardy the national security simply because telecom sector was a very sensitive area. Further, the decision of TRAI to reduce ADC will inflict a loss of around Rs 2100 crore upon the BSNL.

Ludhiana, May 7
Exporters in the region have reported a dent in export orders on account of increased credit costs and a weakened dollar. Unable to face global competition, exporters fear they may not be able to attain export targets set by the government and exports could even witness a 5 per cent to 10 per cent reduction than last year.

Industry source said a large number of buyers, particularly for those in the engineering segment, postponed their orders for May and have asked exporters to wait.

Alarmed at the development this, feel industrialists, could mean shifting of orders to more competitive countries like China.

"In the last six months, credit has become costlier by over 3 per cent, dollar has reduced by around 12 per cent and steel prices too have risen. The overall affect hence is almost 17 per cent. As a consequence, we have become costlier in comparison to our competitors," said S.C. Ralhan, regional chairman, Engineering Export Promotion Council.

While exporters are busy completing previous orders, they apprehend shifting of orders to other countries. "In May, our buyers, instead of giving us orders, asked us to wait. This is alarming as it means that if by the end of this month our costs are not competitive enough they would not place orders with us," an exporter said.

Despite orders having been affected a few exporters increased prices. "However, that is the case with those who obtain orders of very less volume. In case of larger volumes increase in prices could even translate into cancellation of orders as price differential would increase significantally."

Industry is now waiting for the government to take concrete measures in the direction.

Recent announcement by secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, G.K. Pillai, on cost of credit has brought some hope among industry circles. "We are trying to recommend a solution wherein the banks and RBI could arrive at a concessional rate of credit for exporters," Pillai had stated at his recent visit to the city.

"If credit rate reduces, we can immediately pass on the benefit to our buyers which would help us maintain them."

Apart from dollar, high credit has been adding to exporters' woes. "It makes us uncompetitive in global markets. Cost of credit was already very high and in the last six months it has moved upwards further, which has made us very weak. If situation fails to improve there could be major losses," another exporter rued.

In case of engineering goods, exports from this region were around Rs 4,000 crore. China gives stiff competition in most engineering products like cycle parts, handtools and fasteners. While actual impact would be clear only when the situation improves, so far exporters estimate a decline of around Rs 300 crore in engineering goods exports from the region.

Ludhiana, May 7
G. K. Pillai, secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has addressed a seminar on 'Special Economic Zones' organised by the Ludhiana Management Association (LMA), here.

Pillai spoke about SEZ Act, 2005 which aims at infrastructural development, promotion of investment from foreign and domestic sources, promotion of exports and 
creation of employment opportunities.

Kamal Wadhera, general secretary, and Mahesh Munjal, president, of the association were also present on the occasion.