14012021-JTR-01.qxd 1/13/2021 11:09 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar TRIBUNE PAGE 2 A BONFIRE OF CHEER AND ABUNDANCE THIS LOHRI Hoshiarpur district admin celebrates Lohri with orphans at Children's Home at Child Welfare Complex. FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY INBRIEF COPIES OF THREE AGRI LAWS BURNT Jalandhar: In their continuing protests against the three farm laws, farmers of the Bharti Kisan Union (Rajewal) on Wednesday burnt the copies of three farm laws in front of the DC office on the occasion of Lohri. They also raised slogans against the Centre. The protest on Lohri took place even as farmers were busy preparing for the tractor march on January 26. Thousands of farmers from Doaba region have planned a tractor march, wherein over a 1,000 tractors will be mobilised to head to Delhi borders from Doaba, from the BKU (Rajewal) alone. Thousands of others from other farm unions shall be heading to the protests soon. Preparations were also made in Jalandhar. While all villages were asked to send in tractors in support of the march, many new office-bearers were also appointed to manage the proceedings of the union in Punjab as a majority of the farmers are away to the protests until January 26. TNS PAGE 3 I HAD THE GAME WRONG, READS SUSHANT'S NOTE THERE IS NO TURNING BACK FOR SIDHARRTH SIPANI Shweta shared a note by her late brother, where he admitted he got the game wrong after spending 30 yrs of his life. MAX 15°C | MIN 7°C | YESTERDAY MAX 16°C | MIN 4°C SUNSET THURSDAY 5:46 PM Sidharrth Sipani, who is currently a part of the web series Fariha, talks about his future endeavours and more. SUNRISE FRIDAY 7:27 AM THURSDAY | 14 JANUARY 2021 | JALANDHAR He plans to set up a stadium in memory of two Saragarhi martyrs at his village NRI Jatinder Jay Minhas loves spending time at his village in Adampur and keeps contributing for its development have already ❝2I acre land andarranged for we are in DIASPORA TALES Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 13 Jatinder Jay Minhas was 23 when he left Damunda village — his native place — in Adampur and moved to Canada. Now 60, he makes sure he visits his village at least 3-4 times every year to support social activities back home. Having returned just four days ago, his first stopover was at Tikri border, where he donated 3,000 shawls to farmers. Calling in specialists and staff from Lions Eye Hospital that he is financially supporting in Adampur, he also organised an eye camp for farmers before he finally came back home last evening. From morning till evening, he remained busy attending a host of Lohri celebrations at a school and Minhas has converted his ancestral house at Damunda village in Adampur into a rural skill development centre. Baba Bhag Singh University, Adampur, which, too, get monetary support from him. Though Minhas is settled in Richmond, he is running a construction business and a film production company in Surrey. “I have two daughters, both of whom are now handling my business. I love to be here and enjoy spending time here. This time, I have come with a target to get the work of setting up a multi-purpose sports stadium in my village. I have a dream to set up a stadium in the memory of two Saragarhi martyrs — Gurmukh Singh Minhas and Jeewan Singh Minhas —who were engaged in that battle the process of adding one more acre, so that we can have grounds for soccer, basketball and volleyball. I also intend to set up a gym, changing room, good washrooms and all other required facilities. I have already engaged an architect, but we are yet to finalise the plan. I hope the work will start at the site by mid-2021 and the most interesting aspect of it is that I want to give the stadium the shape of a fort. ❞ Jatinder Jay Minhas, DAMUNDA VILLAGE RESIDENT, WHO NOW RESIDES IN CANADA and were from my village.” While sharing his plan he said: “I have already arranged for 2 acre land and we are in the process of adding one more acre, so that we can have grounds for soccer, basketball and volleyball. I also intend to set up a gym, changing room, good washrooms and all other required facilities. I have already engaged an architect, but we are yet to finalise the plan. I hope the work will start at the site by mid-2021 and the most interesting aspect of it is that I want to give the stadium the shape of a fort.” Minhas said most of his activities in Adampur have been around improving health and education facilities for his people here. “When I moved to Canada in 1983, I realised that both these facilities are government-sponsored there. It took me sometime to establish myself there and when I did, I started returning in the ’90s and began extending some donations on each visit. In 2005, I supported in the setting up of Sant Baba Bhag Singh Engineering College here, which 10 years later got upgraded as a university. I have remained involved in this project closely. I have also contributed towards setting up a bridge near Padhiana village.” About his works on the health front, he said: “With five more NRIs, I am associated with the Guru Nanak Mission Hospital at Mithapur village. Since 2010, I am also associated with Lions Eye Hospital. They were conducting 150 free eye surgeries annually. For the past 10 years, I am organising an Dist all set for first phase of inoculation drive 29 teams at 29 centres to administer vaccine to 2,900 people on single day | 11,800 health workers registered for 1st phase Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 13 After the dry run for Covid vaccine in Jalandhar on January 8, the district is all set for the first phase of its inoculation drive on January 16. As per the final lists, 11,800 health workers (government, private as well as military) shall be vaccinated across 29 centres in the district on the first day of the vaccination drive. As many as 16,000 doses of Covishield vaccine are set to arrive in the district within a day or two. The 16,000 doses shall be stacked across 11 storage points in Jalandhar — 8 rural and 3 urban, including storage points at the Civil Hospital, CHCs and sub-divisional hospitals. As many as 29 teams shall be administering vaccines across these 29 centres in the district. Each storage point has been stacked FACTFILE ■ Cold chain points set up across 11 storage points ■ 16,000 doses of Covishield to arrive in a couple of days ■ Capacity to store over 12 lakh vaccines available in Jalandhar ■ The 16,000 doses shall be stacked across 11 storage points in Jalandhar - 8 rural and 3 urban, including storage points at the Civil Hospital, CHCs and subdivisional hospitals. with ILRs (ice-lined refrigerators) to store the vaccines. The second dose of the vaccine shall be administered to all health workers listed with the Health Department 28 days after the first dose. In the second stage of the vaccine, all frontline workers shall be included. The second JALANDHAR ROUND-UP 5,12,799 Negative 4,71,440 Positive 20,249 Active 244 Deceased 653 Discharged 19,352 Sample inappropriate 4,713 Results awaited 2,805 Home isolated 141 Jalandhar: With 14 more cases, total number of Covid positive cases in the district on Wednesday reached 20,249. The number of deceased persons in Jalandhar remained 653. The active cases in the district are 244, while 19,352 people have been discharged and 141 people are under home isolation in Jalandhar. In Kapurthala district, 14 persons tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday. stage workforce shall include the administration and police frontline officials, journalists and paramilitary forces. The 29 teams are supposed to meet a target of vaccinating 2,900 people on a single day. As per the health officials, each of the 29 teams shall have a target of vacci- Project ‘Winter Warmth’ launched in Kapurthala Saanjh, the community out- SSP, Kapurthala, Kanwardeep Kaur distributes blankets to poor people as a part of ‘Winter Warmth’ project on Lohri. Punjab have proved its devotion ❝ThethroughPoliceexemplary services in theto its citizens their worst time of the pandemic. The Winter Warmth project is just another small initiative to fill the gap between the police and common people Kanwardeep Kaur, SSP, KAPURTHALA reach arm of the Punjab Police, on Wednesday launched Project ‘Winter Warmth’ at Kapurthala. The Kapurthala police distributed 900 blankets to poor and needy families on the occasion of Lohri in the vaccine shall be arriving in the district. It has reached Chandigarh and will come to Jalandhar tomorrow or day after. Since a margin of 10 per cent wastage has also been kept, 16,000 doses shall be arriving. There’s a target of vaccinating 2,900 people in a single day. Samples collected Tribune News Service ❞ ❝For the firstofphase, 16,000 doses Covishield DIST REPORTS 14 NEW COVID CASES nating 100 beneficiaries (per team), so the 29 teams will cover 2,900 people in a day. Any health workers that are left out shall be vaccinated during the second dose. District Immunisation Officer Dr Rakesh Chopra said: “For the first phase, 16,000 doses of Covishield vaccine On Lohri, cops show some warmth Jalandhar, January 13 The Saanjh and Women and Child Protection Unit of Jalandhar Commissionerate celebrated Lohri with the underprivileged kids at Sanjay Gandhi Nagar, Jalandhar. Over 200 kids from the economically weaker section of society participated in the celebrations. Under Project Winter Warmth, blankets, school bags, groundnut, popcorns were shared with kids. Ishaant Gupta from Himco Charitable Trust and Dr Vandana from Ushayaan contributed in providing Lohri goodies to kids. Ritu Kochhar of Pranic Healing Foundation made the kids aware about child abuse and asked them to raise their voice if they face it. Arun Saini, DCP headquarters, motivated kids to face difficulties of life, work hard and never waiver from the right path. PAGE 4 sub-divisions of Phagwara, Bholath, Sultanpur Lodhi and Kaputhala. The project has been initiated by ADGP head of Commu, nity Affairs Division, Saanjh, Gurpreet Deo. Project Winter Warmth is an initiative to reach out to the poorest of poor and provide them some warmth and solace during the harsh winter conditions. Saanjh, assisted by Punjab CSR authority, reached out to leading companies of Punjab and solicited their help and support. Many corporates have stepped forward to lend a helping hand in this noble initiative. Senior Superintendent of Police, Kapurthala, Kanwardeep Kaur along with other officers launched the project in Kapurthala. Corporates of Kapurthala district, mainly JCT Mill Phagwara, EIPL Phagwara, Starch Mill Phagwara and Jagatjeet Mill Hamira Kapurthala contributed liberally towards the project. The SSP said: “The Punjab Police have proved its devotion to its citizen through their exemplary services in the worst time of the pandemic. The Winter Warmth project is just another small initiative to fill the gap between the police and common people.” c m y b ❞ Dr Rakesh Chopra, IMMUNISATION OFFICER shall be arriving in the district. It has reached Chandigarh and will come to Jalandhar tomorrow or day after. Since a margin of 10 per cent wastage has also been kept, currently 16,000 doses shall be arriving. In a single day, there is a target of vaccinating 2,900 people in the district. All arrangements are in place and the teams and centres might also be expanded depending on the first phase. Lists of frontline workers are also being prepared. The data shall keep getting updated. We have a capacity to store 12 lakh vaccines in all, but they are being brought as per the current need and as per the vaccinating phase.” The Covishield vaccine shall arrive in vials, each of which has 10 doses. Vaccines will be stored at 2°C to 8°C and can be stored until they expire. However, the Health Department expects to use these all in six months. KATRA-DELHI EXPRESSWAY Admn offers ‘fair’ compensation after farmers refused to give land Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 13 After farmers refused to give their land for the Katra-Delhi Expressway, the district administration on Wednesday directed all competent authorities for land acquisition (CALAs) to immediately implement modified multiplication factor rates in the district. Divulging the details, Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori said these multiplication factors have been modified by the state government under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Act, 2013, through a notification on January 12, 2021. At present, there were three major projects in the district, where compensation award fixation was due — DelhiKatra Expressway, Jalandhar Ring Road Project, and Bathinda Green Field proj- ect. He said the new factors would be applied on all three. He said according to these factors, the market value of a rural property is multiplied in case the government wished to acquire it for any development project. Earlier, there were only two thresholds of multiplication factor i.e. factor of 1, and 1.25, modifying which the state government has taken these factors up to 2 according to the distance of rural land from the urban body. Now, the market value of the land will be calculated by the CALA keeping in view the newly modified factors. As per the notification, in case the land falls within 5 km from the outer boundary of any urban area in the state, the market value will be multiplied by 1.0, adding that the factor of 1.25 will be applicable on land 5 km to 10 km from the outer boundary of any urban (Municipal Council/Municipal Committees/Nagar Panchayat). Similarly, the factor will be 1.5 for the distance from above 10 to 15 km, 1.75 for the distance from above 15 to 20 km, and the market value will be multiplied by the factor of 2 if the land falls above 20 km away from urban areas. Pointing out further, competent authority for land acquisition (CALA)-cumSDM-2 Rahul Sindhu and district revenue officercum-CALA Jashanjit Singh said the multiplication factor formula is applied to fix the market value of land in case of land acquisition. The higher the multiplication factor, the higher the market value will be. They said this new formula would apply to land acquisitions, where compensation award was yet to be fixed by the authorities and on all future projects. annual eye camp for them which gets 3,000 poor patients in the OPD. We offer them free medicines, spectacles etc. We also conduct free 800-900 cataract surgeries. I also got an operation theatre set up here, which I opened from Canadian High Commissioner, who especially came here on my invite. I spent ~22 lakh on re-laying a road in front of the hospital.” He said: “We have even converted our ancestral house into a training centre for stitching and computer classes. I set it up in 2015 in the memory of my father, who passed away the same year. He had expressed his desire that our house should be put to some useful work for the betterment of villagers. In 2013, I also spent ~22 lakh on setting up two blocks of a government primary school in the village with local Akali MLA Pawan Tinu. Besides, I have also been contributing for laying sewer system in the village.” ONE-TIME SETTLEMENT Traders demand increase in tax slab up to ~2.5L Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 13 After several fights, scores of meetings and plethora of requests, the one-time settlement (OTS) scheme for VAT dues was finally unveiled on Tuesday. Ravinder Dhir, convener of the Khel Udyog Sangh, who had been going to Chandigarh and holding meetings with the ministers to convince them to release notification of the policy, said that it was a good step but he also demanded increase in the slab of tax from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh so that it could benefit maximum number of traders and industrialists. “With this policy the traders having tax demand of up to Rs 1 lakh will only have to pay 10 per cent of the tax demand and thus the policy is good for them. But those above it i.e. those who have tax demand above Rs 1 lakh will just be relieved from paying interest penalty, but will have to pay full tax,” he said adding that there is demand from the government that they increase the slab as above 90 per cent of the traders will get relief. “It will definitely be beneficial for most of the traders, but those who have tax demand above Rs 1 lakh will not be benefited much,” he said. Dhir also held a special event where he thanked MLA Rajinder Beri who was the only one to always visit along with the traders and put pressure on the government to unveil the policy. The Industry Minister said that this scheme would resolve the long-pending issue of unavailability of Cforms and others raised by the industrialists in Punjab. Arora also termed it as a ‘historic step’ to give much-needed relief to the industrialists. He said the scheme would benefit almost 10,000 small and medium scale businessmen of the Doaba region.