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Under-construction hotel collapses
Amritsar, July 29 The building, belonging to Amarjit Singh Sohal and located in Hide Market on the GT Road, collapsed at 5.10 am due to alleged use of poor construction material by the owners and the contractors. D.P.S. Kharbanda, commissioner, municipal corporation, said as per prima facie evidence it seemed that the building came hurtling down due to use of poor quality material, but the actual reason would be found only after a thorough probe, which had already been entrusted to the superintendent engineer (civil). He said he came to know about the building collapse at 5.45 am and immediately rushed a team of fire brigade to rescue the trapped person and visited the site along with the SP (city). Tarlochan Singh, SSP, fire brigade, said it took about five hours to save Bikram, a migrant labour from Uttar Pradesh, who was sleeping on the ground floor when the whole complex came down. However, two security guards managed to escape unhurt. Harminder Singh, SHO, Rambagh police station, said a case under sections 337 and 338 of the IPC was registered.
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Daring Act
Amritsar, July 29 The incident, which created a scare among the business community, came to light when the Vijaya bank staff opened the branch on Tuesday morning and to their shock found that an attempt had been made to steal the cash. According to details available, the gang of robbers climbed the roof of the commercial complex housing the bank and managed to open the fibre glass top. They made an entry into the bank after twisting the iron grills and dashed straight towards the strongroom. “It appeared that the robbers had tried hard to break open the vault. Fortunately, they were not successful,” said bank manager PK Mahajan, adding that the cops were immediately informed about the incident. District police chief Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh rushed to the bank to have first hand information about the incident. He said the dog squad was called to gather clues. Forensic experts have also gathered important clues. A case has been registered under section 457, 380, 511 IPC at Civil line police station. The SSP said the banks were not enforcing the security rules and regulations handed over to them as a result they were becoming soft targets. Notably, security arrangements at banks have come under severe criticism as there has been a spurt in cases of bank robberies, including the sensational van robbery in which miscreants had looted Rs 37 lakh. The police have already held number of meetings with the bank officers to strengthen the security.
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Sidhu keen to boost cricket in holy city
Amritsar, July 29 Talking to The Tribune, Sidhu said he was not aware that the earlier ad hoc committee of the Amritsar Games Association (AGA) under the patronage of Ranike had been scrapped by the deputy commissioner-cum-chairman of the AGA and he was appointed patron of the new committee. “The whole exercise has been done without my formal consent,” said Sidhu, laying to rest the controversy raised by some members that he was instrumental in reshaping the new committee under the command of former India cricket captain Bishan Singh Bedi. He said the AGA would work in close association with its parent association Punjab Cricket Association and would impress BCCI to provide funds for the total make over of the crickets grounds in holy city. He said that he would do his best to bring infrastructure of international standards so that Amritsar could host international matches. —
OC
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Pollution around Golden Temple raises concern
Amritsar, July 29 PPCB executive engineer Nazar Singh, who had been monitoring the movement of traffic with the help of NCC cadets, said pollution was the reason for suspended particles around the Golden Temple complex and said the government must come out with revised guidelines to prevent defilement in the areas surrounding the temple. He said at present the suspended particle matter levels range from 300 to 500 micrograms per cubic metre in the city and there was an increase in levels around the area where the construction was going on. The NCC cadets under the charge of Lt. Sanjeev Sharma said the cadets were involved in a
unique project with the PPCB to determine the number of vehicles entering the walled city and around the Golden Temple to check the level of pollution created by the influx of vehicles. He said 153 cadets from the Dayanand ITI, DAV Senior Secondary School and Government School, Verka, were involved in this activity.
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Man jailed for demanding dowry
Amritsar, July 29 The court said Chawla would have to undergo a month’s rigorous imprisonment in case of default of payment of fine. Kiran Kumari, wife of Saroj, had charged her husband and in-laws of ill-treating her for bringing insufficient dowry. She had claimed that she was pressurised to bring cash and other domestic items worth Rs 11 lakh from her parents. She had alleged that her husband and in-laws later turned her out of the house. She had also charged Saroj of hiding the fact that he was married earlier and had got a divorce from his first wife. Kiran’s father, Madan Gopal, resident of B-Block, Railway Colony, Amritsar, said his daughter was married to Saroj in 1997. He said he had given enough dowry to Kiran as per his capacity at the time of marriage besides spending a huge amount on the wedding as per her in-laws’ demands. He claimed that the Chawla family was never satisfied with the dowry and used to maltreat his daughter besides torturing her.
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With mind’s eyes, he gazes into future
Amritsar, July 29 Interestingly, he acquired the skill to read the future through astrological charts, only after he lost his vision. The accident transformed his life completely. In spite of this episode in his life, he exudes warmth and the will to spread positive vibes among his close friends and Astrology apart, he has managed a large number of fans and admirers who continue to seek his company round the clock because of his charismatic attitude which has endeared him to many households in the city and outside. He attributes the powers he has managed to acquire to the blessings of the Almighty. The 34-year-old Rajneesh said after completing his graduation and loosing his vision in an accident, he studied hard to understand the subtle intricacies of planetary functioning and picked up the thread of astrology to help people live a better life. Talking about reading the astrological charts, he said it was a very accurate science but unfortunately some persons had commercialised this profession leading to disappointment among certain sections of the people. Firm in his belief that astrology is a science, he asserted that it could only guide people not change their destinies. Warning people that they should not get into any superstitions with a negative mode of mind but only accept the predictions as a guideline to improve their lives, he said he would like to spread the knowledge of astrology and share the finer points of this science with anybody who would like to acquire the knowledge. Rajneesh is already teaching this science to some of his close friends to lead a quality life. He attributes his positivity and responsive vibes to his Guru who continues to guide him during his difficult times. The high point of his life was his marriage to Smridhi, an NRI from the USA, who decided to be his life partner in spite of his disability. He said she had been a wonderful companion.
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Past Perfect
Amritsar, July 29 Dr Kalam said he had highest regards for his teachers who had moulded his future through their unstinted labour and support. Citing the example of Nobel Laureate Dr C.V. Raman, he said, “When Dr Raman was invited by the then President Dr Rajinder Prasad for a national honour in 1954, the former apologised and wrote that he was busy with the doctorate thesis of his students and couldn’t come to receive the award”. Such was the dedication of teachers in that era, he added. Sharing his vision about success, Dr Kalam said one requires three things - creativity, righteousness and courage - to reach the top. Elaborating his point of view, Kalam said righteousness creates character and helps in building harmony, while courage gives strength to face the impossible and do things differently. He said acquiring knowledge was the first step to attain success in this highly competitive world and students can get successful by earning goodwill of their teachers and family. He asked students to develop the habit of surmounting all odds and problems through their fortitude and courage. He said they should become captain of all problems and find solutions for them through their own efforts and teachers guidance.
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Needy students get uniforms, books
Amritsar, July 29 Manveen Sandhu, director of the organisation and principal of the Spring Dale Senior School, speaking on the occasion, said the organisation would lay stress on co-curricular activities this year and would also hold a personality development camp for bringing out the best of the students of Vidya Mandir. The camp would enable them to wipe out the deadly disease of drug addiction from the society. She said the programme was also being organised to inculcate a sense of belonging among the students. Master Ajit Singh, principal and Brij Bedi, founder of the Citizen Forum Vidya Mandir along with Ajit Singh Batra, (Retd) principal Government School was also present on the occasion.
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Gidha teams return after mesmerising China
Tarn Taran, July 29 Dr Daljit Singh Khehra, principal of the college informed that the teams were selected by the ministry of youth affairs and sports as a part of 100-member India youth delegation to participate in a cultural programme in China. The event was aimed at promoting better relations between India and China. The team members presented their programmes at Shanghai, Gi Ujjang and Fujo besides Beijing. —
OC
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Know me, know my space
As he hands over a copy of Architecture, Life and Me — his latest book — we cannot resist but ask him in a lighter vein, ‘Are you not too young to write an autobiography?’ And young and dashing architect Sangeet Sharma — owner of a shy smile but lots of conviction — assures us that it is not the years, but one’s intensity of involvement with work that determines whether the person is eligible to write an autobiography or not. The answer makes us take him more seriously and read his book a lot more sincerely than the cursory glancing through. This is his fourth after Architectural Aesthetics, Step by Step Hospital Designs and Planning and The Touch of Moon, an anthology of poems. But Architecture, Life… is different because while the former highlighted two different aspects of Sangeet — his professional and emotional side — this latest presents him as a complete being.
“I gathered the courage to write this one after I was convinced that I was practicing what I had been preaching as a guest lecturer and architect during the 17 years of my career,” he says. So, he regards this book as a medium of self-introspection, a refresher course. “There are so many things I learnt the hard way. That’s what I want to share with my readers,” he says. And for readership, he is targetting architecture students. The book starts with his childhood, which incidentally coincides with the childhood of Chandigarh. It is a ringside account of a child who saw the city being built brick by brick. The parallels with his own childhood are interestingly worded, “I really envy Chandigarh. The city had a better childhood than I did…” From there he meanders through myriad themes — his college days at Lucknow College of Architecture, his family, his writings, the places he visited, his music (Sangeet cut his debut album Melody with Me as a singer), his beliefs and convictions as an architect. Though at times the connecting thread between the topics tends to falter, the crisp and short sentences, funny anecdotes and the honesty that comes through his thought process make it an interesting read.
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Rural women told about block printing
Amritsar, July 29 Parneet Bhardwaj, ADC (development) was the chief guest. He appreciated the work of rural participants, especially those from below poverty line category. An exhibition of the products, including ladies suits, table covers, dupatta and frocks, prepared by block printing during the programme was also held. The chief guest also had a word of praise for Shaminder Bawa, a home science professor and the brain behind the programme. “The event will help the participants to learn new skills and improve their economic standard,” said the ADC, Speaking on the occasion, Bawa encouraged the participants to form self-help groups for economic upliftment. “Events like these boost the morale of farm women and help in rural development which was the ultimate aim of all government agencies,” she added. — OC
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Gold Rush
Living up to the brand promise Life Banao, Big 92.7FM has launched Sone Ki Baarish – an on-air contest, which is weaved around the numbers 9, 2 and 7 for the listeners of the Tricity. The contest which will start on July 28, will have 10 winners each day winning one gold coin each. The contest will end on August 9. In fact, this is the second time that Big 92.7 FM, Chandigarh is organising the Sone ki Baarish contest.
The contest involves simple questions based on general awareness. The answers lies in either of the three numbers: 9, 2 or 7, which when put together without changing the order, is the frequency of the Radio Station. The entries are to be sent through SMS by typing BIG with a space followed by 9, 2 or 7 to the station’s short code 55454. —
TNS
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Sidelanes THE pictures make good copy in all the local rags. Anganwadi women workers, braving the sweltering heat, protest before every bureaucrat they think will listen to their woes. They are pushed, prodded, hauled into police vehicles and then released, as there is little room for them in our jails overflowing with errant politicians. Within a few days they are back, protesting again as no relief has come forth. Talk to supervisors and heads of departments and one gets the impression that these workers are fussing over nothing. They say the anganwadi programme is working well. I am sure registers bear witness to the same. On paper, the concept is utopian. Children from the poorest families are left (free of cost!) at the nearest anganwadi while the parents set out to earn as bartanwaalis, safaiwaalas, rickshaw-pullers and beggars. Every working day, the teacher, with a helper in tow, smiles as she takes charge of infants. They should not be younger than 18 months and no older than six years. As soon as the guardians disappear, the nightmare begins. The Sisters Grimm hit any child who cries. Thereafter one hears a stifled whimper or deathly silence. The teacher starts educating her charges with a set of recommended poems: Johnny, Johnny! Yes Papa and Machli jal ki rani hai. All, irrespective of age, learn these and other basic subjects at top speed even if they cannot understand a single word, as fear of the raised hand offer the greatest impetus! Beatings and constant submission are accepted practices in families and schools throughout Mera Bharat Mahan. I am convinced this is the ideal tool to teach us how to behave at home and abroad. Cringe, cower and all will be well in every walk of life, is the message that is driven home Most of the morning is spent by the helpers making kheer or panjiri for their wards. This is considered an imaginative option for a midday meal. Every month, tins of dry milk, sugar, rice or wheat are left at the anganwadi to cater to this exciting scheme. Fuel for preparation has to be gathered from the neighbouring forest or from an obliging cow. Gas cylinders exist but only on paper, as do books, writing materials and toys. Could a few vegetables not be added to improve the vitamin intake in a well-prepared khichdi? Nothing doing! The meal has to be made as per the pamphlet that has probably been written by a disgruntled bachelor in some dusty, difficult-to-find office. As the children prepare to leave after a depressed, horrific morning under the cruel eye of human hatchets, many grandmothers, older siblings and relatives come with gleaming vessels to collect a share of the midday meal for lactating mothers. It is a dream concocted in hell. So why do the women protest so much? Their pay scales are good provided the money is dispersed on time, which it often is not. They have no materials to work with. The senior officials are smart, articulate, beautiful and well turned out. But mention teaching materials, utensils, fuel and toys and they talk about some distant department that is slowing down procedures inspite of repeated reminders. Are they not a part of that department? Obviously not! If they were, things would be smoother. I am a great admirer of Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh and the nuclear deal, but what is happening to the seeds of our future power?
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