Amritsar, November 21
When the keys of shops of newly constructed market were handed over to the oustees of Chowk Ghanta Ghar market, a number of shopkeepers alleged favouritism and political vested interests in the allotment of shops.

The aggrieved shopkeepers of Chowk Ghanta Ghar market today met Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal urging his immediate intervention. The CM immediately asked the deputy commissioner, Kahan Singh Pannu, to review the allotment of shops, it is learnt.

Sarbdeep Singh, one of the shopkeepers, along with others who gave a representation to the CM alleged that discrimination has been meted out to them while allotting the shops. He alleged that the local bodies department in its letter issued to the representatives of the market in February had informed that the shopkeepers having less than 1,500 sq ft shop would be allotted one shop while those having more than 1,500 sq ft may be allotted two shops.

However, he alleged that the Galliara project authorities allotted shops to their “favourite ones.” Some of the shopkeepers, who were allotted a pair of shops, did not possess even 300 sq ft shop in existing market, he alleged. Besides they were allotted shops at premier locations of the newly constructed market without any lottery system as stated before by an MLA.

When contacted, deputy commissioner Kahan Singh Pannu said the shops were allotted in most transparent manner and with lottery system. He said the committee, consisting of an SDM, tehsildar and executive engineer, took all shopkeepers into confidence before the allotment. However, he added that if any shopkeeper had any objection and complaint that would be looked into properly. — TNS

Amritsar, November 21
Nearly 200 X-rays centres are reportedly operating in the holy city. A majority of these are running without any necessary safety measures issued by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), Mumbai. But astonishingly the health department does not have any record pertaining to these centres.

These unauthorised centres, running in semi-commercial and residential areas, pose a grave health threat not only to the large number of employees working in them but the radiation is affecting people living next to these centres, which also include the centres running in private nursing homes and the those being run by various sewa samitis.

Despite the fact that the apex court has directed the government to establish a regulatory authority in view of the invisible danger to the health of a large section of people, the health authorities are looking the other way on the pretext that they were not delegated with the powers to check them.

Civil surgeon Dr Lehmbar Singh said they didn’t have any legal authority to check these centres as the state health department had not given any clear directions to initiate action against the grossly erring X-ray centres.

Besides, he added the department had no record of the centres as none of them had been registered with it.

The X-ray centres had to get themselves registered with the AERB, he added.

But sources said except for one or two, none of the other centres had been registered with the AERB, a claim which was confirmed by the two-member team of the board which recently visited the city. It is pertinent to mention here that all the centres, which they visited, were not adhering to the norms regarding registration, infrastructure, radiation monitoring, prevalence of radiation detection system, etc. which were regulated by the board after the Supreme Court’s directions.

In 2003, the apex court had reportedly issued directions for establishing some radiation protection authority such as the directorate of radiation safety in every state, which would be directly associated with the AERB and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre to check centres violating the norms making the environment health hazardous.

However, a senior radiologist, on condition of anonymity, said health was a state subject while the AERB was a central agency.

Therefore, the lack of coordination between the two agencies resulted in the mushrooming of such a huge number of unauthorised X-ray centres.

Health and family welfare minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla feigned ignorance about the AERB norms about the X-ray centres. However, she added that the private centres did not come under their purview and as such they were unable to take suitable measures. She said the teams from various central agencies should contact the government health department for better coordination and action against the defaulting X-ray clinics dotting the entire state. She said the department would be able to take better measures and regulate clinics, provided the AERB teams gave them proper feedback regarding the rules and regulations set by them.

Amritsar, November 21
Preparations for organising a five-day international trade fair to be held in December are going on a war footing in the Ranjit Avenue area here as more than 150 foreign companies have already enrolled themselves for participation in the fair to exhibit their products.

Manufacturers and entrepreneurs from Pakistan, Myanmar and Poland have already registered themselves and now different companies from Hong Kong were also coming to showcase their products to industrialists from Punjab, especially traders of Amritsar region, during the fair.

The exhibition site has been divided into four zones and each zone would have 50 stalls and the air-conditioned pandals would be fitted with state-of-the-art facilities, besides arrangements of refreshments for the workers in the fair. About 80 stalls would be established in one of the halls where textile products are to be displayed.

The booking of the stalls was being done by the PHD Chamber of Commerce, Chandigarh, the nodal officer, Amritsar, bankers and the Shawl Club of India. For the smooth functioning of the trade fair, district administrative officer (industries) Dharampal Bhagat has been made in charge and the nodal officer of the international trade fair.

The whole show is being organised under the supervision of the state government and the contract for organising the fair has been awarded to Delhi-based company Dara Project Private Limited. Foreign architects have been employed by the company to give a new look to the trade fair.

The PHD Chamber, the main organisers of the IPTEX, has made an impassioned plea with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Home Ministry to give liberal visa to hundreds of Pakistani businessmen and visitors to tour Amritsar during the five-day exhibition.

PHD Chamber of Commerce co-chairman R.S. Sachdeva said they had been forwarding the requests of a large number of Pakistanis recommended by the Federation of Pakistani Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Lahore Chamber of Commerce to the Indian High Commission for issuing visa. He said the chamber had urged the government of India to provide daily visa to the visitors from Lahore and nearby town to cross over to India in the morning and return to their country by the evening. He said this would attract more visitors and businessmen and their families for the fair.

Meanwhile, the organisers are coming out with a comprehensive information booklet for this exhibition giving exhaustive notes about the fair and the Punjab industry and business in detail.

Amritsar, November 21
The animal fair championship being held at Vallah mandi continues to draw large crowds from not only the rural areas of the border districts of Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur and Ferozepore but also from the holy city and main towns of the area. The main attraction for the people are the horses of the Nuker breed which cost around Rs 12 to 14 lakh each.

The owners participating in the championship have tastefully decorated the horses, besides taking every care to keep things hygienic. One gets immediately attracted to these as they remind one of the times when the horses were being used as the main mode of transport.

The buffaloes of Mohra and Blue Ravi breeds were also the major attractions in the fair, which was inaugurated by animal, fisheries and dairy development secretary Usha R. Sharma. Various breeds of dogs and goats were being displayed by the owners in the fair. A beauty contest for animals was also organised. The winner of the championship would get Rs 10 lakh as prize money by the Punjab government.

A large number of buyers had come from various districts of the state and purchased the improved breeds of buffaloes, horses and dogs.

One of the animal traders Sukhwinder Singh, while talking to Amritsar Plus, said he was fond of keeping horses and was hoping to win the prize as he claimed to have horses which were different and better kept than others.

Another trader Inder Singh, who is selling Nuker horses, said the minimum height of the four-year-old Nuker horse was around 66 inches.

Speaking on the occasion, SAD MLA Amarpal Singh Boney said the Punjab government was trying to promote dairy in the state, besides improving agriculture, which would help the farmers in supplementing their income.

Animal husbandry director Baljit Singh Sidhu said more than 1,400 breeds of different animals had arrived in the fair from Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Kapurthala and Jalandhar.

Rayya, November 21
A massive rally was organised by the Dehati Mazdoor Sabha (DMS) here today to intensify its struggle against unemployment, socio-economic disparity and price rise.

Addressing the rally, Centre of Trade Unions (CTU) president Mangat Ram Pasla said the multinational companies which had made massive inroads into the Indian economy during the liberal economic era were trying to wriggle themselves out of the present recession.

He claimed the capitalist powers, which had triggered this distressing economic scenario the world-over, were now trying to find ways to bail themselves out and were trying to emulate the socialist pattern throughout the world.

He said the socialist pattern was the only answer to meet the current situation faced by the entire world.

Lashing out at the Indian ruling party for joining hands with corporates and rich nations like the USA, he said moves like these were compromising the sovereignty of the country.

He appealed to the rural people and workers’ unions to strengthen their organisations to launch a decisive struggle to throw out this degenerated system.

Earlier president and general secretary of the DMS Darshan Nahar and Gurnam Singh Daud, respectively, said the government was paying no heed to the problems being faced by the common man, especially the Dalits, who had been facing the wrath of the economic crisis and the price rise which have eroded their income.

He urged the people of the working class to work on a common platform to raise their voice against globalisation and the failure of the liberal economic reforms.

Amritsar, November 21
To sensitise the people and the administration about the rich cultural and architectural heritage of this ancient city, INTACH today organised a “heritage walk” which started from Jallianwala Bagh.

State convener of INTACH Dr Sukhdev Singh said the walk was projected as an exercise to present the old city to its own people so that they felt proud of it.

The walk is proposed to generate the interest of the residents of the old city and the visitors towards the history of architecture and evolution of the city of Amritsar.

The heritage walk was organised in two phases, each comprising students, teachers and citizens of Amritsar. The first group of 50-plus members, led by Dr Sukhdev Singh, Harkamaljit Singh and Dr P.S. Sharma, P.S. Mahoora and Gopal Johary, members of INTACH Amritsar chapter, walked through the city covering Jallianwala Bagh, Ahluwalia fort, Town Hall, Guru Bazaar, Gurdwara Tahli Sahib, Guru Ke Mahal, Temple Thakurdwara, Mint of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Baba Bohar, Sangal Wala Akhara, Chitta Akhara, Akhara Bala Nand and other buildings, lanes and sites of architectural and socio-historical significance.

The walk was conducted by Amrit Lal Mannan, in charge, INTACH heritage school clubs, Amritsar chapter.

The second batch of 80 students, members of the Nehru Yuvak Kendra, and citizens, led by T.S. Raja, director, youth services, and Mohan Singh, president, Vikas Manch, went through the narrow lanes of Amritsar.

Harkamaljit Singh said INTACH designed the walk and produced a brochure after a thorough research by a team of architects, planners, historians and sociologists. Mahhora and town planner Gopal Johary appreciated the architectural features of various buildings.

The INTACH Amritsar chapter criticised the bad sanitation conditions in the old city. They demanded that the municipal corporation and other civic bodies must perform their duties and provide proper facilities to the people.

Amritsar, November 21
The word Nanotechnology was first used in 1747 by Narlo Taniguchi, a Japanese scientist of Tokyo Science University and within a short span this technology changed the look of the world.

Dr H.S. Bhatti, Professor in Physics, Punjabi University, Patiala informed this while delivering a lecture “Nanotechnology: Smart technology of smart materials” during a seminar “recent trends in science and technology” organised by the faculty of sciences Khalsa College here today.

Dr Bhatti said nanotechnology has given us the tool to play with the ultimate toy box of nature that is atoms and molecules and in future we may not need washing machines as clothes would have nano particles on which dust would not cling. He further informed that nano refrigerators, which automatically kill the bacteria and preserve the food for a longer period, are already available in the market.

Earlier inaugurating the seminar Shawet Malik, mayor Amritsar said the world would be forced to acknowledge India as the next super power due to the rapid advancement in science and technology in the country.

Dr Arwinder Kaur, Department of Zoology Guru Nanak Dev University, said earthworms would be used to make medicines for healing ailments like impotency, stomach ulcers and other heart diseases. This technique was already being practiced in China and were becoming popular across the globe, she added.

Welcoming the chief guest and eminent speakers principal Dr Daljeet Singh highlighted the importance of such seminars for students as well as the faculty. Science was an important sphere and we should all be aware of the latest trends and developments and such seminars prove to be academically healthy and beneficial, he added.

Amritsar, November 21
Amritsar-born Dr Kuldip Singh Rattan has made the city proud as he has been awarded with the "Frederick A. White distinguished professor of professional service award" by Wright State University, USA.

A professor of electrical and computer engineering at Wright State University, Dr Rattan passed his higher secondary education from Sri Guru Ram Dass Higher Secondary School, Amritsar, in 1964 and completed pre-engineering education from Khalsa College here in 1965.

He received his BE degree in electrical engineering from Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh, in 1969 and after that he went to complete his master’s of science and PhD in electrical engineering from the University of Kentucky in 1972 and 1975, respectively.

He joined the WSU in 1979 as an assistant professor and now holds the rank of full professor of electrical and computer engineering. Dr Rattan has won numerous awards for his contribution in the field of education. He has authored over 150 technical articles and reports. — TNS

Amritsar, November 21
The 14th National Youth Festival would be organised here from January 12 under the aegis of the Punjab government in collaboration with the government of India.

Deputy commissioner Kahan Singh Pannu told newsmen today that a high-level team comprising the joint secretary, government of India, the deputy secretary and NSS advisers held a meeting to discuss the arrangements for the mega all-India event which would bring more than 5,000 young artistes to showcase their talent during the five-day festival.

Pannu said the team gave the information about the events which would unfold during the feast and added that the youngsters would give performances in folk dances, songs, one-act plays, musical shows, besides every state in the country would project its traditional items. He said the people of the city and its surrounding areas would be treated to some of the best cultural shows.

The DC said the festival would open on January 12 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekanand and conclude on January 16. He said the administration had assured the visiting committee that proper and adequate arrangements would be made for the comfortable stay not only of the artistes but also for the officials during their visit to the city.

Later the team visited the various venues, including Guru Nanak Dev University, Khalsa College and Guru Nanak Stadium.

"The music has an infinity of extension while theatre offers scope for endless improvisations on stage and both being high and exalted remain close to my heart," claims the Jammu based young thespian and music maestro, Sanjeev Gupta. Rightfully honoured with the coveted National Sangeet Natak Akademy's Ustad Bismillah Khan Puruskar-2007 for excellence in theatre direction, Sanjeev is in city as a guest of Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademy for a presentation as music director of Natrang at the ongoing Chandigarh Theatre Fest.

Sanjeev grew listening to soulful bhajans from her mother Krishna Gupta and imbibed their melody. He presented songs in schools and later, ghazals and classical music at numerous competitions and functions of Jammu university. Having graduated from College of Fine Arts with a gold medal in Vocal classical, Sanjeev completed his Masters in Theatre direction from PU, Chandigarh .

Credited with playing lead roles in fifty full-length plays and scoring music for Natrang ensemble, Sanjeev has a bagful of prestigious awards. "Being the first recipient of national SNA Bismillah Khan award is really encouraging and I owe my success to my revered mentor Balwant Thakur and guru Prof. Sooraj Singh," says Sanjeev. 

Amritsar, November 21
On the call given by the joint action committee of all trade unions of the insurance sector, the employees of four public sector general insurance companies held a demonstration here today.

Lashing out at the managements of the public sector insurance companies, Sham Lal Gill and Navjot Singh, president and general secretary, respectively, urged the central government to immediately settle their legitimate demands, which included restoration of compassionate appointments, upgradation of part-time employees and one more option for pension to those who had not opted for the pension earlier.