Amritsar, January 1
Markets decorated with colourful lights and people dressed in choicest of clothes welcomed New Year and bid farewell to the previous year.

Hotels and clubs offered buffets and dine, dance and drink packages to couples. Many farmhouses also pitched in, holding New Year parties.

These parties cost a couple from Rs 2,500 to Rs 7,000.

Russian belle dancers were the cynosure of these parties. Men, women and youngsters did not hold back from shaking their legs to the tune of hit Hindi, Punjabi and English numbers.

A cultural programme was held in Kendari Sudhar Ghar (Central Jail) for bringing the inmates, undergoing sentences for various crimes, closer to society and inspired them to adhere to lead a peaceful life to enjoy social and family bliss.

Men and women inmates enjoyed cultural programmes like dance performances, bhangra and skits, conveying moral teachings.

Meanwhile, the police enforced strict security measures to handle the flow of revellers on the busy Bhai Veer Singh Road, popularly known as Lawrence Road, M.M. Malviya Road and Mall Road.

Barricades had been placed on all roads leading to these areas where high number of revellers descended in the night to welcome New Year so that no vehicle could gain entry into the area.

People enjoyed walking on the road and savoured delicacies put up by shopkeepers who had taken extra pains to do their shops up in an attractive manner.

Amritsar, January 1
Now the Punjab Roadways’ defunct bus depots would help revamp the transport infrastructure in Punjab and the new dressed up bus stands all over Punjab would be named after the state martyrs.

Disclosing this, Transport Minister Master Mohan Lal said a proposal to this effect was soon going to be put before the Cabinet to sell redundant bus depots on lease to private bidders.

“There are around nine such depots all over Punjab which have been lying idle for long and it has been observed that over 50 acres of land is lying idle. A proposal is being mooted to give these on lease and the money generated will be ploughed back to augment the transport facilities. New buses can be bought with the money and more infrastructures developed like making new bus stands, etc.,” said Mohan Lal, who was here to attend a core committee meeting of the BJP.

About the new state-of-the-art bus stands in the state, the minister said that two bus stands were coming up soon at Mohali and Patiala, besides nine bus stands at Zira, Ferozepore, Muktsar, Moga, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Nangal, Pathankot, Dera Baba Nanak and Jagraon had been repaired and modernised. The new bus stands would be named after those Punjab martyrs who laid down their lives for good cause.

Showing concern over the increasing death rate in road accidents, the minister admitted that dilapidated roads and worn out vehicles were the major causes for mishaps.

“I worry to see the road death rate graph which says that around 1.25 lakh people lose their lives in road accidents every year. I have apprised Union Minister for Surface Transport Kamal Nath of this sorry state of affairs and economic crisis. To meet this shortcomings, a Rs 100-crore package has been demanded from the Centre to revamp the transport system,” the minister said.

To discourage the commuters for going in for private operators, the minister said that 494 ordinary and 50 airconditioned buses had been introduced by the Punjab Roadways. He said during 2009-10, 300 ordinary and 60 AC buses wouldl be added by PUNBUS and 600 Punjab Roadways buses would be replaced soon. He said that induction of 150 ordinary and 10 Volvo buses under the kilometre scheme was under consideration.

The corporation plans to start online booking for the benefit of the passengers very shortly, the minister added.

Amritsar, January 1
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal announced that the 8-km road from the GT Road to Valmiki Tirath would be widened at a cost of Rs 13 crore.

He was addressing Yogima Purb and International Valmiki conference organised by the Adi Dharam Samaj last night.

He said the proposed beautification of Valmiki Tirath at a cost of Rs 3.50 crore would be completed within a year. He said the first instalment of Rs 1 crore had been released to the district administration.

He said the SAD-BJP government had begun the process of confirming 11,500 safai karamcharis in the state. He added that the confirmation process had been completed in Jalandhar and would be implemented in rest of the districts soon.

Badal appealed to the people to always remain vigilant against the forces which divided them on ground of religion and castes for their narrow political gains. He said all religions preached equality and brotherhood of human beings and never its followers against any other religion. Parliamentary Secretary Sukhpal Singh Nannu from Ferozepore announced Rs 2 lakh from his funds to the Adi Dharam Samaj for carrying out social welfare works.

A leader of the Adi Dharam Samaj, Raj Kumar Atikaye, also addressed the gathering.

Earlier, the Chief Minister held a sangat darshaan programme at Kakkar Kalan village in Ajnala block. He gave approval for various development works worth Rs 65 lakh in the village which included raising of concrete houses, dharamshala, hospital, toilets, gymnasium and laying of concrete road.

Badal reviewed the process of setting up a sewerage treatment plant worth Rs 1.50 crore in the village for which 9600 metre pipes were laid.

The treated water would be distributed among the villagers for irrigation.

Amritsar, January 1
The Amritsar administration’s failure to provide mandatory amenities for the city can well be gauged from the fact that even the prominent and historic area of Vallah could not catch its fancy, if the dilapidated basic amenities here are an indication.

“Vallah Guru Ka Gallah” as the place is popularly known as, is devoid of the fundamental facilities like drinking water, sewerage and proper approach roads.

“It is an irony that such filthy and neglected conditions exist at a place which is being projected as a sacred place which possesses the Guru’s treasure,” said Satnam Singh.

The non-functional overhead water tank and tubewell here speak volumes of the careless attitude of the administration. “It’s been over three years since I have been watching this tubewell and water tank lying defunct. They are nothing more than showpieces,” said Mahinder Singh.

Residents are forced to consume filthy and smelly underground water pumped out through hand and submersible pumps. “Sometimes insects are found in the water, while the administration has turned a blind eye to the plight of the residents,” he added.

Due to lack of any provision for sewage outlet, it becomes impossible for residents to pass through streets.

Amritsar, January 1
Small textile industrial units, which are part of the historic township of Verka that had contributed to the growth of this area, are facing a serious crisis in view of the massive power cuts during the summer and winter months. Many units have faced closer, while the remaining were on the verge of shutting down.

Balwinder Singh Bagga, an award-winning entrepreneur, who has received the honour for highest production of woollen fabrics from former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, presents a dismal story. Balwinder said he had to close down his unit due to the failure of the government to provide reasonable power during the day for running his factory. He said during heydays he used to work on looms and provide employment to a number of people of the area.

Balwinder rued that he was unable to install generators to run the units as he felt it was not economically viable as the power provided by gensets was much more expensive. That was why he decided to close the unit.

Amar Singh, a labourer, said that their income had almost reduced to half as compared to 20 years back. He said the power shortage had played havoc with the once rich textile industry here. He said 60 to 70 per cent labour had left their jobs and started doing other small occupation like selling vegetable, etc.

Kuldeep Singh, district president of the industrial association, said the electricity shortage was the main cause behind closing of many small-scale units. He said almost 70 per cent industrial units had sold their machines and lands while the remaining 30 per cent were counting their days and were ready to sell off any time. He said from 24-hour supply 15 years back, the industrial units were getting power for six to seven hours now. He said the labourers were only working in single shift, while the condition of the industry was deteriorating day by day. He said their repeated requests had failed to bear any fruits till now.

He urged the government to initiate special steps to revive the industry like special packages given to the farming sector.

Amritsar, January 1
The NCERT has selected a science model prepared by Bharat and Gurpreet Singh, students of Ashoka Senior Secondary School, to be displayed at the 97th Indian Science Congress for Rashtriya Kishore Vaigyanik Sammelan to be held from 3rd January at the Kerala University, Trivendrum, under the auspices of the Indian Space Research Organisation.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is scheduled to inaugurate the Science Congress.