Amritsar, December 12
More than six months have passed since the city was declared as free from sub-standard polythene, the Amritsar Municipal Corporation (AMC) is yet to procure the instrument known as micrometer, which is required to measure the thickness of poly bags.

The AMC authorities claim that it has been conducting raids in various pockets of the city and has also been issuing notices that the factories manufacturing sub-standard poly bags will be sealed.

Factories are allowed to produce poly bags having thickness of less than 40 microns.

In the absence of a gadget to measure the thickness of the poly bags, questions are being raised how are AMC teams measuring the thickness of poly bags during raids. A micron is a very small unit and cannot be gauged with the naked eye.

As per the Punjab Plastic Carry Bags (Manufacture, Usage and Disposal) Control Act-2005, there is a blanket ban on polythene bags below 40 microns in thickness, having dimensions less than 8 by 12 inches or not using permitted colours.

Any unit violating the norms, after coming into being since May 1, is liable to pay a fine between Rs 25,000 and 1 lakh and can be awarded imprisonment of up to a month.

The AMC teams wherever they conduct the raids could only confiscate the poly material from the spot because in the absence of a measuring instrument, they had to be dependent on the Office of the Central Institute of Plastic Engineering and Technology (CIPET) to check the thickness of the stock.

Some of the manufacturers claim that despite the fact that they produce plastic bags as per the prescribed norms but out of professional jealousy our rivals sometimes alert the AMC team on frivolous grounds. “My stock was picked up by the AMC team. The pictures of team raiding my factory were also published in the newspapers but later the CIPET decided in my favour. But can be no compensation for the disrepute I got. Had the AMC team been equipped with the instrument, they could have given me a clean chit,” a manufacturer said on the condition of anonymity.

The health officer of Amritsar Municipal Corporation, Dr Yogesh Arora, said thickness is not the only criteria to gauge the quality of the polythene bags. “It is true that we do not have micrometers and we are dependent on the CIPET, but the thickness is not the only criteria to gauge the quality of the poly bags. Stocks of poly bags are also confiscated if they do not possess a clearance certificate from the Punjab Pollution Control Board or a licence issued by the AMC. Besides this, it is mandatory to print the registration number, the manufacture’s name and address on the poly bags.

Those who do not comply are caught and the stock confiscated. The confiscated lot is then sent to the CIPET and any action against the erring unit is taken only after its report comes,” he said.

It is true that we do not have micrometers and are dependent on the CIPET. But the thickness is not the only criteria to gauge the quality of the poly bags. Stocks of poly bags are also confiscated if they do not possess a clearance certificate from the PPCB or a licence issued by the AMC. It is also mandatory to print the registration number and the manufacture’s name and address on the poly bags. — Dr Yogesh Arora, Health Officer, Amritsar Municipal Corporation

Amritsar, December 12
Involvement of a truck driver who acted as a conduit to smuggle heroin and counterfeit currency from Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah check post and was nabbed by the Amritsar (Rural) police has put the security procedure of the Customs wing under scanner.

As per statement issued by Amritsar (rural) police, the accused Baldev Singh Deba was a truck driver who acted as a conduit to smuggle fake currency and heroin from Pakistan. This statement has raised a question mark over the scanning procedure on the India-Pakistan border.

SSP (Rural) Gurmeet Singh Chauhan said after interrogation it has been established that he used to conceal the forbidden consignment in his truck. He was a part of an organised criminal gang on the other side of the border," he said.

The customs wing issues a unique identification card to each trucker before authorising then to transport goods through the border. This identification card is only issued after a 'thorough' verification to be done by the police department. It is yet to find out whether Deba was involved with the criminals before obtaining this identity card or he had got involved with them after becoming a truck driver.

A senior customs official, on the condition of anonymity said apart from the customs team, the Amritsar rural police cannot evade the responsibility for such a lapse, if there was any.

“On the Attari border, apart from the customs team, joint search is conducted of the trucks as well as the drivers by the Amritsar rural police team headed by a DSP-level officer.

Another shortcoming is that in the absence of any mechanical scanning system on the border, the vehicles are searched manually and there are fair chances of some forbidden contraband to pass by mistake," he said.

Amritsar, December 12
The Urban Light Transport (ULTra) PRT System inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab, Sukhbir Singh Badal, at Hall Gate today has invited opposition from the traders of Hall Bazaar area.

The traders fear that the 20-feet high track of magnetic pods will adversely affect their business. The traders sat on a dharna and raised slogans against the government’s decision, which they alleged is aimed at gaining cheap publicity.

Sukhbir Singh Badal denied any opposition to the project as the local authorities had invited views from all quarters before finalising the project. The traders resent that with the introduction of magnetic pods, their clientele will have direct access to the Golden Temple without halting at the market to shop. This will affect hundreds of shops in the area.

“The tourists are our main clientele. Now, they will move directly to the Golden Temple and will not get a chance to feel the true essence of the trade practices in city. This mode of transport will defy the basic character of the city,” said Nirmal Singh, a trader.

President of Hall Bazaar Traders’ Association Sham Singh Ahuja said, “The route of the project needs to be changed. We are not opposing development of the city. In fact, we are happy that this system will attract tourists but we have objection over the route, which has been chosen for the same. It will be feasible to install its track from outside the Hall Bazaar, from Tikona Park,” he said.

Congress Councillor of the area Anil Sharma and former-MLA Jugal Kishore said the shopkeepers will suffer. “This project will take at least five to six years to be executed on the ground. For the construction of pillars, at least five-feet deep gorges will be dug up between the road and the diameter of the pole will not be less than 25 feet. Under those circumstances, the main Hall Bazaar path will get obstructed during the period of construction as well as afterwards. The commuters will not take this route on their way to the Golden Temple. This will definitely hamper our business,” they said.

Traders resent that the administration is bent on dislocating the businessmen of the century-old Hall Bazaar and appealed to at least change its route so that the market business does not suffer.

Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal denied any opposition to the project as the local authorities had invited views from all quarters before finalising the project

The route of the project needs to be changed. We are not opposing development of the city. In fact, we are happy that this system will attract tourists but we have objection over the route, which has been chosen for the same. It will be feasible to install its track from outside the Hall Bazaar, from Tikona Park. — Sham Singh Ahuja, President, Hall Bazaar Traders’ Association

Amritsar, December 12
Running ahead of your time, can be exhausting. So when we approached noted theatre and film actor, Seema Biswas, her immediate response was, "Please, I'm exhausted." But 10 minutes later, she was ready to share her experience of having performed for the first time in Punjab. She presented two mono acts, Jeebito and Streer Patra, based on Tagore's short stories at the ongoing theatre festival being organised by Manch Rangmanch at Punjab Naatshala.

“Tagore always had strong women characters, ahead of their time. His stories are still relevant. The same issues persist even today.

Sometimes while reading and performing these plays, I wonder if it's really the 21st Century," she says. Her progressive approach makes her aspire to be ahead of her time. “Bandit Queen was 'tehelka' for the film industry and when I did the film, I thought it was my first and last as it led to a controversy even before its release. Then Sanjay Leela Bhansali approached me with Khamoshi, which I accepted even as senior actors advised me not to. Both the roles turned out to be the finest of my career, earning me the national as well as the Filmfare awards," she says.

Seema is more than satisfied with her career and audience. “Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa was my dream role and my later movies had characters with small screen space but a large impact. I believe that every role is meaningful unless you as an actor fail to do so. The audiences today appreciate a good role. Earlier, I struggled to get through certain roles because of my language problem and non-glamorous persona. Today, it’s easier for me to enjoy doing my kind of roles,” she says. “My mother was a pioneer in theatre in Assam and said yes to the lead role in a play for me and the rest we know is history. 

Amritsar, December 12
Rising against the alleged rude behaviour of judges with lawyers at district courts, the Amritsar Bar Association has unanimously resolved to take up the matter with the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The Bar took the decision after an emergency general body meeting of the association members here today. Association president Pradeep Kumar Saini said the resolution would be sent to the Chief Justice for his consideration.

“There is a great resentment among the lawyers because of the disrespect being shown by few judges,” he said.

The Bar has also unanimously resolved to request the Chief Justice to send the Administrative Judge of Amritsar Session Division immediately to hear the grievances of each and every aggrieved lawyer.

In a press release issued today, the Bar said the lawyers have full respect for the judiciary and expect that in the courts the lawyers should also be treated properly.

The Amritsar Bar Association has also declared that till the grievances of the members are redressed, the executive body of the Amritsar Bar Association would not attend any official meeting in Amritsar Session Division and would also boycott the Vigilance Committee meetings.

Amritsar, December 12
Punjab Small Scale Industry Development Board Director Raman Gupta spoke on the problems faced by the local industry at a state-level meeting of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) at Patiala today.

Gupta, one of the two members from industry in the PPCB, said the Board’s website must be updated with the related decisions of the different courts and these information must also be made available with the District Industry office, concerned industry associations and zonal office of the Board.

He stressed that the PPCB must introduce online facility for taking mandatory renewal of No-Objection Certificate (NOC) applications for various industries. Regional offices do not entertain applications of industries through registered or courier post.

He said renewal fee for NOC has increased considerably in the recent times. But the local department still has limited powers. This limit should be increased for the ease of industrialists and the department.

Gupta said the PPCB have approved certain laboratories that checks air and water samples of industries and state whether those industries are eligible to get a No-Objection Certificate. However, some Board officials do not adhere to these guidelines.

He added that sale of plastic waste must be banned as it is injurious to the environment. Gupta said it must also be made mandatory that the complaint against the industry, running under the valid consent of the board, should only be entertained when it is supported by an affidavit from the complainer.

At the time of taking sample of the RO from the Industry a similar sealed sample should also be handed over to the Industry so that the industrialists could also get the sample checked from any approved laboratory.

Amritsar, December 12
Experts were unanimous in their opinion to protect girl child in Punjab during the deliberations held on the occasion of International Human Rights Day at Khalsa College of Education on Saturday.

Addressing the gathering, they stated that population of girl child at birth was badly affected as female foeticide is still rampant. The guest speakers, delivering their thought on the topic of protecting the basic human rights, said this was the right time to create an atmosphere where there was a general abhorrence to the harrowing practice of ‘killing of daughters’.

The talks were part of the college’s annual programme to organise seminars and talks on the occasion of International Human Rights Day, said College Principal Dr Jaswinder Singh Dhillon, while inaugurating the seminar held at newly renovated Bhai Ram Singh Hall.

Former DPI (Colleges) Punjab Dr Jasmeet Kaur Nayyar gave a powerful speech quoting the real time instances. She also called for education reforms and check on the corrupt practices. Family Health and Fellow, HIV Medicines, National Trainer Dr Baljeet Kaur gave an impressive PowerPoint presentation regarding the female foeticide and highlighted the role of family and society at large to protect the unborn girl child.

She added that the unborn child too has their rights which are to be protected. She said though there were some satisfactory results coming out regarding the improvement of sex ratio in Punjab but still there were lot to be achieved. She asked for total transformation of approach towards the girl child to protect their rights.

Former chairperson of Northern Regional Committee of National Council for Teacher Education, New Delhi, Dr DN Sansanwal, who was chief guest on the occasion, said the teacher’s role was important to create awareness regarding protection of children’s rights.

Amritsar, December 12
Four persons were injured, including a student of Class five, as the school bus collided with a “rashly-driven private transport bus” on Dhapai road on the outskirts of the city today.

The accident took place at 7:45 am under the jurisdiction of Islamabad police station. The driver of the private bus fled from the spot.

The bus, belonging to Police DAV Public School, was on its way from Dhapai to the school in the Civil Lines area of the city.

The injured have been identified as 11-year-old Amanpreet Kaur, who suffered two fractures in her left arm, the driver of the school bus Suresh Kumar, guard Santokh Singh suffered a fracture in his left arm and Ashwini Kumar, who sustained minor injuries in the mishap.

“The private passenger bus collided with the school bus from the driver’s side,” said Suresh. As a result the right leg of Suresh got entangled in the mangled right portion of the bus. He sustained injury in his right elbow.

He said he was driving on the right side and had complete control over the vehicle and managed to stop it. He said he could not drive the vehicle on the kutcha patch on the left side of the road as it increased the chances of the vehicle overturning.

Lying on a stretcher in the emergency of the Guru Nanak Dev Civil Hospital Suresh said the driver of the private bus could not apply the brakes and rammed into his bus.

Father of the injured student Kulwant Singh, also an employee with the Punjab Police, said he got a call from the school just as he reached home after dropping his daughter Amanpreet that she had got injured in the mishap. Another student traveling in the bus called him, he said. He said the students traveling in the bus said the bus coming from the opposite side was trying to overtake another vehicle at the time of the accident. He said the accident had shaken the family and they were thankful to the almighty that impact was limited.

School Principal Promila Kamal said 23 students were traveling in the 42-seater Swaraj Mazda. She said it was for the first time that such an incident had occurred. She said trained drivers of the Punjab Police were employed to ferry students from far-flung areas.

Head of Islamabad Police Station Rajinder Singh said a case under the relevant sections had been registered against the unidentified driver of the private public transport. He said the driver was yet to be identified and arrested.