Amritsar, March 25
The state government is mulling over to construct a five-star hotel to replace the existing Public Works Department (PWD) guesthouse, located on two-acre plot near Rialto Chowk in Amritsar under public private partnership (PPP) mode. The authorities are also planning to transform the existing Circuit House into a multi-storey complex under private partnership.

This was disclosed today during a meeting-cum-public hearing session held under the chairmanship of Punjab Infrastructural Development Board (PIDB) chief Tejinder Kaur at Circuit House here in the city.

It has been learnt that the firm to be roped in for the construction of the five-star hotel project will have to elevate and further maintain the Circuit House into a state-of-the-art multi-storey complex under the private partnership (PPP) mode.

Amritsar Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rajat Aggarwal said the firm would also be entrusted with the task of taking care of maintenance of the under-construction entrance plaza at the Golden Temple complex.

The proposal was unanimously approved by those who participated in the meeting. They also suggested the Punjab Infrastructural Development Board (PIDB) chairperson that there should be adequate parking arrangement at the proposed new setup, keeping in mind the future needs and that efforts should be made not to disturb the existing green belt while executing the new proposal.

Endorsing this, Tejinder Kaur said special provision for parking would remain the top priority.

“While it will be the accountability of the firm to be engaged on the partnership basis to maintain both the Circuit House and the entrance plaza, we have made public convenience a priority,” she said.

Others present on the occasion were Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Jasbir Singh, officials from Public Works Department (PWD), Punjab Infrastructural Development Board and hospitality departments.

The project entails The firm to be roped in for constructing the five-star hotel will elevate and maintain the Circuit House into a state-of-the-art multi-storey complex The firm would also be entrusted with the task of taking care of maintenance of the under-construction entrance plaza at the Golden Temple complex Adequate parking arrangements will be made at the proposed new setup and efforts will be made not to disturb the existing green belt

Amritsar, March 25
While the number of private hotels in the city has gone up manifold in the past few years, the state government has sold off its prime properties such as a star-category hotel near the bus stand and also a youth hostel, thus losing major infrastructure which could prove significant in future planning.

Punjab Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC)-run Amritsar International Hotel was sold off to an NRI family about five years back at Rs 56 crore.

Capt (Retd) Chanan Singh Sidhu, a tenant at one of the 15 shops being run in the arcade of the hotel, said the building had been lying closed since it sale. He recalled that 55-room hotel was opened in the late 1980's with amenities like two restaurants, bar, lift, swimming pool.

The hotel was situated between the GT Road and Shera Wala Gate leading to the Golden Temple. Spread on above two acres of land, the hotel never incurred loss but was never renovated. Sidhu recalls that advance booking was must for the visitors at the hotel as occupancy rate was much high.

Ironically, the number of private hotels has increased sharply in all these years. Availability of all categories of rooms in the hospitality sector was not more than 2,600 about five years back. A survey by PHTPB revealed that the number of hotel rooms in the city has now touched 4,050. He said these rooms are available in 240 accommodation units which include 198 hotels besides inns, dharamshalas, rest houses and guest houses.

Hotel Association Walled City chairman Satnam Singh Kanda said the Amritsar International Hotel had been sold with the scrapping of its administrative agency - PTDC. He said another loss to the city was dismantling of the Youth Hostel on the GT Road which had now been converted into International Bus Terminal.

He said the city never got a youth hostel where youngsters from the rest of the country were given rooms at affordable rates.

District Tourism Officer Balraj Singh said the Department of Tourism was to facilitate hospitality business, guide tourists while the decision to keep the properties or dispose these off rested with the government.

He said the Department of Tourism has got adequate premises to run its affairs, for example, an office near the Golden Temple, one at the ICP office, which has been taken on rent from the Land Port Authority of India, and another rented office at the Amritsar Airport.

Amritsar, March 25
City markets continue to be flooded with sub-standard colours and China-made water guns on the occasion of festival of colours this time around.

The Tribune team took a round of the city to see what is in store for Holi enthusiasts and found that harmful colours full of chemicals, water guns and colour sprays are being sold unabatedly in markets. Many powdered colours being sold in vibrant shades are stated to be poisoned urea.

China-made cheap water guns continue to invade the local markets here this time as well with an utter disregard to quality and safety aspects. Unlike the traditional pichkaris, which have a brass cylinder and leather washers, these are made of plastic or tin and use nylon washers. The fluid, if directed towards the face, can damage ear, skin, eyes and nose.

The practice of using gulal which is made of flowers from trees such as Indian coral tree (parijat) and the kesu flame with bright red flowers seems to be history.

“Most of these trees have medicinal values and Holi colours prepared from them are actually skin-friendly,” said Dr Ashok Goel of the Government Medical College. As firms vie with one another for making higher margins, industrial dyes manufactured through chemical processes have are finding their ways into the local markets during the festival of colours. Experts suggest that the pastes contain highly toxic chemicals resulting in severe health effects.

Colours generally come in two forms— dry and wet. Dry colours contain a colourant that is toxic and a base which could be asbestos, silica, mud and now urea, with serious health implications. Heavy metals in colourants can cause asthma, skin diseases and can adversely affect eyes, says Dr ML Gambhir, head of the skin department, Guru Nanak Dev Hospital.

Wet colours mostly use gentian violet as a colour concentrate which can cause skin discolouration and dermatitis. Both types are loosely sold on the roads both by small and wholesale traders.

“What can we do when people prefer to buy cheap stuff? Good quality gulal is four times costlier than the one sold in general. We also have branded, good quality gulals but people generally don’t prefer buying it after knowing its price,” said a shopkeeper.

Companies play smart

Companies are playing smart with disclaimers. Packaged colours warn “for industrial use only” and the China-made water guns carry “harmful choking warning: not to be used by children below three years” tag. It is companies’ strategic plan to evade any legal implication. 

Amritsar, March 25
The passion and dedication for theatre in Amritsar runs deep and with a new generation of thriving theatre artists and audience, some predict a great future of the performing art here.

Celebrating 15 years of Punjab Natshala on the World Theatre Day on March 27, two prominent theatre spaces Virsa Vihar and Punjab Natshala will hold plays, events and will honour prominent theatre personalities from the region on the occasion.

“We will be conferring honour on eminent theatre personality of the country Balwant Thakur who has also been awarded Padamshree this year. Mannat Singh, Punjabi actor and artist from the city, too will be coming to celebrate the day. We have planned all day celebrations with playwright Swaraj Deep and many more,” said Kewal Dhaliwal, director, Virsa Vihar.

It will also host Uma Gurbaksh Singh, the first woman Punjabi theatre artist from the city.

Punjab Natshala, a hub of theatre activities of Amritsar and the region, has a lot to offer for theatre-goers. Two-day theatre extravaganza, special guest Bharti Singh who started her career performing at Punjab Natshala and plays by city based theatre groups will mark the celebrations.

“When people say theatre has improved in the city, I say it’s the audience that has improved. Taste for quality theatre has made it possible for the city-based artists to make theatre a better media,” said Jatinder Brar, patron of Punjab Natshala.

“Amritsar was always a cultural hub, especially for Punjabi theatre. But it has thrived solely on individual efforts, whether it’s Punjab Natshala, auditoriums at Preet Nagar and Verka or hosting international theatre festivals. Cross-cultural exchange from Pakistan too has made it a theatre-conscious city,” quips Kewal Dhaliwal.

Nita Mohindra, a noted theatre personality says, “Theatre has become very vibrant in the city. A numbers of people doing theatre and watching it have constantly grown. A solid background has given young actors a chance to take it to another level. Now the authorities should provide support to promote this.”

Punjab Natshala began its journey in March 1998 and has been central to the city’s theatre history since then.

“When we started, we wanted a theatre to tickle all senses of the audience. We are still trying to improve on it. Our aim is to make theatre independent commercially, technically and aesthetically so that it becomes a career option,” says Brar. 

Amritsar, March 25
The city police here today claimed to have arrested all the three accused, who were booked for kidnapping and murdering 22-year-old youth Lovepreet Singh, a resident of New Amritsar area.

Those arrested are Kamaldeep Singh and Chanpreet Singh of Bakipur village, Tarn Taran, and Ranjit Singh of Jagmastpur, Tarn Taran.

Lovepreet’s mother, Rajwant Kaur, who originally hailed from Bath village in Tarn Taran and is now residing at New Amritsar, had lodged a complaint with the Maqboolpura police that her son had been missing since March 8. She suspected that he might have been killed by the accused. —TNS

Amritsar, March 25
The Gharinda police has registered a case of attempt to murder and criminal trespass after six months of the incident that took place at Hamitpura Colony near India Gate in October last year.

A woman identified as Jaswinder Kaur was seriously injured after some persons barged into her house and opened indiscriminate fire at her. The case has been registered following the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the investigations are being carried out by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) level officer.

Among those who have been booked are Sukhbir Singh, Tejpal Singh, Pargat Singh, Lakhbir Singh, all residents of Hamitpura Colony and Manohar, a resident of Putlighar.

Earlier, the police had registered a case against Karnail Singh, husband of the complainant and several other persons in this regard.

Jaswinder in her complaint said her husband had gone for work and she was alone at home when the accused armed with pistols and sharp-edged weapons barged into her house and started firing indiscriminately.

About the reason behind the incident, she said her husband had deposed as a witness in court against the culprits. They, she alleged, nursed a grudge against Karnail and attacked their house.

Gharinda SHO Sarabjit Singh Bajwa said following the investigations, the name of the five accused were included in the earlier FIR registeredvarious sections of the IPC and Arms Act.

Amritsar, March 25
A special meeting of the general body was organised at the Chief Khalsa Diwan Gurdwara Sahib to present the budget for the schools and institutions being run under the Chief Khalsa Diwan (CKD) Charitable Society. CKD president Charanjit Singh Chadha presided over the meeting. Additional Secretary Finance Narinder Singh Khurana presented the budget of the society.

He said this year, the budget has increased to Rs 83, 17, 15, 688 from Rs 64, 42, 93, 064 in 2012-2013 and the overall increment budget rate is 19.2 per cent.

The provisions for new research institutions and upgrade of school education were made to figure prominently in the budget.

“In the coming year, we are opening CKD Institute of Management & Technology in Taran Tarn, Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School in Kapurthala and Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School in Shubam Enclave, Amritsar,” he said.

An amount of Rs 1 crore has been earmarked for schools located in rural areas. An amount of Rs 1.1 crore has been kept reserved for providing free education, books, uniforms, mid-day meal to students of two Punjab government-aided Adarsh Schools.

Meanwhile, vice-president Dr Santokh Singh, resident president Nirmal Singh, honorary secretary Santokh Singh Sethi, additional secretary Harminder Singh, and director education Dr Dharamveer Singh were present at the meeting.

Chief Khalsa Diwan Charitable Society Budget Provisions for new research institutions and upgradation of school education An amount of Rs 1 crore for schools located in rural areas Rs 1.1 crore for providing free education, books, uniforms, mid-day meal to students of two Punjab government-aided Adarsh Schools

Amritsar, March 25
Following a report about non- functional traffic lights in these columns on March 22, the department concerned swung into action and traffic lights were made functional at the key intersections points of New Amritsar.

The traffic lights at key intersections on the eight-lane Amritsar-Jalandhar GT Road had been lying defunct since their installation a few months ago. The power connection to these lights could not be extended due to lack of coordination between different wings.

Earlier, non-functional traffic lights were posing a danger to the lives of residents, keeping in view the fast moving traffic on this busy road.

Amritsar, March 25
The department of human genetics of Guru Nanak Dev University organised a UGC-sponsored two-day national seminar on “Human Genomics” at the Guru Nanak Bhavan Auditorium of the university here today. As many as 60 scientists presented their research papers at the event.

Prof Jai Rup Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, was the chief guest while Prof Narinder Kumar Mehra, head of the department of transplant immunology and immunogenetics, AIIMS, New Delhi, delivered the keynote address. Dr AJS Bhanwar from the human genetics department gave a brief introduction about the seminar.

In his inaugural address, Prof Jai Rup Singh highlighted the history of the genomics and human genome project. He said bio-informaticians, by using human gene connectome, are coordinating with geneticists to find out disease causing genes amongst 20,000-30,000 known genes. He also stressed about the confidentiality issues regarding the amount of sequence data to be disclosed to the individuals getting their whole genome sequenced.

Addressing on “From genome to genetic medicine: Opportunities and challenges,” Prof Mehra said the natural bacteria treatment causes destruction of only the cancer cells while healthy cells are left unharmed. An important task for the future is to develop vaccines and improved treatment strategies for major diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV infections and AIDS.

Prof Brar discussed the importance of chemistry in characterisation and synthesis of bio-molecules to study the biological complexity. He also stressed upon the need for sophisticated instrumentation like NMR, X-ray crystallography in thorough understanding of biology at the molecular level.

Amritsar, March 25
The Punjab Ministerial Staff Union postponed its two-day pen down strike starting on Monday in order to avoid the blame game from the government for the delay in the release of funds from the treasury.

With the association going on strike in the week with two gazetted holidays for Holi on Wednesday and Good Friday, the work at government offices would have came to a standstill for the entire week except for Thursday.

General secretary of the association Jagdish Thakur said “Salaries of the employees are yet to be released from the treasury. If we had continued with the protest in the week having two gazetted holidays, the government could have blamed us for the delay in release of funds.”

However, as the general public was not aware that the strike has been postponed, so the rush at government offices was less than usual.

“There is a holiday on Wednesday and then again on Friday. Many employees are availing of leave on Thursday. Practically after Monday, Tuesday would be the only “proper” working day at government offices,” said an employee.

Amritsar, March 25
The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) and a team of the Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) organised a candlelight march today to create awareness about tuberculosis among the masses.

District TB Officer Dr Naresh Chawla said the SGPC would spread awareness about the availability of free diagnosis and treatment at government institutions. It would work in association with the project AXSHYA.

He said that the gurdwaras, under the SGPC, would spread the message in the district that any person having cough for more than two weeks should get examined for TB.

Members of other associations like project AXSHYA, Mission Agaaz, Sawera, Jagriti Bhalai Kendriya Society, Mata Charan Kaur Welfare Society, District TB Forum, City Medical Society, Medical Representative Association and Pharmacist Union also participated in the march, which started from the Golden Temple.

Amritsar, March 25
The district health department has intensified its campaign to check the sale of adulterated and unhygienic food items in market ahead of the festivals, Holi and Good Friday. District Health Officer Dr Shivkaran Singh Kahlon said the department had collected around 60 samples during the past few days.

Kahlon said the department had tightened the noose around people indulging in milk adulteration. Shopkeepers have been warned against indulging in any of the malpractices.

“We have collected samples of milk, milk products, sweets, and other food items from various shops. There would be more inspections in the next few days,” said Kahlon.

He said notices had been issued to shopkeepers whose food products had failed on quality parameters. The department would file challans against the erring shopkeepers within next few days.

Earlier in February, the department official had collected 23 samples, which were of inferior quality.

Dr Kahlon said “We welcome complaints from the public. Without their support, the official machinery itself cannot set all things right. They can always drop-in information at his office.”