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Red tape mars city bus service project
Shopkeepers, residents threaten to intensify stir against road-widening drive
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Youth booked for assaulting traffic cop
5 booked for impersonating as journalist
Jahajgarh residents get 2 days to remove encroachments
Tractor-trailer crushes youth to death
GNDU makes re-evaluation process easy
Admission procedure of GNDU courses announced
World anti-drug day observed
Attack on Pannu condemned
PSPCL staff hold protest
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Red tape mars city bus service project
Amritsar, June 26 Even as officials claim that the service would start in next five or six months, the tardy pace with which the project is moving indicates that it would take at least three more meetings to remove the old directors of the project panel and appoint new ones in their place. The Amritsar City Transport Service Limited (ACTSL) was formed in 2006 for running the bus service. Ironically, the tenure of three of its directors got expired but the city bus service could not be started. No decision has been taken till date whether the mode of operation will be on public private partnership (PPP) basis or the civic body would run the service itself. Other modalities such as the route plan and ticket fare too are still to be finalised. The ACTSL conducted its meeting yesterday. Due to the Company Act norms, only one out of the three company directors, whose tenure has already elapsed, were removed officially. The fate of the rest of the two directors had to be kept pending for want of quorum formalities. The present directors of the company are Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora, MC Commissioner Bhupinder Singh, PIDB nominee Gagan Anand, former AMC Commissioner KS Kang and ex-District Transport Officer (DTO), Amritsar, Paramjit Singh. The company CA Ajay Gupta, who was part of the meeting, admitted that it was a very tedious process. He said even as the term of Kang and Singh too had expired, they too would be removed from the panel of directors but the decision was kept pending keeping norms in mind. Officials said the retired directors would submit their resignation one by one during future meetings and the new appointees would then take further decision in
the matter. An amount of Rs 7.28 lakh on consultancy fees and Rs 12.57 lakh
on releasing advertisements for the project has been spent on the project so far without any significant headway. The present scenario indicates that it
would take yet another year for the buses to hit the city roads. The MC has already received Rs 11.66 crore (Rs 8.33 crore from the Centre under JNNURM programme and Rs 3.33 crore from the state).
Now, the detailed project report for asking another amount of Rs 13 crore would be sent to the Centre for approval. After getting a nod from the Ministry of Urban Development, a project for introducing around 150 buses was sanctioned. Even the tenders for first lot of 30 buses were released but later they had to be scrapped due to some lacunae in the official procedure, as it was challenged in the court. About the project
Hanging in balance
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Shopkeepers, residents threaten to intensify stir against road-widening drive
Amritsar, June 26 The state government had served them notices recently. The protesting shopkeepers shut their outlets and who held a demonstration outside Jallianwala Bagh demanding their rehabilitation first. Tarun Aggarwal, a shopkeeper, said, "Those affected due to the road widening scheme will hold regular protests in front of Jallianwala Bagh from now on. From tomorrow, the protest will start at 10 am and will last till 5 pm." Since majority of occupants are tenants, they are anticipating that they would lose their livelihood. "We are not against road widening but all shopkeepers must be rehabilitated by offering them alternate locations," the shopkeeper added. He said majority of the tenants had been running their shops for over 40 years. Manmohan Kundra, another shopkeeper, said about 90 shops were operating in the area. He claimed that over 1,000 families would lose their livelihood and shelter once these shops and houses were demolished. "After construction of the elevated road and another road underneath it, there is no need for another road," Kundra said. He said the government should order a fact-finding committee to assess the situation on the ground. Deputy Director Local Government (DDLG), Jalandhar, Pritam Singh, who is holding additional charges of DDLG and Land Acquisition Collector, Amritsar, said the department would undertake demolition proceedings after the expiry of notices on July 5. The width of road, as per the original plan, was to be increased to 80 feet. However, the aggrieved shopkeepers had gone to the High Court and its width was reduced to 60 feet. Then they approached the Supreme Court following which the road width was again reduced to 40 feet, he said. The compensation to about 50 per cent of the owners of the houses and shops had been awarded, he claimed. He said the remaining owners could file their claims with the office and compensation would be awarded at the earliest. The purpose of the notice was to advise the residents and traders to transport their goods to safer places, he said.
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Civil Hospital installs CCTV cameras on its premises
Amritsar, June 26 In the first phase, the hospital has installed only four cameras and the number could be increased in view of the success of the project, said SMO Dr Ranjit Singh Buttar. He said the cameras would also help keep an eye on the miscreants who often sneak inside the hospital premises. The Civil Hospital provides medical services to around 800-900 people at its out-patient departments (OPDs). A large number of admitted patients, their attendants and visitors to the emergency ward make it almost impossible for the security personnel to keep an eye on all of them at the same time. "The hospital is visited by around 2,000 people daily and it becomes impossible for the guards to keep an eye on everyone," said Dhillon. The hospital has only eight security guards, four of whom work during the day shift. "Sometimes, bad incidents happen but we are not able to identify those involved. Now, with the help of CCTV recordings this would be easier to identify the miscreants," said Dr Dhillon. Dhillon said even washrooms inside the hospital were used by drug addicts and other miscreants who steal costly fittings. "The cameras would at least ward such elements off. We also plan to install few more cameras at strategic locations," said Dhillon, adding that even activities of the employees would be watched. The SMO said the hospital has also written to the department to sanction more guards to improve surveillance. The Vidya Sagar Institute of Metal Health is also contemplating to install CCTV cameras to keep a close eye on its premises.
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Youth booked for assaulting traffic cop
Amritsar, June 26 Reports said the Head Constable Bhupinder Singh was deputed near Chowk Chitta Gumbad. The traffic cop said the accused, Saurav Kumar, tried to jump red light when he was stopped by him. He said this led to verbal altercation between them. The accused allegedly slapped the policeman, removed his turban and tried to strangulate him. Bhupinder said people gathered near the spot and caught hold of the accused. On June 15, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Daljit Singh and his team were attacked when the raiding party went to nab a drug peddler. On April 25, a police party came under attack by a group of persons when they were going to take a peddler to court from the Chheharta police station. Three of the accused were later arrested by the police while the remaining fled. On April 2, four car-borne youths allegedly fired at a police party near the Dhapai level crossing after it signalled the vehicle to stop. Two youths were arrested on the spot while the remaining managed to escape.
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5 booked for impersonating as journalist
Amritsar, June 26 The incident came to light when the agents of the finance company visited
the residential addresses given by them on the documents. The pictures of those on the documents were found different from those living in the given residential addresses. Swaran Singh, an official of TVS Credit Company, lodged a complaint with the police. A case was registered following the probe conducted by Sadar police station Joga Singh was completed. Those booked have been identified as Mandeep Singh of Karampura, Sukhdev Singh of Patti Mansoor, Bakhshish Singh of Sultanwind, Sham Singh of New Gurnam Nagar and Jatinder Singh.
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Jahajgarh residents get 2 days to remove encroachments
Amritsar, June 26 Earlier, the team was successful in removing the illegal encroachments in the Chheharta area. Estate Officer Vishal Wadhawan said the Jahajgarh residents revolted when the team reached the venue to carry out the drive. “They obstructed our job and the matter was resolved only after they assured to remove the encroachments on their own within 48 hours”, he said. Looking at the intensity of the situation and the residents’ commitment to remove the encroachments, the team gave up the idea of positioning ditch machines for the purpose. Meanwhile, at Chheharta, the team removed the extensions set up by the traders, residents and on the GT road. There are many sand and other construction material suppliers doing their business in the area. These traders had illegally occupied a major portion of the public land falling along the road. They use the place for dumping their construction material while causing a great inconvenience to commuters. Moreover, the main Partap Bazaar was also the target of the anti-encroachment team. Here the shopkeepers had extended the projection and entrance ramps upto the pedestrian area. In view of the strict directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, any encroachment on the public land has to be demolished. “These traders have raised extensions against the rules. We have also received complaints about certain traders who have violated the building norms and encroached upon the public land. Such offenders are on our list and they will face the action in upcoming days," Wadhawan said.
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Woman runs from pillar to post for justice
Amritsar, June 26 For past five months, she along with her family, has been running from pillar to post for the justice but the police "under the influence of their political bosses" has denied her an impartial probe while she alleged that her in-laws, including her husband had been enjoying the life as usual. “They have even slapped false cases against my family to pressurise us to withdraw the complaint,” she said. She said since her marriage in September 2011, she has been living in trauma as her in-laws started demanding dowry from her even after her family gave them more than their capacity to solemnise the marriage. She said after the marriage cards were distributed among the relatives, her husband and in-laws came to their house and demanded an Innova car and gold jewellery for every close relative. “As the invitations were already distributed, the family could do nothing but to accede to their illegitimate demands,” she said, while adding that her family gave 35 tolas of gold jewellery besides Innova car during the marriage. She said when she become pregnant, her in-laws said that they only wanted a son and pressurised her for tests, which she refused. She said they later demanded Rs 20 lakh for sending her husband to Canada. She alleged that she was victimised after birth to a girl child in September 2012 and her in-laws refused to accept her. She said repeated attempts to settle her in her in-laws family yielded no results. She alleged that her husband had made a passport by showing himself as single to marry another girl in Canada. The family alleged that a ruling party MLA, who was close to her in-laws family, and had attended the marriage, had been sabotaging the police investigation in the case. She demanded registration of a dowry case against her husband and in-laws in this connection.They said they had met the Police Commissioner in February who had marked an enquiry to ACP (north) Gurnam Singh in this connection. ACP Gurnam Singh said he would look into the complaint as he did not remember the case off hand. Meanwhile, Gulsher singh, Rajwinder Kaur’s husband refuted all the allegations and said his family wanted to settle the girl but the conditions which they had been levelling were not acceptable to the family. He said Rajwinder’s family wanted that his share in the the property be transfered in her name, which was not acceptable to them. He said inquiries conducted by the police officials also found the complaints false. He said at present the enquiry was being conducted by an ADCP level officer. He alleged that Rajwinder's family had lodged false complaints only to harass his family.
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Tractor-trailer crushes youth to death
Amritsar, June 26 Jagjit Singh, victim's brother, said he, along with Harjit Singh and his friend Gurjant Singh, was returning home on their separate motorcycles when the incident took place. The Sultanwind police has registered a case under Sections 304-A and 279 of the IPC. One held with opium
The Chheharta police has arrested Paramjit Singh, alias Pamma, a resident of Mahal village for possessing 100 gm opium. Investigations revealed that he was an addict and used to sell drugs to other drivers. The accused confessed that he had procured the consignment from a Naraingarh resident but denied to reveal the person's identity. A case under the the NDPS Act has been registered against him. Man commits suicide
Padam Kumar, a resident of Chheharta, committed suicide by hanging himself at his residence. The police has initiated an action under Section 174 of the CrPc in this connection. The body was handed over to his relatives after a post-mortem examination. Sulakhan Singh, investigating officer, said though the deceased was an illiterate person, who had also remained in jail for almost seven years, the police had found a note from his pocket. The handwriting in the note was not understandable. However, his relative Malook Ram stated to the police that he was under depression as his wife had died during his jail term. He was living alone and was under treatment.
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Farmers organise protest outside PSPCL office
Amritsar, June 26 Addressing the protesters, farmer leader Satnam Singh Ajnala said farmers were in a deep economic crisis due to the mismanagement of the power and irrigation sectors. He added that farmers in the state were already reeling under a debt of Rs 38,000 crore. He claimed that 22,000 farmers had committed suicide as they were not getting remunerative prices for their agricultural produce. "The situation has worsened to the extent that all sorts of power connections are coming at a hefty price,"Ajnala said. Meanwhile, Border Area Sangharsh Committee general secretary Rattan Singh Randhawa said farmers were being charged Rs 6,000 per HP (horsepower) for increasing load under the VDS Scheme while the industry was being charged much less for the same. He demanded that farmers should be given free power connections and recruitments should be made in the PSPCL. He demanded that heavy penalties on farmers should be waived off. The farmer leaders alleged that a number of villages at the tail-end of the canal network were not getting water at all.
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GNDU makes re-evaluation process easy
Amritsar, June 26 This decision was approved by the GNDU Syndicate at a meeting today. Prof Ajaib Singh Brar, Vice-Chancellor, GNDU, presided over the meeting while Dr Inderjit Singh, Registrar, presented the agenda of the meeting. The Vice-Chancellor said, earlier, the system of re-evaluation was lengthy and time consuming, but with the introduction of the new system, students would be able to get re-evaluation result well in time without waiting for their detail marks cards. The Syndicate also approved the expenses to be made for sportspersons. The players those will be benefited through the move are Maninder Singh (athletics), Aman Ghai( swimming), Akshay Jain (shooting) and coach Rajwinder Kaur. They are selected in the Indian contingent to participate in the World Universiade Games. These games are scheduled to be held at Kazan in Russia from July 6 to 17.
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Admission procedure of GNDU courses announced
Amritsar, June 26 Among the self-employment courses, the university is offering one-year certificate course in dress designing, cutting and tailoring for matric pass girls. Besides, for Class XII pass girls, diploma courses in textile designing, fashion technology and cosmetology are being provided. One-year
diploma course in computer applications for class XII pass boys and girls and diploma courses in computer hardware and maintenance are also being provided to Class XII pass boys. Officials said one-year diploma in computer hardware maintenance for boys would also be started from this academic session. The students who wish to seek admission in these courses can get the application form till July 5 from the University Regional Campus, Gurdaspur. Similarly, the application forms for the one-year certificate course in dress designing, cutting and tailoring for matric passed girls will also be available till July 5. The interested students can get admission forms for the courses forms from the office of Amardeep Singh Memorial College, Mukandpur. Meamnwhile, the Urdu and Persian Department of GNDU has announced the online admission process in part time diploma and certificate courses in Urdu, Persian, Arabic languages. The department is also offering advanced diploma courses in Urdu and Persian for the current academic session. Dr Aziz Abbas, head of the department, said the last date for receiving the online application forms was July 15. He said the counselling date for the certificate courses in Urdu, Persian and Arabic (part time) was July 22, at 9.30 am. The counselling date for the diploma courses in Urdu and Persian (part time) is July 22. The counselling date for advance diploma course in Urdu and Persian (part time) will be July 22. However, the normal admission process for the new students will be open till July 25, and with the permission of the head of the department till July 29. With the permission of the Dean, Academics Affairs, the admissions can be taken till August 2. With the permission of the Vice-Chancellor students can take admission till August 6. With the late fees of Rs 5000 and with the
permission of the Syndicate, the students can take admission from August 7 to 12.
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World anti-drug day observed
Amritsar, June 26 The function was also attended by the department’s Secretary Husan Lal, Director Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal, ADCP Amrik Singh Pawar and DHO Dr Shivkaran Kahlon. Speaking on the occasion, Nesara Khatoon said the government had set up 50-bed drug de-addiction centres at Amritsar and Batindha. She added that such centres were also coming up at Jalandhar, Patiala and Faridkot. About the plans to check the menace, she said the state government was going to set up a food and drug administration cell. Secretary Husan Lal appealed to all the government departments to unite in fight against drugs. Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal said the Swami Vivekananda De-addiction centre in city had helped 1,754 drug addicts since its inception in 2011. He said around 20 youngsters had been employed as security guards. On this occasion, a play to highlight the damage caused by drugs to society was also staged. Meanwhile, the rural police department organised a rally in Baba Bakala area to create awareness about the harmful affects of the drug addiction. SSP (Rural) Manmohan Singh said during the drive against drugs, the police had succeeded in seizing a large number of habit- forming drugs from the area. He asked the public to inform the police about drug peddlers.
— TNS
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Attack on Pannu condemned
Amritsar, June 26 The meeting of the association was attended by Tarlochan Singh Sandhu, Rajbir Singh Sandhu, Palwinder Singh Bal, Davinder Singh, Sunil Kumar, Iqbal Singh Randhawa, Sukha Singh besides others. Former Health Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla also condemned the attack on the IAS officer. She said the failure to punish the culprits would encourage anti-social elements and result in lawlessness in society.
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PSPCL staff hold protest
Amritsar, June 26 They claimed that the engineer was placed under suspension by throwing all norms to the wind and without holding any inquiry. Commenting on the grounds on which the
junior engineer was suspended, the employees said the JE had lost his mobile phone on the intervening night of June 24 and 25 due to which he could not attend the official phone calls. They demanded to revoke the suspension orders immediately. They threatened to intensify their agitation if their demand was not met.
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