Amritsar, November 7
The Hotel and Welfare Association today accused the Municipal Corporation (MC) authorities of misrepresentation of facts about hotels and guest houses in the vicinity of the Golden Temple to the high court and the state government.

Association members in a press conference today stated that guest houses, serais and hotels in the area are regularly paying house tax, conservancy tax, licence fees, electricity bills, luxury tax, service tax, income tax, VAT and all others, which ever are applicable.

Association president Surinder Singh said, "Moreover the area in which these hotels and guest houses are situated is mixed land use area and as per building bylaws the area is non-scheme area, which can be used for residential and commercial purposes as per law."

The association members said there were number of hotels and guest houses which had been regularised for commercial activities by the MC after taking composition fees according to the building bylaws.

The association members stated that all the 87 objections raised by the general public against the notice earlier issued by the MC were set aside without consideration.

Parminder Jit Singh, joint secretary of the association, said, "We request to the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister not to take any decision regarding the hotels in question without hearing the case of the hoteliers' association."

He said while on the one hand the government was trying to make the holy city a tourist city, the acts of the MC were against it. "Of the total, about 90 per cent of the tourists stay in budget hotels around the Golden Temple. Where would the tourists stay if these hotels are closed down," he said.

Amritsar, November 7
The alleged illegal hotels around the Golden Temple have become a bone of contention for the local authorities. On one hand, there are stern directions from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which has summoned the Municipal Corporation (MC) Commissioner as well as the Senior Town Planner to explain their action taken against the illegal mushrooming of these hotels, inns or guest houses, while on the other hand, the affected hoteliers have charged the MC authorities with projecting the wrong picture of the whole scenario.

Lately, the MC has chargesheeted three of its officials, who were held guilty of inaction against these illegal hotels during their tenure, and it has been learnt that the role of several more officials are under scanner. Meanwhile, the MC is conducting a fresh survey to check licences and permissions taken from the authorities of these hotels. Besides, though the number of illegal hotels under question as per the official record is merely 21, but it was an open secret that this number rolls in hundreds.

The MC has also submitted a list of hotels to the Police Department and asked it to lodge an FIR against their proprietors, who have been operating them illegally.

In reply to the summons of the high court, following a writ petition filed by PHRO activist Sarbjit Singh in 2010, it was in May, 2012, when the then Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal had "categorically" admitted that 21 multi-storey hotels/inns/restaurants never complied 
with the norms of the MC Building Bylaws and were issued notices.

Municipal Corporation officials maintained that these properties were in operation as hotel/inns/restaurants, but not cared two hoots to obtain requisite permission from the MC or comply with norms. Out of this, six enjoyed the immunity as their owners had obtained stay orders through the high court after they were issued notices.

Commissioner, MC, DPS Kharbanda said the Deputy Commissioner of Police had been asked to book the proprietors of as many as 15 hotels or inns under the Sarai Act, but the MC officials whose role was found to be doubtful, too, faced the action.

“We are scanning the whole scenario as per law as this homework was necessary before appearing in the high court on November 25. The 21 hotels or guest houses are those which are located in the Galliara area, whereas there are over 100 such commercial establishments which are running illegally. Also, we are gauging the role of officials who had turned a blind eye to it and let it happen. These hotels, some even raised to six-storeys on just 50-60 sq yard "residential" plots, never obtained the mandatory no-objection certificates (NOCs) either from the Municipal Corporation or the Fire Department,” he said.

With no alternate fire escape route, there are only "narrow stairs" leading to upper floors. “Barring 2 per cent of them, none of these hotels/inns/restaurants have the mandatory provision of parking lots,” said Kharbanda.

Amritsar, November 7
A team of the House Tax Department of the Municipal Corporation (MC) today sealed six properties for non-payment of dues and collected an amount of Rs 5.13 lakh from defaulters.

The team, led by Superintendent Shushant Bhatia, consisted of Inspector Ashok Jhulka and clerks Amrik Singh and Harpal Singh.

According to information, a factory and an electronics shop located on the Batala road were sealed. Similarly, two shops each in Jawahar Nagar and Pawan Nagar were sealed for being house tax defaulters.

Shushant Bhatia said the proprietors of a hospital located on the Majitha road were regular defaulters and were dealt with sternly. "A house tax of Rs 2.3 lakh was due from them, but despite repeated warnings and notices, the management of the hospital never bothered to clear the dues. The cheques, issued earlier, too, got dishonoured. Today, I strictly warned them and got bankers' cheque bearing the same amount," Shushant Bhatia said.

Amritsar, November 7
The Health Department today destroyed around 2,000 litres of mustard oil, seized from a oil press in July. District Health Officer Dr Shivkaran Singh Kahlon said around 600 bottles of mustard oil, seized from Durga Das Enterprises here, was destroyed.

He said the department had sent the samples of the mustard oil to the food testing laboratory at Chandigarh. He added that the test reports had established that the oil was not safe for human consumption.

The mustard oil is used for cooking food by a large section of the society. Kahlon said consumers should beware of the substandard and adulterated food items being sold in market.

Amritsar, November 7
If laughter is a criterion for success then the Punjabi film industry sure is rolling in mirth. Dishing out one comic caper after another every weekend and the formula working with the audience, it's having a ball. And in between comes another achievement.

With Bollywood swiftly making its presence felt in Punjabi films, this one comes from Akshay Kumar's stable. Upcoming Punjabi film "Bhaji in Problem", starring Gippy Grewal, also brings Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar to Pollywood, as a producer and actor. It also stars Om Puri along with Ragini Khanna and Gurpreet Ghuggi as central characters.

The film, which releases on November 15, has Akshay Kumar in an extended special appearance alongside Gippy Grewal. The Punjabi actor was in the city to promote his film, along with co-star and co-producer Gurpreet Ghuggi. Excited that Akshay Kumar's name is a prefix for his film, Gippy sounded hopeful. "There has been an overdose of rom-coms in Punjabi film industry, but ours will be different as it's a situational comedy, just like 'Carry On Jatta' and 'Lucky Di Unlucky Story'. We really hope that with Bollywood stars coming into the picture, the production and professional value of Pollywood would go a notch higher," said the actor.

Actor Gurpreet Ghuggi, who turns producer with the film, too, gets honest. "The Punjabi film industry is not just doing well because of some popular actors and comic scripts, but also because the producers have some bankable directors. The quality of the films and scripts is improving and so is the audience sensibility."

"Bhaji in Problem" is Grazing Goat's second regional production apart from "72 Miles Ek Pravas" by national award-winning director late Rajiv Patil. The film also has a cameo by cricketer Harbhajan Singh.

Director Smeep Kang, who has had successful films like "Carry On Jatta" and "Lucky Di Unlucky Story" in his kitty, attempts to get third time lucky with Gippy Grewal.

Amritsar, November 7
After residents here were finding it hard to cope with the high prices of onion, another indispensable vegetable, tomato, is troubling them as the commodity is being sold between Rs 60-80 per kg in the city, thus adding to their woes.

In some of the posh localities of the city, tomato is being sold at higher prices than in other parts of Amritsar.

Amardeep Singh, a retail apparel shopkeeper, said, "High vegetable prices are burning a hole in our pocket. Brinjal, okra and gourd are being sold between Rs 40-50 in the retail market while fresh coriander costs about Rs 100 per kg. We are forced to raise our kitchen budget by cutting on other expenses."

Shikha Arora, a housewife, said, "Skyrocketing prices of vegetables have upset the family budget.”

“My family has been forced to contain the expenditure on other items for smooth functioning of the household," she said.

Reddish and cucumber are being sold at Rs 20 per kg. Cabbage and cauliflower are available at Rs 40-50 per kilogram while turnip and carrot are being sold at Rs 40 and Rs 50 per kg, respectively.

Des Raj, a vegetable vendor, said, "Prices of vegetables are decided during the auction held at the wholesale market and it further depends upon the quantity of the vegetable available.

On the impact of high vegetable prices, he said, "Customers are not regular as was the case earlier. Now, the customers venture to new markets in search of low prices," Des Raj added.

Amritsar, November 7
The city welcomed the winter with a spell of shower as the temperature hovered around 15 degrees Celsius.

The residents were seen around in woolen clothes. The roads were waterlogged due to heavy rain as a result of which traffic snarls were seen at many places. The Meteorological Department has predicted that there would be no rainfall in the coming days.

Amritsar, November 7
The family members of a mentally-retarded woman, who was allegedly raped by a resident of their area on October 28, today accused the police of inaction in the case.

They said the police had failed to arrest the accused even after over a week had elapsed since.

The police authorities, on the other hand, said they had registered a case in this connection and raids were being carried to nab the culprits.

Sukhi Devi, an eyewitness of the incident and sister-in-law of the 40-year-old victim, said on the intervening night of October 28-29, she heard some noise in her neighbourhood where the victim lives.

The victim was alone at home as her daughter had gone to meet her maternal grandparents and her 15-year-old son had gone to his aunt's house.

Sukhi said she saw the accused, Jinder Singh, sexually abusing her sister-in-law. She alleged that he brutally beat up her before committing the crime as it was apparent from the injury marks on her face and other body parts. The complainant said she raised an alarm following which the accused fled the scene.

They immediately informed the Verka police which got the victim admitted to the Jallianwala Bagh Martyrs' Memorial Civil Hospital where she is recuperating from her injuries.

Dr Balbir Singh Dhillon, Senior Medical Officer (SMO), Jallianwala Bagh Martyrs' Memorial Civil Hospital, said the woman was admitted to the hospital on October 29 and her medical examination was conducted after a board was formed. He said they had prepared the medical report but no police official has approached the hospital to receive it.

Bachan Singh, the officiating in-charge of Verka police station, said a case was registered on the same day the family approached the police. He said the investigation in the case is being carried out by the women cell.

Amritsar, November 7
The second CBSE National Rope-Skipping Tournament today began at DAV Public School, Lawrence Road, here.