Amritsar, November 18
After making constant house tax recoveries from private defaulters, the Municipal Corporation has now set its eyes on government departments which feature in the defaulters' list. With the property tax being collected from April 1, 2013, the house tax realisation had taken a back seat.

The house tax staff, too, has been engaged in collecting property tax and conducing awareness camps in residential areas. Therefore, the house tax collection suffered a hit. Officials said there were around 288 government institutions on the list in Amritsar which owed huge amount to the government as house tax.

With the deadline of its target of recovery of Rs 18-20 crore by December-end, the MC is thinking of a plan to realise the dues. The department has before it a herculean task of making recoveries from over 5,000 defaulters.

A major reshuffling is being introduced among the house tax inspectors to realise house tax from the defaulters.

It has been thought that as the major staff of house tax has been deputed to conduct awareness camps for the recovery of property tax, the house tax realization drive had taken a back seat.

The house tax officials, preferring anonymity complained that though the MC authorities were hell bent upon meeting the set house tax recovery target by tightening the noose around recovery inspectors, but it was silent on taking a strategic move by providing the sufficient hands to the department.

Another flaw was that when the recovery teams with scant number of officials accompanying them on recovery drive, there would have to return either empty handed or with small amount of payments. They stated that at least three inspectors should be spared exclusively for carrying out the drive; otherwise it would be next to impossible when it came to meet the recovery target. More than 1,500 cases pertaining to house tax were still pending before the assessment sub- committee,

MC Superintendent Shushant Bhatia said the matter had been brought to the notice of higher authorities to provide extra staff, besides expediting the cases pending before the sub-committee comprising councillors Sukhminder Singh Pintu and Surinder Singh Sultanwind.

MC Commissioner DPS Kharbanda said the tax defaulters’ list, which included government institutions, was under review and reshuffling in the department was being introduced to expediting the house-tax recovery.

“Apart from realising the house tax dues, it was equally important to take note of property tax. Since property tax was a fresh notification, the residents need to be informed about it. That’s why there was utmost requirement to conduct awareness-cum-realisation drives in different pockets of the city. About house tax recovery, we will be sparing some inspectors because with so much to recover within a short time, we will have to reshuffle the department to increase the pace of recovery”, he said.

Amritsar, November 18
The Ajnala police has booked a couple, a property dealer and his wife, on the charge of raping a divorced woman on the pretext of sending her abroad.

The victim alleged that the accused identified as Jaswinderjit Singh, a resident of Ajnala, not only took Rs 10 lakh from her mother on the pretext of sending her abroad but he also exploited her sexually for a year.

Sohan Singh, DSP, Ajnala, giving details said that a resident of Bhakha Hari Singh village, the victim had divorced her husband who was a drug addict and had been living separately at her parents’ house.

She told the police that her mother had sold one acre land through Jaswinderjit Singh, a property dealer, who later started visiting her house. She alleged that around a year ago, he along with his wife came to her mother and claimed that they could send her to foreign shores, adding that the accused took Rs 10 lakh from them in this connection.

She told the police that one day he called her and asked her to bring along her passport and photographs to his residence. When she went to his house, he was alone. Taking advantage of this, he developed physical relations with her and promised to marry her. She alleged that he continued to exploit her for a long time. However, she alleged, the accused neither sent her abroad nor married her.

She said she later started demanding her money back, out of which she returned only Rs 1.50 lakh.

Sohan Singh, DSP, said following her complaint, the police had registered a case under Sections 376, 420, 120-B, IPC, against him and his wife Hardeep Kaur. He said no arrest had been made so far, as the accused were on the run while a medical examination of the woman was being conducted.

Amritsar, November 18
The kitchen of Employees State Insurance (ESI) hospital on the Majitha road is lying closed for the past seven days as the hospital does not have money to buy LPG cylinders to cook the food.

Though the hospital has all ingredients in stock to serve food to the patients admitted in various wards of the hospital, it has not been able to do so because it does not have LPG cylinders.

The hospital management is constantly in touch with the district treasury office, but the bills have not been cleared. The ESI hospital’s Medical Superintendent, Dr Bagh Mal, said, “We are continuously requesting the treasury authorities to clear the bills. These could be cleared in the coming days.” The kitchen is closed for the past six days, he said.

Meanwhile, the patients have to buy food for themselves from the eateries near the hospitals. Even as they have to pay more for food, they are not satisfied with its quality.

“The food which is served to the patients from the hospital's kitchen is much better than that bought from the market. as it is cooked as per the instructions of the dieticians,” said Balwinder Singh, an attendant of a patient. He said the food bought from the market was spicy and thus not fit for by patients.

The patients at the hospital demanded that the hospital must start serving food to the patients as they were the ones who were suffering from discontinuation of the facility.

Dr Bagh Mal said the facility would be restored the moment they got money to buy cooking gas. “It is very hard to get things on credit. We have been trying to manage but at present bills amounting to atleast Rs 70-80 thousand are pending,” he said.

Amritsar, November 18
To strengthen the recently introduced beat-patrolling system and inform the masses about the new system, the city police has initiated a campaign to hold 'nukkad' meetings. During the meetings, police officials introduced people with the beat official of the respective area and pass on his contact number to the residents.

Besides improving cordial relations with public, the system is aimed to ensure better policing and surveillance and strengthening the network which ultimately helps in reducing the crime rate in the city. The beat-patrolling system was introduced in the city on November 13 by Police Commissioner Jatinder Singh Aulakh.

"The basic idea of holding 'nukkad' meetings with the general public was to reach out to them in order to build a bond of trust between the police and the public.This will help in curbing the rising crime rate in the city," said Parampal Singh, ADCP, city-I.

He along with an ACP-rank official, the SHO and the beat officer is holding meetings around 57 beats that fall in the jurisdiction of city-I area. They exhorted the inhabitants to contact the beat official in case of any trouble or law and order problem in the area. He (the beat official) would try to handle the problem at his own level, but in case he could not, he could contact his senior and ask them to reach the spot, said the ADCP.

He said the beat official would interact with the people and gather details of the owners and tenants living in his area. He would also prepare a data of anti-social elements and history-sheeters in his area which helped the police in solving crime cases.

The whole city has been divided into 97 police beats which will have 194 constables and 74 officials. They will work from 9 am to 9 pm.They will also maintain the records of banks, educational institutes, ATMs, dhabas and hotels, and the problems being faced by the people. They had been provided with special badges, handcuffs and batons besides a booklet of rules which they would have to follow during any untoward incident in their respective areas.

Amritsar, November 18
Thieves broke into the premises of ENT hospital on the Majitha road here last night. Hospital officials said goods worth Rs 5 lakh were stolen from the hospital.

The thieves barged into the hospital premises and decamped with copper fittings which are a part of the oxygen system of the hospital. The hospital officials have registered a complaint with the local police.

A security guard was reportedly guarding the hospital premises when the incident occurred. Government Medical College Principal Dr Karnail Singh said, "Besides filing a police complaint, we have also called for an explanation from the security guard.

He said that though the exact loss of the hospital has not been yet assessed, it is known that it was in huge amount. The government health institutions in city are already facing a problem of lack of security.

The Government Medical College had recently signed a contract for deployment of 36 security guards on the premises. The officials at the hospital said that at least 70 guards were required to guard the campus. — TNS

Amritsar, November 18
A youth was killed while two others were injured when a speeding tempo goods carrier hit a motorcycle just opposite the Sultanwind police chowki here this morning.

The deceased was identified as Vinod Kumar of Gurnam Nagar area while the injured included Deepak Kumar of Gurnam Nagar and Parkash Singh of Patti Baini, Sultanwind village.

Deepak, who is a neighbour of Vinod Kumar, has been critically injured and fighting for his life in a private hospital while Parkash Singh is stated to be out of danger.

Major Singh, in charge of the Sultanwind police chowki and investigating officer, said the incident occurred in the wee hours today. The tempo goods carrier (PB-46-M-4846) was coming from Kot Mit Singh side while the victims who were on a motorcycle were coming towards Sultanwind village when the tempo collided with it. The tempo also lost balance and turned turtle, but its driver, Kuldeep Singh of Tarn Taran, escaped with minor injuries.

The police has registered a case against him while no arrest has been made so far, said Major Singh.

Amritsar, November 18
With a view to tackle frequent traffic snarls at the busy Bhandari Bridge, which connects the old walled city with other areas, the traffic police has initiated yet another move to decongest the bridge by restricting the entry of auto-rickshaws.

The traffic police has planned alternate routes for auto-rickshaws and as from where to divert them.

“This would help in easing the traffic flow at the Bhandri Bridge which is considered as the lifeline of the city,” said Navjot Singh, ACP Traffic. Auto-rickshaws and heavy vehicles, such as minibuses, are the major cause of traffic chaos in the urban pockets, he added.

“Auto-rickshaws and minibuses contribute about 40-50 per cent of traffic congestion. Our aim is to provide alternate routes for the movement of vehicles to decongest the Bhandari Bridge,” he said.

More such steps are in the offing to do away with the traffic problem at various points in the city.

A trial operation of the alternate route was carried today during which auto-rickshaws were diverted from Ashoka Chowk to Rigo Bridge so that they could further move towards Hall Gate and Rambagh to reach the bus stand.

Auto-rickshaws were also diverted towards Taylor Road from their onward journey to Sant Singh Sukha Singh (SSSS) Chowk from where they would be further diverted to bus stand side.

“The moot idea is that we would not allow the auto-rickshaws, minibuses to neter at Bhandari Bridge,” he said, pointing out that the traffic police is contemplating to ban the entry of auto-rickshaws inside the walled city as well.

Amritsar, November 18
The members of the Kisan Sangharsh Committee held a protest outside the office of the Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) Chief Engineer here. The activists demanded that voluntary disclosure scheme for increasing power connection of tubewells with a fee of Rs 1,200 per horse power should be continued for the farmers.

They further demanded that the PSPCL should stop the policy to install electricity meters outside the houses if users are not willing for the same.

Satnam Singh Pannu, president, Kisan Sangarsh Committee, said, “Electricity usage charges and corruption in the department have made it difficult for the people to use electricity at homes. The government should scrap the Electricity Act, 2003, and restore the situation which was prevailing before then.

He said the corporation had collected crores from farmers on the pretext of issuing them tubewell connections but they have not been sanctioned the equipment till date. He said the corporation should stop forceful recovery of fine imposed on farmers and rural labourers and reissue the bills without including the amount.

Amritsar, November 18
The Punjab Employees Rights Protection and Welfare Association asked the state government to release their dearness allowance (DA) dues that were pending. The association said their DA installments were not paid for the past nine months.

BR Preenja, general secretary, Punjab Employees Rights Protection and Welfare Association, said, “It was because of the non-payment of DA installments that Diwali was a low-key affair for most of the pensioners.”

The state government must understand that most of the pensioners do not have other avenues of income," the general secretary of the welfare association added.

He said the state government had recently announced 10 per cent increase in dearness allowance.

“But we are not happy with it as the DA which is inseparable part of pension is not being given since January,” he added.

The Punjab Employees Rights Protection and Welfare Association members further rued that while the perks of the members of the legislative assembly (MLAs) were increased substantially in the state, the Punjab government has not bothered to pay the pensioners who had given their lifetime in service.

Amritsar, November 18
On the basis of the input provided by two brothers, who were arrested with 260 grams of smack a couple of days ago, the police today nabbed another drug peddler who used to supply drugs to them.

The accused, identified as Sukhwinder Singh, alias Sukh Datar, is a resident of Palah Sahib Road in Amritsar.

The brothers, Sikander and Suraj, both residents of Sandhu Colony in Batala Road were held by the police on November 16 for allegedly possessing 260 grams of smack. The accused then named a Meerut-based man from whom they had procured the drugs.

During their interrogation, it was found that they had concocted the story of buying the narcotic substance from a Meerut resident.

"During investigations we got suspicious of their input and further interrogated them after which they revealed that they had procured the substance from Sukhwinder Singh," said Vavinder Mahajan, SHO Sadar police station.

He said the police seized 100 grams of smack from Sukhwinder Singh. It has been learnt that he used to bring smack from Delhi. Earlier, A Delhi-based drug peddler used to bring the contraband to Amritsar but after the Punjab government tightened the noose around the drug traffickers, he stopped coming here, it was revealed during the probe.

After this, Sukhwinder himself went to Delhi for bringing in the consignment. Vavinder said further investigations were under progress to unearth the racket.

Amritsar, November 18
In a road accident that occurred near the Jaintipur area located on the Amritsar-Pathankot highway, two women, Paramjit Kaur, a resident of Bathu Chak village and her relative, Raj Kaur, were killed while Gurnam Singh, husband of Paramjit Kaur, was seriously injured in the mishap.

The victims were riding a motorcycle while a speeding car collided with them. The car was going towards the Batala side from Amritsar and the victims were returning to their village when the incident took place. — TNS

Amritsar, November 18
Preet Nagar, considered the Mecca for artistic and literary community in the region, is playing host to the first ever folk festival, Lok Rang Utsav.

The four-day festival organised by the Punjab Sangeet Natak Akademi in collaboration with North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala, and Gurbaksh Singh Nanak Singh Foundation, Preet Nagar. Traditional folk artists and talents will give live performances.

Various folk flavours of Punjab will be brought together with traditional dance forms like sammi, bhangra, giddha and traditional musical instruments like tumbi, folk songs like vaar etc played for young audience.

"The inaugural folk festival saw a heavy footfall on the first day. Most of the folk forms like bhands, marasis, which were an important part of Punjabi culture, got sidelined by pop culture. Instruments like tumbi have been pushed to the margin. Most folk art forms presented at the festival will take back our audience to the time of traditional Punjabi art forms," said Kewal Dhaliwal, president, Punjab Sangeet Natak Akademi.

The inaugural day had folk orchestra presentation and performances by bhaands and marassis. Day two had folk dance performances by students of Khalsa College and GNDU. "The groups participating in the festival are mostly local. Two plays will also be staged at the festival - Loha Ghut and Daughter of the Bin," said Dhaliwal.

The festival will be dedicated to late actor Balraj Sahni, who made Preet Nagar his home. "Such programmes help in creating a cultural responsibility among young audience. By bringing together three dozen artists from the region and performing traditional folk art forms, Amritsar will be a city to nurture and preserve its cultural heritage," shared Dhaliwal.

The Monday evening saw soulful Sufi renditions and performances by local artists, followed by colourful giddha and bhangra performances. The concept folk festivals are planned for Bathinda, Ropar, Patiala and Jalandhar to revive the dying folk art forms of Punjab.

The venue of the festival too is significant in preserving and nurturing the progressive ethos and cultural understanding of Punjabi literary sensibilities.