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Better Amritsar:
Illegal encroachments-I
Dowry death: Woman commits suicide
MC official fined for delay in providing info
21 drug traffickers, bootleggers held
Violation of catering policy at railway station
Two killed in road mishap
Insurance firm asked to pay Rs 1,07,697
Cast, crew of ‘47 to 84’ comes calling to city
Drug peddlers’ escape: Two cops booked Free medical camp held Feedback
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Plantation work on under elevated
road
GS Paul Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 25 The 3.25-km-long elevated road which started being constructed from mid 2006 was completed in July 2008. Standing on robust 94 RCC pillars, the town's prestigious four-lane elevated road running from Bhandari Bridge to Maqboolpura with an additional stretch to Harmandir Sahib of 1 km long and two more ramps at half way, had almost the same area under it as the open space. In the original plan, it was designed to be fenced with pavements. Traffic fixtures were to be developed as lush green belt while the work on elevated road was in progress. While the elevated road is owned and maintained by the Municipal Corporation of Amritsar (MCA), the covered area of the GT Road over which this runs is the property of the PWD that was to maintain the under cover of the elevated road with a 3.2-km long and 10 m wide area earmarked as green belt. The neglected area which was filled with dry dust and leftovers was a prize location for the creation of forced dust storms with the thrust of speedy heavy vehicles plying at full speed on both sides of the road. Especially at the city’s busiest bus stand crossing and around, the shopkeepers found a golden opportunity to encroach upon this open space lying unattended and fixed their machinery to use it for puncture shops and repair workshops. Thatched huts, hand carts and heavy vehicles parked over the space is a common scene which added to this already 24-hour traffic chaos. The cries of the city dwellers, explaining the situation, remained permanently inaudible to the ears of the administration for over three years continuously. Nonetheless, the PWD took notice of the situation, after the matter was highlighted in these columns as a series. The plantation under the elevated road, lying neglected, was immediately started by the PWD. Bali, in reply to the RTI application, had brought to light that a contract of R 2.5 crore had been awarded by the MCA to a company based in Noida to carry out the plantation work under the elevated road. But the MCA's Horticulture Department could not confirm if the plantation was actually done or not. "I will watch the progress on a daily basis. I will not let the authorities rest in peace till this area is converted into a lush green 3.2-km-long belt at GT Road," he said.
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Better Amritsar:
Illegal encroachments-I Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service
Commercial encroachment The Mall Road, Queens Road, Lawrence Road, Albert Road and Court Road, which were once the cynosure of all eyes, are fast becoming commercial sites. Unguided conversion to commercial areas has rendered these once spacious localities into disarray. In the absence of parking space, vehicles are parked on the spaces earmarked for pedestrians while the left out spaces have been encroached upon by the vendors. No care has been taken to preserve the heritage of the city. While Pakistan has maintained the original glory of its Mall road, the local authorities have allowed rampant commercial activities on this side of the international border. Now, the once beautiful residential areas continue to be replaced by ill-planned high-rise buildings, which have become an eye-sore. Many more commercial complexes are in the pipeline, thanks to the local municipal corporation. The change in the houseline plan by the corporation has added to parking and traffic chaos. Footpaths have been converted into parking space, leaving little space for pedestrians. The present Nehru Shopping Complex on prime Lawrence road, developed by the Improvement Trust, was once a residential house of the manager of British Grindlay's Bank in an area of 21,000 square yards. Apart from this, temporary encroachments by "rehri walas" and others can be seen everywhere. Residential encroachment
Over the years, residential encroachment has also gone up in the city. It is manifest in different ways. Many city residents are parking their cars on the road outside their houses and constructing ramps at their entrances. All these factors are narrowing the width of roads. This situation has become alarming in a major portion of the city as there are over 400 illegal colonies and the walled city has a network of narrow roads. For instance, private travel and taxi transporters operating from outside Hathi Gate are posing a grave risk to the commuters, as these operators park vehicles on the roadside and even outside the cremation ground. Similar instances of encroachments can be found on the Railway link road outside the station. Public parks too have not been spared. Encroaching on land for making toilets for guards, servants or drivers of some powerful in posh colonies is common. Mixed use area
The entire walled city area is classified as mixed use area in which residential and commercial areas are not distinguished. Its labyrinthine roads are known for heir narrowness. Numerous drives by the civic authorities to free these roads from encroachment came to a naught. The approaching road and footpaths to the Golden Temple is a classic case to cite here.
The approach road to the Golden Temple, which receives more visitors than the Taj Mahal, has too little space for the pedestrians on the way to the shrine. The stretch is almost non-existent as most part of it has been encroached upon by shopkeepers and vendors. The visitors have to find space to move amidst goods displayed on the footpaths. Shopkeepers have exhibited their goods up to the middle of the footpaths from the Hall Gate to the Golden Temple, which hinders pedestrian movement. At some places, the entire footpath is blocked by goods. Some merchants have even placed tables and small folding beds on the path to display their products, which range from clothes to electronic appliances. Vehicles parked on the roadside add to the visitors’ woes.
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Dowry death: Woman commits suicide
Amritsar, May 25 Among those booked include Balwant Singh, his mother Kulwinder Kaur and his sister Gurpreet Kaur. A case under Sections 304-B and 34 of the IPC has been registered against the accused at the Kathunangal police station falling under the Amritsar rural police. Karmjit Singh, brother of the deceased and a resident of Rupowali Kalan village, said her sister got married to Balwant Singh in 2008 and enough dowry was given as per their capacity. However, he alleged that her in-laws used to harass her and demanded more dowry. Perturbed over this, his sister committed suicide by consuming a poisonous substance. He said she was rushed to the hospital but could not be saved. The police said, "We are conducting raids to nab the culprits but no arrest has been made so far." This is the third instance in the past one week in which a woman has ended her life following a dispute with her in-laws over bringing insufficient dowry. Yesterday, a newly married woman, Dalbir Kaur, who was three months pregnant, consumed a poisonous substance and committed suicide in Bhootanpura village in Ajnala. Earlier, Gurpreet Kaur had ended her life in a similar way. The police have booked her in-laws, including her husband, who is in the Army and is posted in Kashmir.
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MC official fined for delay in providing info
Amritsar, May 25 Taking cognisance of it, Sultanwind had received the judgment of the Commission a few days ago stating that the Commission had imposed a penalty of Rs 25,000 on Surinder Mohindroo, Executive Engineer, MC, Amritsar, for not providing information to the applicant within the stipulated time frame, thereby defeating the provision of the Right to Information Act 2005. The application was filed by a local resident Ravinder Sultanwind in September 2012. MC Commissioner DPS Kharbanda has been directed to recover the penalty amount and deposit the same with the government under appropriate head of account within eight weeks, applicable w.e.f. May 7. Earlier, in November, the Commission had penalised the Municipal Corporation (MC) for providing a vague reply to the same applicant who sought information about the same official. At the hearing of a pending case through teleconferencing, the Commission had fined the MC Commissioner Rs 5,000. Ravinder Sultanwind said, "An engineer with the MC, Subhash Sharma, was caught stealing power at his official residence. However, he was promoted to the post of XEN in the MC even as an inquiry was going on in the case." Sultanwind alleged that the MC officials had then sent a wrong report, stating that no departmental inquiry was pending against Sharma which benefited him. "The MC officials had misrepresented facts. I had requested for details of the case along with the action taken report," said Sultanwind, alleging that he was given only some of the documents.
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21 drug traffickers, bootleggers held
Amritsar, May 25 Those arrested include Maninder Singh of Mohkampura, Vishal Mahajan of Gokal Avenue, Jagdish Singh of Kotla Sultan Singh, Mangal Singh of Verka, Raju Singh of Kotala Sultan Singh, Vikas of Nangali Bhatha, Jagiro of Noori Mohalla,Narinder Kumar of Islamabad, Gurdaspur, Harjant Singh of Sultanwind, Rafik Masih of Bhaini Mia Khan, Gurdaspur, Satnam Singh of village Chawinda Khurd, Lopoke, Saurav of Tungbala, Ramesh Kumar of Baba Shaheed Nagar, Sukhdev Singh of Guru Ki Wadali, Kuldip Singh of Kot Khalsa, Sishupalof Samuhganj, Bihar, Mukhtar Singh of Fatahpur, Sukhdev Singh of Anngarh; Bhupinder Singh of Ajnala road, Simranjit Singh of Kot Atma Singh and Deepak of Dashmesh Nagar. The police have so far arrested over 100 drug traffickers and a majority of them were consumers too. Similarly, the rural police also arrested nearly 20 persons for possessing narcotics and a huge quantity of illicit liquor. The rural police in a press statement issued here today said that during the last four days, the police has registered 92 cases during which it has seized 7.5 kg narcotic powder, 45 gm heroin, 5664 intoxicant capsules, 25 injections and 241 litres of illicit liquor.
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Violation of catering policy at railway station
Amritsar, May 25 As per the catering policy, railway stations are divided under A, B, C, D, E and F categories after evaluating various parameters. As per the policy, the number of catering units excluding Automatic Vending Machines (AVM) on the main platform should not be more than 6 and not more than 5 on island platform. The Amritsar railway station falls under the category A and its platform number 1 is the main. Sources said there were about eight to 10 catering stalls and four trolleys at this platform (number 1). They alleged that now the contractor, who has been allotted refreshment room to serve meals at platform No. 1 by the railway authorities, is replacing one of its doors with a display counter. They claimed that it was violation of rules as the tender was limited for operating refreshment room only and not for opening a stall. An employee of the contractor company, Shankar Jha, said after taking due permission from the divisional authorities, his company was permitted to replace its wooden doors with aluminium ones, install a take away counter, carry out whitewash and make lighting arrangements at the allotted refreshment room. Meanwhile, the catering policy 2010 stated that "zonal railways should ensure that adequate facilities are available for providing affordable food to passengers before permitting any other type of outlets. Jan Ahar outlets should be set up by converting existing available refreshment rooms/static units into Jan Ahars. Janta Meals and economy combo meals with stress on regional cuisines should be served and vended fro the Jan Ahar outlets". When contacted, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Upjeet Singh, said commercial outlets were being permitted to operate as per the latest policy and norms. On the opening of counter on the side of the platform from the refreshment room, he said it was not right. However, he added he would be able to comment only after verifying the physical location of the refreshment room.
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Two killed in road mishap
Amritsar, May 25 The police have booked the driver of the ambulance for negligence and rash driving which claimed two lives and left two persons injured, including the driver, identified as Kabal Singh. Those killed were identified as Balwinder Singh of Sakari Sarhali and Raju, a contract employee of the Tarn Taran Civil Hospital. Ranjit Singh, son of Balwinder Singh, who also sustained injuries in the incident, said he along with his father Balwinder Singh and Raju were taking his younger brother Rashpal Singh to the GNDH. He had met with an accident and the Tarn Taran Civil Hospital referred him to the GNDH. He alleged that on the way, a truck which was going ahead of their ambulance, had to apply emergency brakes due to some obstruction. He said the driver of the ambulance could not control the vehicle leading to collision with the truck. He said his father Balwinder Singh and Raju died on the spot while he and Rashpal Singh were admitted in the hospital with serious injuries. Jaspal Singh, in-charge, Kot Mit Singh police post, said a case under Sections 304-A, 427, 337, 279 of the IPC has been registered against Kabal Singh. He said no arrest has been made so far as the accused was in the hospital.
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Insurance firm asked to pay Rs 1,07,697
Amritsar, May 25 Earlier, Devraj Chaudhary, a resident of Chheharta, had filed a complaint against the National Insurance Company where his car was insured. He met with an accident as a result of which a stone hit the fuel tank of the vehicle and it started leaking. He stated that the company denied the claim for the damage of the turbo reasoning and said it was a consequential loss as the vehicle continued to run after the accident as a result of which the part was damaged. He complained that the company denied him insurance for the loss of the turbo which cost him Rs
1,05,697. The company, in its reply, submitted that the insured was paid an amount of Rs 14,655. The reply stated that the vehicle in question after having met with an accident continued to run for some distance which caused damage to the turbo and as such is not payable in the light of terms and conditions of the policy. The forum observed that the opposite party could not produce any evidence in the form of report of the mechanic or automobile engineer that the turbo became defective as a result of the vehicle continuing to run after the accident. The forum stated that the company could not produce any evidence as to what distance the vehicle continued running after the accident because the driver of the vehicle, in view of the traffic, has to take the vehicle to some safe place. The forum stated that if the vehicle is driven by the driver of the vehicle for its safe parking to avoid traffic problems and for the security of the vehicle, it cannot be said that the driver of the vehicle was negligent about running the vehicle to some distance.
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Cast, crew of ‘47 to 84’ comes calling to city
Amritsar, 25 May In Amritsar, to promote the film, director Rajiv Sharma along with Babli Singh and actor Natasha Rana interacted with
mediapersons. "The film is the story of a woman who witnesses communal massacre during partition in 1947 as a child and then again in 1984 as a mother. The story is about losing faith and a sense of belongingness, a struggle for identity and justice," said Rajeev. The film's inspiration came from the director's personal life as well as the actors. Babli Singh, the producer of the film, shared his experiences. "My video cassette library in South Delhi was destroyed and our cloth shop was burnt to ashes during riots. I somehow escaped the scene and my life was saved. This issue was in my head for the last 30 years and now I have given it a film's shape. As far as the partition of 1947 is concerned, I heard a lot of stories about that from my grandfather," he said. Rajeev Sharma too said that his mother-in-law, who helped the riot victims at the time, was harassed. "The entire family disintegrated though they never had a direct impact. Think of the thousands of families who faced injustice due to riots." "Since the film deals with a sensitive issue, it was banned after the initial promos by the Censor Board," said Rajeev. "It got A certificate and objections were raised about the violent content and communal elements of the film. But we pushed on and it got a U/A certificate." However, he doesn't deny the controversial element that the film portrays.
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Amritsar, May 25
