Amritsar, July 2
The residents who had skipped the recent deadline set to deposit their property tax can now deposit it by August 31 as the Local Bodies ministry has extended the deadline with no penalty.

This decision was taken in a meeting held at Chandigarh under the chairmanship of Cabinet Minister Anil Joshi.

Yet again, the authorities have given a warning that it would be the last chance for the residents to clear their dues, otherwise heavy interest would have to be paid.

The MC authorities had done massive exercise to sensitise residents about property tax, applicable w.e.f. April 1, 2013, by conducting awareness camps and making online payment options through self assessment.

Yet, the response was not as per the expectations. Officials confirmed that almost half of the targeted amount could be realised till date.

The lukewarm response of the residents was being viewed as for two key reasons-one was that the deadline (with 10 per cent rebate) was extended umpteen times. The last date was March 31, 2014. The set target was estimated to be between Rs 40-50 crore, but it all got stalled due to general elections. Secondly, after the announcement of General Elections, the residents’ hopes of getting it waived off permanently got brightened.

Lately, the Local Bodies Secretary Ashok Gupta and Cabinet minister Anil Joshi had conducted meeting at Amritsar to review the new pattern of property tax but they had made a loud and clear message that it would be applicable for 2014-2015. The residents would have to clear their dues as per the old pattern till June 30, but it too didn’t yield results.

In Amritsar, around 3 lakh properties, including around 45,000 commercial units, come under the ambit of property tax liability.

Till date only around 1.30 lakh units could be covered. Total realisation of property tax till date is around Rs 23 crore, which included the major chunk from commercial units only.

Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora said this final relief has been given. After that the defaulters would have to pay 50 per cent penalty with 18 per cent interest to be counted w.e.f. March 31.

Amritsar, July 2
A man was electrocuted when he came in contact with a high tension wire while he was working on the roof of his house in the Chehharta area.

The deceased was identified as Jagtar Singh of the Model town locality.

The family members stated that he had gone to the roof for some work where he got electrocuted. The instance has once again brought to fore the menace of high tension wires running over the residential areas.

In February last year, two school students had a miraculous escape as they came in contact with high tension wire while they were playing.

In November 2012, a youngster had died of electrocution in the Dupai area. In another accident, Diya, three-year-old then, had lost her hand as she touched a wire running parallel to her residence’s roof.

A visit to various localities of the city would reveal that instead of plastic covered cables, naked metallic wires are being used for transmission of electricity. While most of the residential buildings have grown into double storey buildings, these wires run along the windows of the first floor.

Even electricity poles installed in streets and on roads are in a total state of neglect as wires can be seen hanging. The residents of various areas have repeatedly complained of the risk these pose to the lives of area residents but the condition has not improved.

School teacher Jagtar Singh said, “The electricity transmission system in city needs an overhaul. The department should change all the metallic wires with cables so that risk can be reduced.”

Meanwhile, the authorities at Power Corporation stated that Rs 240 crore Accelerated Power Development and Reform Program (APDRP) had been initiated in city in February under which wires would be replaced with cables.

Amritsar, July 2
Municipal Corporation Commissioner Pardeep Sabharwal today came on road in order to remove encroachments from various chowks near Golden Temple, including Katra Jaimal Singh, Gurdwara Santokhsar, backside of Pink Plaza and Chowk Farid.

He appealed to the traders and shopkeepers not to encroach upon the public land as it creates hindrance in smooth traffic flow, besides free movements of pedestrians.

Sabharwal warned that if the traders fail to mend their ways and desist from encroaching upon public land and roads, they would be forced to take harsh steps in order the end the menace.

Among those who were accompanying Sabharwal included Superintending Engineer PK Goel, Estate Officer Vishal Vadhawan and MC officials. He also warned a parking lot contractor to park the vehicle inside the parking stand and not on the road. He said the MC would impound the vehicles found wrongly parked. During the anti-encroachment drive, MC authorities destroyed illegal sheds and impounded goods kept on the footpaths and road sides by several shopkeepers.

Rickshaw pullers have parked their vehicles on the roadside in Amritsar

Amritsar, July 2
Even as the traffic police have installed temporary dividers to carve out slip roads with an aim to streamline the traffic at various busy chowks in the city, rampant encroachments at these points has hardly benefited the traffic scenario.

The police department as well as the Municipal authorities has given scant attention to the encroachments made by certain traders. Often traffic jam at the Lawrence Road chowk is the perfect example of this where building material is stashed on the road by under construction shopping mall contractor. The parking of cars on the roadside near the several other showrooms at the spot has done no good.

Similar is the story of another slip road on the Crystal chowk leading to the Madan Mohan Malviya road. Alleged illegal extension of shops and parking by rickshaw pullers and congested the lane leaves almost negligible space for free flow of traffic.

Shalindera Singh, ADCP traffic said they were in touch with the Municipal Corporation and several meetings were held in this connection. He said the MC has been asked to remove the encroachments from the roads.

Amritsar, June 3
With a view to provide the convenience to the residents, Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat today kicked off the SMS facility at Suwidha Centre here today.

While addressing the media persons here, the DC said main motive behind this SMS facility was to provide all the necessary information to the applicants about their applications on their mobile phones.

With residents facing lot of inconveniences at Suwidha Centre, he said SMS facility would be a great relief as people would receive SMS when their work would be complete. This would save their time and energy, besides saving the residents of the regular visits to enquire about their work.

He said this facility was set in motion from today with 333 people receiving an SMS apprising them that their work.

He urged the people to fully utilise the facility besides not ignoring the SMS sent by centre. He said locals can give their suggestions at a toll free no 1800-137-5051 or can send email at asr.suwidha@yahoo.com.

Others present on this occasion were Gulshan Kumar, Harpreet Singh and Amit Mehra.

Amritsar, July 2
A delegation of the CPI which met Deputy Commissioner here today apprised him of the alleged fraudulent practices of the LPG agencies in the district.

CPI Secretary Balwinder Singh Dudala said at least 13 such gas agencies had sprung up in the rural areas in year 2012.

Dudala said these agencies had charged between Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,500 for issuing a LPG connection. Dudala said the consumers were given a receipt of Rs 2,400. He said after filling two or three cylinders, these agencies have now stopped refilling the cylinders.

Dudala said, “Most of these private gas agencies were inaugurated by prominent leaders of the ruling party and now the owners of the gas agencies are neither supplying gas nor are they ready to reimburse the amount paid by the people.”

The CPI has demanded from the district administration to conduct an enquiry into the matter and take action against the guilty owners of gas agencies.

Amritsar, July 2
Punjab Human Rights’ Organisation Deputy Chairman Kirpal Singh Randhawa has demanded security and vehicle as per directions of the High Court from the Deputy Chief Minister and State Home Minister.

A prominent witness in Jaswant Singh Khalra case, a noted human rights activist who had gone missing during the days of terrorism in state and was allegedly picked up by police, Randhawa said that many false cases were slapped on him to pressurise him. Randhawa said the High Court had ordered cancellation of FIRs in all the cases and directed the state government to provide him security along with a vehicle. Randhawa alleged, “The senior police officials in state are deliberately ignoring the directions of High Court as he being an activist had taken tough stands against atrocities of the department.”

Randhawa said on June 11, 2014 he had submitted a letter with the Deputy Chief Minister at Chandigarh who had instructed a senior official to do the needful. “Despite the instructions from the Deputy Chief Minister, the department has not cared to provide him vehicle and increase security staff deployed with him,” said Randhawa.

Amritsar, July 2
The counselling for admission to BSc (Hons) in Chemistry/ Physics/ Human Genetics, B Pharma and B Physiotherapy Courses 2014 will be held from July 3-5 at Guru Nanak Bhawan.

Coordinator professor Dr Kamaljit Singh said all the candidates who have secured aggregate of 85-100 per cent in Physics, Chemistry, Maths/Biology (PCM or PCB as the case may be) in the Class XII would attend the counselling on July 3 at 9.00 am onwards.

Those who got aggregate of 75-84.99 per cent marks would attend the counselling on the same day at 2.00 pm.

Similarly, all the candidates who secured 50-74.99 per cent aggregate of PCM or PCB in Class XII would attend the counselling on July 4 at 9.00 am and all SC/ST (Category A) candidates (50-100 per cent aggregate of PCM or PCB) would attend the counselling on the same day at 2.00 pm.

The BC/Rural/Border Area/Sports/Physically Handicapped (Category B,C,D,E and G) Defence and others (Categories F and H ) candidates who have secured 50-100 per cent (aggregate of PCM or PCB) would attend the counselling on July 5 at 9.00 am.

The candidates of reserve categories are also eligible to appear in general category.

The candidates should bring original certificates/ category certificate(s) (if opted)/testimonials as specified in the prospectus 2014 of the university admissions and original application form with recent attested photograph fixed at the specified space.

The merit list will be put on display at the venue of the counselling and that the fee as mentioned in the Prospectus-2014 of the university will be deposited on the spot.

Updates and further information would be available on www.gndu.ac.in.

Amritsar, July 2
The city police have nabbed a woman in connection with the murder of a taxi driver Baljinder Singh, whose body was found from the railway lines, on May 16.

She has been identified as Manjeet Kaur, a resident of Jathuwal village. She has been sent to judicial remand. According to police officials, she had accompanied the prime culprit while kidnapping the taxi driver and murder.

During the probe, the role of another woman reportedly a relative of Manjeet Kaur also came to light. Raids are being conducted; however, she is still at large.

Amritsar, July 2
A 60-year-old woman identified as Raj Rani was stabbed to death by an unidentified person in the Bagh Ramnand area here late last night.

At the time of the incident, she was alone at her residence as her two sons had gone out for thier work.

Parampal Singh, ADCP, City-I, said the deceased had two sons, Harish Kumar and Gulshan Kumar, who used to work as vendors in the fairs. Yesterday, one of the sons had gone to the Airport side and the other one had gone to Chheharta for work.

She had suffered five stab injuries. She was rushed to the hospital by area residents after they heard her screams. But at the hospital she succumbed to her injuries.

Parampal Singh said during preliminary probe it was found that all the valuables in the house were intact and the incident seemed to be an outcome of some dispute.

He said further investigations were underway while a case under Section 302 of the IndianPenal Code has been registered against the unidentified person.

Amritsar, July 2
The city police have arrested seven persons for allegedly possessing narcotics and illicit liquor.

The verka police arrested Harmanpreet Singh of Patti Bhara Verka for allegedly possessing 7gm of heroin while the Division-B police nabbed Jatinder Singh of Kot Harnam Dass from the Sultanwind road with 50 proscribed capsules.

The Kotwali police held Prince Malhotra and Gursimranpreet Singh of Swank Mandi with 100gm of narcotic powder each. Chheharta, Gate Hakima and Sultanwind police, respectively arrested Prabhdial Singh of Naraingarh, Hardeep Singh of Fateh Singh Colony and Baldev Singh of Patti Dadujilla village with 10 gm narcotic powder, 25gm heroin and 30 bottles of illicit liquor from their possession. 

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