Amritsar, July 18
In a case of breach of trust, the commuters are being allegedly taken for a ride by the city bus service operator, who hiked the rates of tickets without informing the civic authorities. Besides, there have been instances in which the staff of the bus service have misbehaved with the commuters when they opposed high fares.

Defying the purpose of introducing this cheapest and safe mode of transport, the Karnataka-based bus operator has abolished the least ticket fare slabs and started charging Rs 10 from each and every passenger, unmindful of the distance.

A few days ago, the windshield of a bus was damaged by two passengers following an altercation with the conductor over the price of the ticket near Novelty Chowk.

Nonetheless, this service was introduced to give relief to the commuters from the auto-rickshaws, which used to charge a minimum of Rs 10 per head.

Earlier, the operator had started charging Rs 5 as the least fare. The commuters have been suffering for the past five months and the matter was brought to the notice of mayor Bakshi Ram Arora, who is also the director of Amritsar City Transport Service Ltd, twice on March 11 and 27.

With no follow-up action by the authorities, the operator, today, raised the ticket fare to Rs 10 as the least fare.

According to the contract, the Karnataka-based firm, which has been engaged for providing the bus service, the rates fixed were: for the non-AC buses, the least fare was Rs 2 (up to 5 km), Rs 5 (5-10 km) and Rs 10 (more than 10 km). The fare for AC buses is Rs 5 (up to 5 km), Rs 10 (5-10 km) and Rs 15 (more than 10 km).

Arshdeep Singh, who commutes daily from the bus stand to Novelty Chowk, said that he was surprised when the conductor charged him Rs 10 for a distance which was even less than 5 km. “When I asked him to refund me the balance, he misbehaved with me,” he said.

Another vigilant citizen, Naresh Johar, who boarded the bus from the Sadar Thana point to the GT road was also charged Rs 10, whereas the fare for 5-km distance, according to the rates set by the authorities comes to just Rs 2. “It was not a matter of miniscule difference of Rs 5 or Rs 10, but the fact that the operating firm did not give two hoots to the norms set in the contract,” he said.

When mayor Arora was intimated about this he said, “I am out of town today, but I will look into the matter. This is quite unfair. Though the firm was engaged to run the buses, we are there to govern them. The firm cannot alter the bus fares on its own. The ticket rates cannot be disturbed till the agreed period and the firm was on the wrong side of law to enhance bus fares on its own. The least ticket within 5 km travel is Rs 2 only,” he said. 

Amritsar, July 18
Yet again the lukewarm response of tax defaulters has compelled the Municipal Corporation to evolve a fresh strategy to realise the dues and hold its officials directly accountable for any lapse.

The last date of depositing the property tax, house tax, water and sewerage tax, for 2013-2014, without penalty, had been fixed as August 31 sometime ago.

Despite numerous announcements and warnings by the Local Bodies Department, the residents cared little to clear their dues. The bills of the Operation and Maintenance Department to the tune of crores of rupees are still to be realised.

The MC has bifurcated the city areas into eight zones and fixed the responsibility of its officials to collect the targeted amount from their demarcated areas within a stipulated period; otherwise they, too, could face disciplinary action.

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. Against a set target of Rs 55-60 crore, the total realisation of property tax till date is around Rs 23 crore, which includes the a chunk from commercial units.

The house tax to the tune of Rs 20 crore is still to be realised from around 10,000 defaulters.

Similarly, the water and sewerage dues, too, roll into crores of rupees. Out of Rs 15 crore, the department could realise Rs 10 crore. The 20 officials have been given a set target of collecting taxes from the defaulters, it is learnt.

The MC authorities had launched a massive exercise to sensitise the residents about property tax, applicable from April 1, 2013, by conducting awareness camps and making online payment options through self-assessment, etc. Yet, the response was not according to expectations.

The Local Bodies Secretary, Ashok Gupta, and Cabinet Minister Anil Joshi had conducted a meeting at Amritsar recently to review the new pattern of property tax, but they had announced that it would be applicable for 2014-2015, adding that the residents would have to clear their property tax, house tax and other dues according to the old pattern till June 30. This, too, did not yield results. Thereafter the date was extended up to August 31.

Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora said, “I appeal to the residents to treat it as their liability to clear their dues. The amount collected as taxes are utilised for providing the residents better civic amenities. The deadline fixed as August 31 would not be extended. Those who still fail to pay their dues on time would have to pay penalty.”

Amritsar, July 18
Although the state government has extended property tax relief to residents having vacant plots, a section of the people feel that it is nothing but a “mere eyewash”.

Amritsar Educational Welfare Society president Prem Sagar said what kind of a financial trouble one faces if one has to shell out over Rs 200 as property tax once a year on a vacant plot of 200 sq yard? Similarly, once-a-year property tax ranging between a few hundred rupees would not make much of a difference. “It will neither pinch the financiers who own scores of properties and cause an artificial hike in real estate prices. It results in denying the end-users from the low and middle-income groups to possess a dream house.”

Sagar opined that the ambitious objective of housing for all could be achieved by slashing the collector rate and lowering the percentage of registry. At least for the first time property buyers and for those who are buying property in government-run bodies like PUDA and Improvement Trust.

He averred that the buyers of residential properties in the schemes run by these government bodies pay thousands of rupees for transferring the name. Besides, it is not mandatory for the property holders in these schemes of the Improvement Trust to get their plots registered from the Revenue Department. These plot holders must be offered an incentive in the form of relaxation in stamp duty to get their properties registered with the Reveneue Department.

Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar Welfare Forum general secretary Parminder Singh said the country being a welfare state, it was obligatory on the state government to provide an equal opportunity to its residents to raise their living standards. However, a large number of home buyers are wary of the idea since the collector rate and stamp duty are very high. These government-fixed rates coupled with high land prices actually make the residential property a hot potato to handle.

Citing the instance of New Golden Avenue, he said khasra numbers 1187 to 1196 have a residential rate of Rs 17,200 per sq yard, fixed by the government. This means that a 50 sq yard plot costs about Rs 8.60 lakh. A buyer may pay any amount as the cost of a plot, but he has to shell out about Rs 75,000 as the stamp duty fee.

Further, high construction and labour cost hikes the overall cost. Keeping all these factors in view, the government must offer some succour. 

Amritsar, July 18
A temporary security picket in the middle of New Amritsar traffic signal intersection has become a nightmare for the commuters, especially those approaching the New Amritsar residential area.

This picket is a living example of a visionless Amritsar police. Apparently acting of numerous complaints from commuters that this intersection, being unmanned, often caused a traffic mess and accidents, the police has installed a wooden picket right on the intersection point.

This picket, made of wood, does not have a solid base and it can topple anytime on the road and may cause a serious accident. Even the windows installed on its sides keep fluttering due to heavy winds, which is dangerous for moving traffic.

Although a traffic cop was deputed here, the picket is so narrow that it is not fit for a person to sit in it.

“Due to this, the traffic cop prefers to sit on the benches installed on one side of the footpath leading to the New Amritsar housing complex, leaving the traffic at the mercy of God,” said Sohan Lal Khanna, president of the New Amritsar Senior Citizens Forum.

“With no traffic cop on the site, drivers jump the traffic signals and negotiate dangerously. Even those who abide by the traffic signals face danger as traffic from the other side may not obey the traffic signals,” said Sukhdev Singh Mattewal, a member of the association.

ADCP (Traffic) Shalindera Singh said that he would get it checked. If it is needed to be replaced or removed, action would be taken accordingly. He also added that the Police Department was going to provide permanent shades to the traffic cops at various chowks.

Amritsar, July 18
Coming to the rescue of a city that needs a consistent eco-conservationapproach, art has gradually turned public spaces in Amritsar into canvas. And the artist who has managed to turn the message from aggressive to creative is George Emanual.

Using popular street art forms like graffiti, poster art or sticker art, he seems to have found a colourful and creative way of social activism. His latest piece of work, or rather place of work is the flyover at Kichlew Chowk, is turning an entire stretch of the flyover into a lively painting. The green background of the graffiti predominantly stresses on saving our green belts and a family holding hands, urging all to come together in this effort. Painting the stretch of the flyover right above the main crossing, it took the young artist five days to complete the job.

“It’s not just a form of self-expression, but also a form of spreading a message. The effects were felt immediately as I managed to draw attention and a few curious glances by the masses. It’s important to understand that preaching might not always produce the desired results.” He emphasises on the silent form of expression. “Art has a silent message. I experienced it as an art student, when I was protesting against some decisions of the management. Instead of holding strikes and shouting slogans, I created a series of cartoons, posted on the notice board. It was much more effective.”

George is being backed by the administration with help from EcoAmritsar. “Ï have been assigned three public spaces by the administration to portray a series of street art forms with social messages. I will be working on the stretch on the under bridge opposite the bus stand and the Town Hall parking soon. These areas are the busiest routes and the scope of capturing maximum citizen support and attention is quite high,” says George.

This is not his first such initiative. The artist-activist has earlier worked on creating a graffiti on a wall outside a shop at the 100-feet road near Sultanwind. In an area known as a breeding hub of drug abusers, Goerge’s art work of a youngster with a remote control, symbolises a hidden message. He believes street art to be the oldest mode of campaigns and marketing globally. He just wants to cash in on the unexplored potential of the street art forms in the city. “I don’t see any other way to serve society. Posting pictures or supporting and sharing links through social networking limits the effectiveness of local issues. I believe in visual impact, and I aim to catch the attention of even those who don’t know to read.”

With support from the authorities and the residents, he aims to carry forward his series of creating lively message boards. “Graffiti has been portrayed as rebellious, destructive and defacing. It’s not about turning walls into random love-slam books, but creating art with a message. The fact is it is boring to be preachy and not everyone can hold candles and spread the word. Graffiti, in that manner, is more creative and inspirational, as well as fun.”

Be it aesthetics or a psychological thing, graffiti art is sure a colourful way to spread the word. 

Amritsar, July 18
The Sadar police have booked four persons of a woman’s in-laws’ family, including her husband. The woman alleged that she was poisoned by them. Among those booked include Sukhwinder Singh, Amrik Singh, Manjeet Kaur and Palwinder Singh, all residents of Sardar Avenue here.

The victim, identified as Jaswinder Kaur, told the police that she was married to Sukhwinder Singh around 11 years ago. She alleged that the accused teased and physically assaulted her as she could not bear a child. She added that the accused also used to harass her for bringing insufficient dowry. She said on July 15, the accused forced her to drink a poisonous substance in order to kill her. She said she fell unconscious and later found herself admitted to a private hospital. — TNS 

Amritsar, July 18
The chaos due to laying of sewerage system on Airport Road has come to an end, but delay in repair of non-operational traffic signals and installation of new ones at crucial points is enhancing the risk of accidents.

Under these circumstances, traffic on Airport Road has been left unattended. A number of newly established residential colonies, townships have come up along the road. This road also connects populous villages and Ajnala tehsil apart from Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport. Hence, the road witnesses high volume of traffic. Incidentally, the flow of traffic does not cease even in the night as passengers keep moving to their destination to and fro from the airport. Therefore, some restaurants remain open in the night to serve customers.

A resident of Airport Road, Vidyasagar, said defunct traffic signals and non-installation of new signals at many crossings was a grave mistake. The T-junction connecting the airport to Airport Road, also known as Ajnala Road, does not have any traffic signals. Consequently, vehicles coming out of the airport come face to face with vehicles coming from Ajnala side at high speed.

Similarly, traffic singles at bypass crossing and at many other places on the road are not functioning. Slow repair of traffic signals has irked the commuters and residents. Many accidents have been reported in the past as the traffic movement had not been managed on Airport Road.

Once hailed as the entry to the holy city for international tourists and celebrities descending at the Sri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport, it attracted attention of the world-class hospitality chains, state-of-the-art private townships.

Many private colonisers carved out illegal colonies in order to earn hefty profit, which attracted a large number of people. To capitalise on urbanisation on this fertile agriculture tract, a number of shops also opened along both sides of the road. Already congested roads further narrowed with shopkeepers resorting to encroachment on both sides. The traffic police is least bothered about the problems faced by commuters and tourists.

“All these factors have resulted in infrastructure blues,” said Tarsem Singh, a resident of the area, who had constructed his house about two decades ago. “Being among the earliest settler in the area, I have closely observed that how unplanned development can spoil a precious tract of fertile land forever.”

To gain the attention of the visitors, reputed international brands, including Radisson Blu, Omaxe Terminal, Ansals, and real estate concerns have either set up their shops or are under the process to raise residential and commercial projects on the road. 

Amritsar, July 18
A migrant identified as Kapil, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, was allegedly run over by a bus near Mall Mandi area.

According to information, the private bus (No PB-O3-C-5217), which was coming from Jalandhar side was going towards bus stand. Kapil, who was also travelling in the same bus, asked the conductor to stop the bus near 100-feet Road. However, the conductor did not stop the bus. Following which, Kapil tried to alight from the running bus when it slowed a little. However, he could not maintain his balance while alighting and fell down. The bus ran over him killing him on the spot.

A police team from Division B police station reached the spot and started investigations.

Amritsar, July 18
Members of the Punjab Property Dealers and Colonisers Association held a protest at Deputy Commissioner’s Office here today. They were demanding resumption of issuing no-objection certificates (NOCs), without which properties could not be registered and scrapping of norms for buying properties.

Association member, Surinder Vashisht, said the business of property dealers was in doldrums after the government introduced taxes to regularise illegal colonies and various other measures.

He demanded the roll back of taxes, besides stopping of two per cent fee on power of attorney and curtailing of stamp duty on registries. He said property dealers were shifting to other states due to unsavoury real estate policies of the state government.

The association demanded that unauthorised colonies be regularised without charging any tax and the present stamp duty of 9 per cent for males and 7 per cent for females be brought down to five and three per cent, respectively.

Amritsar, July 18
Punjabi Writers Co-operative Society Limited, Amritsar, has demanded that Shabad Parkash Punjab Public Library and Information Services Bill announced by the state government three years ago be passed in the current Budget session.

In a communiqué to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, press secretary of the society, Dr Charanjit Singh Gumtala, said three years ago, then Education Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan had announced to pass an ordinance and put the Bill into effect before the enforcement of the election code, but nothing had been done.

It showed that the Punjab Government was not serious to open library in every village like other states, rued Gumtala.

Tamil Nadu passed library Act in 1948. Even Haryana passed this Act in 1989. Gumtala said Sekhwan had stated that in an effort to revive people’s reading habits, the Punjab Government planned to set up 12,603 public libraries in all villages of the state.

These libraries would be established in a phased manner. A committee headed by him had approved the Shabad Parkash Punjab Public Library and Information Services Bill: 2011.

Sekhwan had further stated that the government planned to set up a state central library, 22 district libraries, 141 block-level libraries, 157 town libraries and 12, 282 village libraries. The project would take 10 years to complete.

“Neither the Bill has been passed by the state Assembly nor ordinance has been issued,” said Gumtala, adding that currently Punjab had a state library and 14 district libraries. 

Amritsar, July 18
Chief Khalsa Diwan Educational Committee, which was set up in 1908, will organise a three-day “65th International Sikh Educational Conference” from November 14 at CKD Institute of Management and Technology College, Taran Tarn.

President of Chief Khalsa Diwan (CKD) Charanjit Singh Chadha inaugurated the new block at Sri Guru Harkrishan Public Senior Secondary School, Tarn Taran.

He also held a meeting with members of the CKD’s local committee.

Chadha said the three-day International Sikh Conference would attract a large number of people from social, political and religious spheres.

Sikh scholars not only from Punjab and India, but also from all over the world would participate in the conference, added Chadha.

He said special emphasis would be laid on associating global Sikh community and Sikh scholars with the CKD. Honorary secretary, Education Committee, Dr Jaswinder Singh Dhillon, said the event would begin with akhand paath.

A kirtan darbar would be held on the occasion. A nagar kirtan would also be taken out. The conference would also feature the exhibition of Sikh art works and Sikh literature, added Dhillon.

Others present on the occasion include vice- president Santokh Singh, honorary secretary NS Khurana, Harminder Singh, Jaswinder Singh, Harjit Singh, Jaspal Singh, Dharamveer Singh, Pritpal Singh Sethi and Charanjit Singh Kothi Wale.