Amritsar, July 28
The Municipal Corporation is all set to embark on a project to plant around 10,000 saplings in different parts of the city with an aim to augment the green cover.

According to estimates, over 2,000 trees and plants must have been damaged while carrying out work on various development projects like the BRTS, Kitchlew Chowk elevated road or widening of roads in the bypass areas.

The drive is being initiated to compensate for the loss of greenery on this count. Already, the authorities are at the receiving end of the local NGOs’ ire over chopping of trees.

Nonetheless, the drive headed by MC Commissioner Pardeep Sabharwal, was launched today by Cabinet Minister Anil Joshi.

The ‘development wave’ of the SAD-BJP alliance had been questioned when thousands of fully grown trees were axed to pave way for modern infrastructure, apparently with a ‘diminutive vision’. This move had invited the ire of local residents and environmentalists the most. The Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu, has even asked the authorities to return Rs 1 crore contributed by her husband, the then MP Navjot Singh Sidhu, from his pocket for promoting the green cover in the holy city.

According to a survey conducted by Mission Aagaaz, approximately 376 trees were felled at Circular Road, 158 trees from Kitchlew Chowk to Gumtala Bridge, including 52 Peepal trees, while 299 trees were cut from Bhandari Bridge to India Gate.

Environmentalist PS Bhatti of Khudai Khidmadgaran said, “It was painful to see full-grown trees being chopped off in the name of development. It takes not years, but decades for trees to attain this growth. But it was the easiest task to chop off these trees.”

Sheenu Singh of Voice of Amritsar said that already considerable damage had been done to the green cover on the Mall road due to construction of high-rise buildings and multiplex malls etc; further chopping of trees would do irrecoverable damage to the environs for the generations to come. “We are not anti-development, but we want that damage control over the diminishing green cover should also be our prime concern. We have been assured that maximum trees would be saved during development projects,” he said.

Another environmentalist, Deepak Babbar, of Mission Aagaaz said earlier scores of trees were axed to shift Vidyasagar Mental Hospital to the back side and handing over the front portion of the land to a private organisation some years ago.

Nonetheless, the authorities’ decision to compensate the loss of green cover is a welcome step.

While planting trees at Kabir Bhawan, Minister Anil Joshi said that the government was quite sensitive about the loss of green belt and efforts were being initiated to recover it. Earlier, Joshi also planted saplings at Ranjit Avenue Block 1.

MC Commissioner Pardeep Sabharwal said, “We had decided to plant the saplings in the interiors of the city in all 65 wards so that the local residents could be made sensitised about it. The officials have been directed to educate the general public about it at their own level,” he said.

Others present on the occasion included city mayor Bakshi Ram Arora, SE, Civil, PK Goyal, Xen Arun Kumar and SDO Varinder Singh.

Amritsar, July 28
The only answer to the problem of contaminated drinking water can be a canal-based water supply scheme.

Under the Mega Water Supply Scheme, the government had contemplated introducing a canal-based water supply scheme. A meeting in this regard was held on July 10, 2012. The Chief Minister had instructed officials to carry out a feasibility study during the meeting.

Later, a feasibility study was conducted by a team of IIT, Roorkee, and the health officials of the MC in September, 2012. The study had pointed out that the water level in the city had gone below the permissible limits and the tubewell-based water supply system would not be feasible for long.

The canal-based water supply proposal was left in the middle as Rs 120 crore was required to construct a 40-km-long canal from the Beas. About Rs 130 crore is required for the treatment of water, supply of treated water up to master, area reservoirs and overheads under the proposed scheme.

Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora said the government had approved two schemes— Rs 101 crore for safe drinking water and Rs 105 crore for revamping the water supply line in the South-East zone of city—but the funds were never provided for the schemes.

Earlier, the National Green Tribunal, New Delhi, had ordered the Ministry of Urban Development to release funds for the water treatment schemes.

Provide safe drinking water first

The plantation of ornamental trees or the construction of attractive gates makes no sense when the residents are getting contaminated drinking water. I live in New Amritsar where we get muddy water. When this is the state of affairs in the most modern ‘New’ Amritsar, what would be the situation in ‘old’ Amritsar.
—Harcharan Singh, zonal manager, Punjab &Sind Bank

Implement canal-based water-supply scheme

Amritsar, July 28
The SGPC has shot off a missive to the International Basketball Federation, seeking an amendment in its norms in the light of the recent controversy over the Sikh players not being allowed to play while wearing a ‘patka’ in a recent tournament.

In a letter to the federation’s South Asia head Rajdeep Singh Gill, SGPC secretary Dalmegh Singh drew his attention towards the fact that two Sikh players, Amritpal Singh and Amjyot Singh, were not allowed to wear ‘patka’ during the recent Asia Cup ties held in China.

He said Amritpal Singh had always played basketball wearing a ‘patka’ and did the same in Manila.

He said the turban was an inseparable part of the Sikh identity and it must be respected.

He urged the federation to make necessary amendments in its norms, so that such incidents didn’t recur in future sports events. 

Amritsar, July 28
Though Cabinet Minister Anil Joshi assured deed writers and stamp vendors of resolving the problems arising out of the state government’s ban on the issuance of NOCs by various authorities, the deed writers and stamp vendors’ associations today went on an indefinite strike.

Joshi demanded a week’s time to resolve their problems. In order to calm down irate deed writers and stamp vendors, he said in case he failed to bring about desired results, then he, too, would join their protest against the government.

Mahinder Gupta of the Deed Writers Association said on an average 500 registries used to be done in a day at Amritsar I and Amritsar II sections of the Revenue Department at the district court complex. Now, the daily rate of registries had plummeted to nearly 50. He said change of rules snatched away the source of earning from a majority of deed writers and stamp vendors. Besides, there is revenue loss to the government as well.

He said the new policy exempted owners of 50 sq yards property and 100 sq yards from slum areas, which had been defined as those which had collector rate less than Rs 2,000 per sq yard. However, owners of these properties were also asked by various government departments, including the PSPCL, the sewerage and water wings of the MC, to submit the NOC for getting connections. He said owners of these properties were being charged Rs 1,000 for the NOC as ‘information fee’.

Members of the Deed Writers Association said, according to the notification of the regularisation policy, properties of those localities established prior to 1995 were out of its purview, yet officials of various government departments were insisting on property owners bringing the NOCs. They demanded introduction of simple and easily understood law to regulate property.

Earlier, members of these associations converged at the district court complex and marched to the camp office of Cabinet Minister Anil Joshi. The deed writers and stamp vendors complained that their business was suffering a lot and handed over the keys of their shops to Joshi. They were also supported by the real estate investors and property dealers in their agitation.

Residents of colonies that have been regularised recently are unable to get the registries done, as the Municipal Corporation and the Amritsar Development Authority (ADA) are not issuing them the mandatory NOCs.

According to the regularisation policy, defined last year, the deadline was to end on October 7, 45 days after the notification of the policy. The government has time and again extended the deadline for facilitating the regularisation of the properties. The deadline has been extended four times and is likely to be extended for the fifth time.

In the district, the Municipal Corporation is collecting the regularisation fee from the public in its jurisdiction and the ADA is doing so from the residents in the rest of the district.

There are about 405 illegal localities in the city. Of these, 242 illegal colonies are under the Municipal Corporation and 167 are under the ADA.

Amritsar, July 25
Residents of the Pawan Nagar locality on Batala road have alleged that they were being supplied contaminated water. Consequently, many residents have been suffering from various water-related diseases.

Jyotsna, a resident of the locality, said she had been ill for the past nearly six days. A Class XI student, she said her doctor diagnosed her to be suffering from water-born ailments. Since then she had been drinking boiled water. She said many members of her family were also suffering from similar ailments.

Ashwani Kumar, a shopkeeper in the locality, said he was the only adult male in the family to run the shop. However, supply of contaminated water had caused him fever and an upset stomach. He said various medical tests were conducted and his time and money were spent in visiting clinics and laboratories. He said all this was being done at the cost of his business, which was the only source of earning for the family.

Another resident of the area, Yogesh Kumar, held a private telecom company responsible for the mess. He said hired labourers of the company dug up a stretch of road to lay a cable. In the process, they damaged a water pipe and the water got mixed with sewerage discharge. He said irked people prevented another digging up in the area recently.

Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora said he would direct the department concerned to correct the fault immediately to ensure supply of clean drinking water. 

Amritsar, July 28
Connecting instantly with your audience and getting immediate reactions toyour work is one luxury the new age filmakers can afford. Thanks to the social and digital media world opening its advantage and reach, the sell out factor for independent film makers is not an issue anymore.

Internet has made everyone a star, whether its a high life metro city band or a relatively small town documentary filmaker. With youtube and facebook serving as launch pads, artists from city are making full use of this oppurtunity. Recently, two punjabi independent projects were launched online. City based filmaker Navtej

Sandhu, released his short film Nooran on youtube, garnering support. The film later travelled to the prestigious Cannes Film Festival and was markeyed on a global scale. His second film Kambdi Deori too has been launched through social media. Another independent filmaker Ansab Khan, all of 19, launched his documentary project on Amritsar- Golden city with Colourful People on Youtube and recieved over hundred hits within a day. Singer-musician Yadoo aka Yadavindra Singh from city launched his debut single Girlfriend online and has now uploaded a video.

“Most amatuer or debut artists prefer online media as it comes at no expense and wider audience base,” shares Yadoo. “Kolaveri di was a phenomenal hit because of internet. Most advertising campaigns know the power and reach of internet and so even artists are exploring and exploiting it,” he says.

Agrees George Emanual, a city based artist who launched his first production, a Punjabi song Mehrmaan online. “Even Bollywood relies on social media platforms to market their creative content. The advantage here is quite clear- instant impact and audience, free promotion and global visibility.” According to Navtej Sandhu, internet has come to the rescue of small projects and independent initiatives, which otherwise would have not found any market.

“You look at the number of short films and documentaries being uploaded and the point is affirmed. Most independent filmakers struggle with finances and sponsors for their projects.

Marketing a film needs a substantial budget and for the ones who cannot afford it, internet provides best platform.”

Amritsar, July 28
A Gurdaspur resident was allegedly raped by her employer after solemnising a “simple” marriage while claiming himself as single. Later the accused was found to be married, the complainant alleged.

The police have registered a case under Sections 366 and 376 of the IPC against the accused, identified as Mukesh Sharma, a resident of Banke Bihari Wali Gali on Batala road at Civil Lines police station here. He originally hailed from of Bhagalpur district in Bihar.

In her complaint submitted to the police, she alleged that she worked in a decoration materials shop on the main GT road. The shop was owned by the accused. She alleged that Sharma married her in a temple on July 8 while claiming himself to be single. She said the accused took her to different hotels and developed physical relations. He also took her to Delhi and Agra.

On July 19 when they were in a hotel, the accused got a call on his phone, which was picked by her. She alleged that the woman on the other side claimed to be his wife. She said when she asked about this to him, he fought with her and left her at a PG in the Rani Ka Bagh area and did not return.

Vavinder Mahajan, SHO, Civil lines police station, said that a case had been registered while further investigations were under progress. He said raids were also being conducted to trace and arrest the culprit. 

Amritsar, July 28
More than 400 micro, small and medium entrepreneurs took part in a programme on food processing at Virsa Vihar, Amritsar. The event was organised by the National Institute for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Hyderabad. The programme was hosted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Amritsar.

Dr Anirudh Singh, Deputy General Manager, National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Haryana, was the chief guest on the occasion.

In his address, Dr Singh said the programme had been chalked out by Union Minister for Food Processing Harsimrat Kaur Badal for the country and it started from the holy city today.

He said a five-day workshop on the issue would be organised for entrepreneurs from different fields from August 4 to 8 in Amritsar.

Dr S Glory Swarupa, associate faculty member, National Institute for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, told how vegetables and fruits are waste due to the lack of preservation. Dr Swarupa urged the farmers to set up food processing units so that more jobs could be generated.

Dr HS Bajwa, senior extension specialist, Directorate of Extension Education, PAU, Ludhiana presented highlights of the programme.

Dr BVC Majahan of PAU gave lecture on the storage of fruits and vegetables. Dr Anuj Sood gave information about different schemes of the NABARD and the government for agriculture and its allied sector. 

Amritsar, July 28
More than 5,000 saplings will be planted in all 17 educational institutions run by the Khalsa College Governing Council (KCGC). The aim of the 15- day-long plantation drive is to increase green cover in the colleges and schools’.

This was stated by KCGC president Satyajit Singh Majithia who today inaugurated the plantation drive at Khalsa College. He said environment degradation was a major challenge and trees should be planted to save earth. “The role of educational institutions and students in spreading awareness on the issue is significant,” said Majithia. He along with KCGC honorary secretary Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina, vice-president Charanjit Singh Chadha quoted from religious scriptures to point out how important it was to keep the environment clean and green. — TNS

Amritsar, July 27
The foot overbridge in front of the Amritsar railway station is being misused by the vendors. They have set up unauthorised stalls under it. It is also being used for the dumping of garbage.

Auto-rickshaws drivers, too, exploit the site for parking their vehicles.

A local resident, Vidyasagar, said the bridge was not being used by the residents and the vendors had blocked it by putting up their stalls.

A resident of the area, Harpreet Singh, said the minimum use of the bridge by the public showed that it served more as a spot for the display of advertisements and signboards than the purpose for which it was constructed.

He said people preferred to cross the road instead of using it.

He said the construction of the bridge at the entry gate of the railway station, instead of the exit gate, was logistically wrong.

A middle-aged shopkeeper, Rattan Chand, said, the passengers did not utilise the bridge as they carried luggages with them. Earlier, the district administration had to install a greenbelt to prevent the parking of taxis along the wall of the railway station.

Though the move succeeded in keeping the taxis away, the greenbelt is not being maintained properly.

The railway road witnesses a huge traffic due to the movement of vehicles from Bhandari Bridge, Puttalighar and Rialto Chowk, towards it. It links the city with Attari. Besides, the bridge is located next to the famous Landa Bazaar, known for selling foreign-made products. The market attracts a large number of people. The comfort of the public and passengers was ignored before the construction of the bridge. Rattan Chand said it would have been better if the authorities had constructed a subway instead of a foot overbridge at the exit point of the railway station.

The authorities maintained that iron bars were installed on the central verge to discourage pedestrians from crossing the road. 

Amritsar, July 28
The local civic authorities have ignored the defacement of public property by advertisers as is evident from the large number of posters pasted on walls under the elevated road.

The posters pasted on walls, pedestals beneath statues and electricity poles can be seen in the city. Though political leaders often resort to such measures to gain publicity, religious and social organisations are also indulging in the act.

Though the administration has warned against the defacement of public property through posters or graffiti at various places in the city, all efforts have fallen flat. Many residents said strict action should be taken against the advertisers defacing public property. “There is no problem in the identification of the culprits as their contact details are given in the advertisements. The authorities should impose a fine on the culprits and the money can be used for the beautification of the city,” said Kulwant Singh, a shopkeeper near the city bus stand.

Harish Kumar, a student, said, “The administration had earlier lodged police complaints against the violators. The situation can improve if police complaints are filed against such advertisers regularly.”

As the Union Government has proposed to develop Amritsar under its heritage city programme, the people expect that the local administration, too, would take such an initiative on the issue.

Amritsar, July 28
A 24-hour free ORS and zinc tablet distribution counter was set up at the entrance of the emergency block of the Jallianwala Bagh Martyrs Memorial Civil Hospital here today. Senior Medical Officer Dr Hardeep Singh Ghai said the free distribution of ORS and zinc tablets would continue till August 8. Dr Ghai said parents of the children below 5 years of age should procure packets of ORS to save their children from dehydration.

Meanwhile, the intensified diarrhoea control fortnight (IDCF) was inaugurated by CPS Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu and CPS Amarpal Singh Bony at the Civil Hospital, Ajnala. Dr Sidhu said the aim of the IDCF was to reduce the number of diarrhoea deaths. Civil surgeon Dr Rajiv Bhalla said arrangements had been made at all government health institutions for the drive. He said the department had identified 2.26 lakh childen under the age of 5. 

Amritsar, July 28
Guru Nanak Dev University teachers have decided to protest outside the VC office against the indifferent attitude of the authorities towards their demands.

The ultimatum sent by the teachers, underlining the urgency and seriousness of the issues concerning the teachers on July 24, did not work in their favour.

Dejected over this, the teachers under the banner of the GNDU Teachers’ Association have decided to visit the VC office from August 1 to 10. The secretary of the teachers’ association, Dr Lakhwinder Singh Kang, said the decision was taken after the authorities did no pay any heed to their demands. “The VC often gave the reply. We have decided to lodge our protest by assembling at the VC office daily. In the next phase, we will take direct action,” he said.The teachers said no committee had been formed to formulate the promotion policy. They also demanded allowances for rural/border area regional college teachers, exemption from PhD entrance test for regular teachers. — TNS 

Amritsar, July 28
The All-India Pingalwara Charitable Society that provides shelter to mentally challenged, handicapped, sick, elderly and the destitute, will hold a four-day-long programme to mark the 22nd death anniversary of its founder Bhagat Puran Singh from August 2.

Dr Inderjit Kaur, president of the society, said inmates of the shelter home, would carry out an environmental awareness rally from Ghanta Ghar Chowk to Hall Gate.

She said the Cancer Roko, an organisation spreading awareness on the disease cancer, would hold a camp. The camp will be inaugurated by BJP leader Lakshmi Kanta Chawla on August 2.

An “akhand path” of Guru Granth Sahib will start at the society’s GT Road office on August 3. On this day, a seminar on natural farming will be held.

On August 4, a blood donation camp will be held at the GT Road office, which would be inaugurated by Police Commissioner JS Aulakh.

On the concluding day, the “bhog” of the “akhand path” would be performed.

Amritsar, July 28
An elderly woman was robbed of her gold bangles by two women. They hypnotised her before decamping with her bangles. The incident occurred at Lawrence Road here when she was going to a religious congregation.

The victim has been identified as Prem Lata, a resident of Lawrence Road. She told the police that as she reached Lawrence Road, a woman approached her and said her mother-in-law, who was sitting in a car, wanted to meet her. She offered her a seat in the car and hypnotised her. They then took away her gold bangles. When she returned to her senses, she told the story to her family members and the police.

Notably, a couple of similar instances have already been reported in the city. 

Amritsar, July 28
The Amritsar Central Jail authorities recovered a mobile phone from an undertrial during a routine search yesterday.

The accused has been identified as Naveen Saini, a resident of house No. 329, New Hargobind Nagar, Jalandhar. A case has been registered. — TNS