Amritsar, November 21
The hospitality industry of the holy city is upbeat over an international survey placing it at the sixth spot for providing excellent boarding and lodging facilities to tourists at the most affordable price. Besides, DJB Infrastructures and Developers India, an FDI company with many construction activities in Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, has already announced raising the largest hotel in India in the Sikh holy city.

Local hoteliers claim that it was all due to individual efforts and the state government is yet to deliver.

The Amritsar Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHARA) president, APS Chatha, said the US-based Punjabi news channel adjudged Amritsar sixth out of the 100 evaluated in Asia, New Zealand and Australia. He added that keeping in view the category of prize, it acknowledged the role and contribution of local hoteliers and other players in the hospitality industry.

He welcomed the proposed operationalisation of 1,113 rooms mixed-use property in the city. He added that a part of it was expected to be operationalised in 2013.

However, hoteliers regretted that high taxes and delay in the commissioning of tourism projects were hitting the interests of the leading revenue-earning industry in the border district.

Piyush Kapoor, manager of a four-star hotel, said all tourism projects, including Qila Gobindgarh, Ramtirth, an ancient temple believed to be the hermitage of Bhagwan Valmiki, the summer palace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Punjabi Heritage village in Guru Nanak Dev University were running behind the schedule.

High taxes on hotel and restaurant industries are other major glitches preventing these to realise their full potential, he said. Roughly, a customer staying in a hotel and relishing food in the holy city has to shell out over 30 per cent in taxes to the central and state governments. These taxes are luxury tax, service tax, VAT on food and additional tax on air-conditioned restaurants.

Amritsar, November 21
Even as the protesting residents of the localities near the Bhagtanwala dumpyard have deferred their move to gherao the office of the mayor, resentment prevails among them that none of the BJP leaders, including Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi, CPS Navjot Kaur Sidhu, senior leader Tarun Chugh and Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora have bothered to pay a single visit to the protesting site even after 19 days since the protest started.

Distressed over the reluctance of the Mayor to shift the proposed solid waste treatment plant’s location to any other site but Bhagtanwala, the residents had planned to ‘gherao’ the mayor’s office today.

About his disinclination to visit the agitating residents, Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora said he never intended to politicise the issue and hence, refrained from releasing false statements.

However, he also invited their representatives to visit his office on any working day so that some way out could be discovered.

“The proposed solid waste management plant’s location at Bhagtanwala was never my decision. It is also not in my jurisdiction to change the site as it was decided by the government. Bhagtanwala became the designated site for setting up of the plant after getting mandatory no objection certificate from the Punjab Pollution Control Board and the whole sequence was tabled in the High Court after which the directions were issued,” he said.

“Being first citizen of the city, it is my moral duty to take care of the residents of holy city. But no issue can be resolved by raising negative slogans or burning effigies. Talks can be held but only when both the parties are ready to listen. They could be made aware that the solid waste management plant is the only answer to their problem as it would process the city garbage in a refined manner. I invite them to come to me directly and we can take immediate preventive measures to ensure them hygienic environment around their localities,” he said.

On the other hand, residents protested Mayor’s stance. Sanjay Sharma, a resident of the area, viewed that the BJP leaders were crazy over gaining publicity through PM Modi’s Swachh Bharat campaign.

“They just got their pictures clicked with broom in their hands and swept the already cleaned localities. They never cared to visit the localities near the Bhagtanwala dumping site,” he said.

Another resident Nawal Chawla said, “CPS Navjot Kaur Sidhu and BJP leader Luxmi Kanta Chawla, otherwise bent on cribbing the system, and speaking against their party’s alliance partner SAD, didn’t spare a thought to at least come here and give us moral support even if they were incompetent to resolve our plight.”

Echoing same views, another resident Jai Inder Singh said their family members have been losing their lives due to poor health. “Would these ministers have the courage to come to our localities for votes,” he said.

“SAD and Congress leaders showed their solidarity with us but the BJP remained a mute spectator from a distance,” he said.

Amritsar, November 21
The police have yet to make any breakthrough in the case in which a married woman was allegedly gang- raped by four persons in a guest house in the walled city area here.

The police have booked four persons identified as Sukha, a resident of Batala, and his accomplices Harry, Sonu and an unidentified person.

Investigations revealed that Sukha first took the woman to Batala in his car, promising her shelter and a job. There Sukha and Harry took her to a tubewell room in a village and raped her. After this, he dropped her at the bus stand from where the accused, Sonu, and another unidentified person took her to Sonia Guest House and allegedly raped her. She escaped from their clutches and informed the Division C police station, which registered a case under Sections 376-D and 120-B, IPC, against the culprits.

The police had already taken manager of the guest house, identified as Manoj Kumar, and Harpal Singh in custody. Harpal Singh helped in providing accommodation to the culprits.

Police officials said raids were being conducted to arrest the culprits, who were missing since the registration of the case.

Amritsar, November 21
Along with a concerted drive against drug peddlers, the city police have also launched a crusade against snatchers, who have again raised their heads during the past one month or so.

“The reason is that a majority of snatchers are drug addicts, who commit the crime to get money for their addiction,” said Police Commissioner Jatinder Singh Aulakh.

A couple of instances are being reported in the city on a daily basis while a number of these go unnoticed because people, especially tourists, visiting the holy city for paying obeisance at various religious and visit historical places prefer not to register an FIR. The Police Department also completes formalities by reporting the matter in the daily diary report.

In a recent incident, two unknown persons snatched a car from Amrik Singh of Ranjit Vihar while he was eating inside his i-20 car (PB-02-CH-2352) near Loharka Road. He said the accused persons pulled him out and took away his car. He said his mobile was also in the car. The Sadar police have registered a case in this connection.

In another instance, unidentified persons stanched a mobile from Jyoti Thakur of Ranjit Avenue from near the bus stand. Though the incident occurred on November 13, the police registered a case only last evening.

Over two dozen persons were arrested by the city police during the past couple of days who were involved in snatching instances. The snatchers primarily target women and tourists.

Aulakh said a number of snatchers belonged to neighbouring police districts, including Amritsar rural and the Tarn Taran area, who return home after committing crimes. He said the Police Department was committed to make the city free from snatchers and no stone would be left unturned to achieve this.

Amritsar, November 21
Continuing its drive against drug traffickers, the city police nabbed as many as 30 persons for their alleged involvement in drug peddling in the past 24 hours.

The police recovered 5.630 kg of narcotic powder, besides 150 gm of heroin and 100 intoxicant capsules from their possession.

Police Commissioner Jatinder Singh Aulakh said the drive would continue till the whole network, including those involved in the selling and consumption of drugs is shattered.

Out of the 30 arrested, the Division-A police arrested five persons followed by the Civil Lines and Sultanwind police, which arrested 4 persons each. Cantonment and Chheharta police nabbed three persons each while Gate Hakima, Sadar, Division C and E and Maqboolpura police arrested two persons each.

Those arrested by Division A police are Gobinda, Ranjit Singh, Harbir Singh, Ajay Arora and Baljit Singh. The police seized over 1kg of narcotic powder, besides 15gm heroin from their possession. Heroin was confiscated from Ajay Arora.

Division-C police held Rohit Kumar and Raju Sharma and seized about 800 gm of narcotic powder from their possession in separate instances. The D-division police arrested Sikander Singh with 260 gm intoxicant powder. While the Kotwali police seized 600 gm of narcotic powder from Resham Singh and Lovejit Singh, the Maqboolpoura police arrested Pal Singh and Aliyas Masih with 535 gm of intoxicant powder.

Meanwhile, the Chheharta police nabbed Bikramjit Singh and Lovepreet Singh with 65 gm heroin in separate incidents. The police also arrested Dilbagh Singh for possessing 100 gm toxic powder.

The Gate Hakima police held Kuldip Singh and Sahib Kumar with 520 gm of intoxicant powder. In separate instances, the Cantonment police have arrested Jatinder Singh, Anwar Gill and Kanwalpreet Singh for allegedly possessing 770 gm of narcotic powder. The police also held Jatinder with 30 gm heroin.

The Sadar police nabbed Rashpal Singh and Ashwani Kumar with 400 gm of narcotic powder. The Civil Lines police have arrested Vicky Soura, Lakwhinder Singh and Ajay Kumar with 470 gm of toxic powder. The police held Rajiv Kumar with 100 intoxicant capsules.

The Sultanwind police have arrested Arjun Singh and Gagandeep Singh with 370 gm intoxicant powder while Prabhjot Singh and Kamal Verma were nabbed with 40gm heroin.

Amritsar, November 21
Even as the police have booked three persons on attempt-to-murder charges in connection with the yesterday’s shootout incident at Tej Nagar in the Sultanwind road area, it is baffled over the weapon used in the crime. Among those booked include Jai Singh, a resident of Gilwali Gate, Varun Gill of Ganda Singh Colony and Moni of the Dashmesh Nagar area.

Vijay Pal, a resident of Gilwali Gate, who was injured in the firing incident, stated to the police that he along with his friend, Karan, a resident of Shaheed Udham Singh Nagar, was going to the latter’s house. When they reached hear Tej Nagar Chowk, Jai Singh fired a couple of shots at him with an intention to murder him. One of the bullets hit his thigh. The accused fled the scene after the incident.

Parvesh Chopra, SHO, Sultanwind police station, said no arrest had been made so far because the culprits were on the run since the incident. About the weapon, he said it seemed that the weapon used in the crime was not country-made. It appeared to be a sophisticated one and a forensic examination would ascertain, which weapon was used in the crime. He said there was no past record of the accused and further investigations were under progress.

Amritsar, November 21
The bird’s-eye view of major landmarks of Amritsar through a balloon ride may take some more time to kick off.

The reason is that the private firm, which has been awarded the project, has yet not procured permission from the competent authorities like the Airport Authority of India, the Air Force, the Army and the central government.

Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora said Mumbai-based Indus Leisure and Adventures was hired for the project and it was the liability of that firm to get the required permissions.

The foremost point is that neither the MC nor the Punjab Government will have to spend a single penny on the project because it will be executed on the PPP (public-private partnership) mode. The whole operational and maintenance cost will be borne by the firm.

“The company’s representative, Mehtab Allam Syed, had come to intimate us that the project will be delayed because the requisite permissions were still awaited. It may take at least two months more. From our side, we just have to facilitate the firm by providing supporting infrastructure,” he said.

Former MC Commissioner DPS Kharbanda, the brainchild behind this project, had discovered this facility at Kankria Lakefront in Ahmedabad. He had gathered operational logistics of the project from the Ahmedabad civic authorities.

A two-acre plot in the Gole Bagh area here, which has the closest proximity to the historic shrines, has already been demarcated as the base of the project. Filled with around 6,500 cubic metres of helium, the balloon ride will take off from this place, which will be transformed into a tourist destination, having ticket counters, waiting galleries and food kiosks etc.

About 150 metres in the air, this tethered helium balloon filled with hot air will enable the visitors to enjoy an aerial view of the Golden Temple, the Durgiana Temple, the ancient Ram Tirath Temple and the historic Jallianwala Bagh, etc. The balloon will have a gondola at its base and it will be operated by an electronic winch that will lower or raise the structure. Around 30 people can enjoy this ride in one go. “The fare of the ride will be decided later on with the firm once it gets through the formalities,” said Mayor Arora.

Amritsar, November 21
Perturbed over the dilly-dallying attitude of the district authorities in restoring the land belonging to the farmers of Cheeta Kalan village, the Azad Kisan Sangharsh Committee, Punjab, today threatened to launch a protest and block road traffic on the national highway in case the district administration failed to hand over the possession to legitimate owners.

The five kanals and five marla land was allegedly grabbed by a private housing and urban infrastructure company that had acquired around 120 acres of land near the land in question for the construction of a private colony, said Harjit Singh, an activist of the farmer organisation.

When the matter was brought to the knowledge of the district administration, an enquiry was conducted by an SDM-rank official, which confirmed that according to the revenue records, the land belonged to Kuldeep Kaur, Kundan Singh, Gurpreet Singh and Baldev Singh. The official also directed tehsildar, Amritsar 2, to get the possession of the land and hand it over to its real owners.

Harjinder Singh Tanda, president of the association, said the tehsildar sent a communiqué to the patwari concerned that the possession would be restored on November 15. However, till now the officials were dithering on handing over the possession to the aggrieved persons.

They threatened that if the administration failed to restore the possession of the land, they would block the national highway. The date and the time would be finalised in the coming days.

JP Salwan, tehsildar, Amritsar 2, said the records were being looked into and reinvestigations were being conducted by a four-member team, including a couple of kanungo and patwaris. He said an enquiry would be completed in the next three days and whatever would be the outcome, action would be taken accordingly.

Amritsar, November 21
The Commissioner of the Punjab Right to Service (RTS) Commission, Dr Dalbir Singh Verka, today imposed a penalty of Rs 7,500 on a CDPO and his senior for not facilitating pension to a physically challenged person on time.

At a meeting of the RTS Commission at Circuit House, Verka took swift action on the violation of the RTS Act on the application of Mandeep Singh, a resident of Timowal village, Jandiala Guru block.

After cross-checking the claims of the complainant, Verka found that CDPO, Jandiala Guru, and his senior failed to act in time to issue pension to the complainant under the physically challenged category.

He said as many as 149 services come under the Act and at its inception, only 69 services were brought under the Act.

The move was aimed at ensuring that officials were answerable to the people, he remarked. He directed the officials to instal display boards highlighting the increased number of services under the Act.

The government penalises officials, who do not finish a job within the time frame given under the Act. Normally, monetary penalty is levied on erring officials. However, the Act has provisions like dismissal, departmental and other actions.

Verka warned officials against delaying services to people.

Amritsar, November 21
While residents of Rattan Chand Road area, under the banner of Shri Ram Dham Colony Welfare Association, are up in arms against a charitable foundation for allegedly carrying out ‘illegal’ commercial activities in their vicinity, the care takers of the foundation have refuted the charge.

Vehemently opposing the alleged opening of the OPD Medical Clinic with laboratory and other facilities by Thakar Dei Mehra Charitable Foundation (Trust) at a house located near Ram Dham Mandir at Rattan Chand Road, the president of the association Narain Dass Arora, said the charitable foundation was carrying out construction activities in its building in the name of charity and this would hamper the movement of the residents.

Frustrated by the silence of the authorities over the construction at the site, the association had knocked the doors of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, upon which a Notice of Motion for January 9, 2015, was served upon the charitable society to respond on the alleged violations committed by it.

“The street, which caters to substantial number of houses, will be blocked if the charitable society opens some clinic here as there will be constant footfall of patients. Moreover, it is a residential complex and how could the administration be unmindful of such illegal activities,” said Arora while claiming that several letters have been written to Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi and Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora, but in vain.

Another resident Ravi Kant said despite several messages sent to the members of the charitable society, they didn’t bother to clarify the issue.

Nigam Mehra, caretaker of the society, said they had no intentions of converting this building into some hospital or clinic as has been alleged by the residents or association.

“This building is vacant and is being preserved in the memory of my grandmother. Our society has been involved in social works such as granting scholarships to children and welfare of downtrodden in society,” he said.

The general secretary of the society, Hemant Goswami, said, “We have submitted an affidavit to the Mayor declaring that we would not make commercial use of this building in any manner as it was an ancestral property, which was donated for a social cause. The construction activity was carried out just to renovate it as this building was constructed in 1930s and had outlived its life.”

Amritsar, November 21
The Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU) has decided to organise a state-level rally to protest non-release of 95 per cent grant-in-aid for the past 18 months and to press for their other demands in Chandigarh on November 25.

PCCTU general secretary Prof HS Walia said teachers of affiliated aided colleges had not received their salaries for the past 18 months due to non-release of the grant meant for the payment of salaries since May 2013.

Higher learning in the state was under pressure as the government had put a ban on recruitments since 2005 and at present, 60 per cent of the total posts of teachers and the non-teaching staff were lying vacant, he added.

Recently, on the intervention of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the government had given the affirmation to fill all the vacancies in the next three years. However, he said the state government in a malicious move had issued an administrative order to fill the vacancies on contractual basis, thus diluting the order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The teachers have also been denied the superannuation benefit of pension despite the amendment of Security of Service Act in 1999 so as to include the said benefit in the Act and the decision of the cabinet on December 12, 2001, to grant pension benefits to the employees of aided colleges.

Prof Walia said the other demands include streamlining of the Academic Performance Indicator (API) score system for the promotion of teachers under career advancement scheme, re-inclusion of teachers working against un-aided posts under the umbrella of Security of Service Act, relaxation from refresher courses as per UGC guidelines, extension of retirement age to 65 years from the present 60 years as per the Central government notification, provision of development grant to the un-aided colleges, review of sanctioned posts, implementation of all the clauses of Central government notification and UGC guidelines.

Amritsar, November 21
The second day of Yuva Lok Rang festival at Virsa Vihar was an entertaining affair with folk singers Lachi Bawa and Galori Bawa enthralling the audience with their music.

The daughters of renowned Punjabi folk singer Gurmeet Bawa, who is known for having popularised traditional Punjabi folk music globally, was also present at the occasion.

Keeping the ethos of Punjabi folk music intact, the two artistes believe in ‘saaf-suthri gayaki’ despite the trend spelling otherwise.

‘We try to promote traditional genres of music such as ghazal, folk and instrumental as it’s the only reflection left of our rich heritage. Performing in front of an appreciating audience is always rejuvenating,” said the singing duo, post their performance.

As the evening progressed, a play ‘Laun Di Guddi’, was also performed by local theatre artistes. The play directed by Pavail Sandhu and written by Kewal Dhaliwal, presented the tragedy of a woman fighting for existence in a male dominated society.

A book exhibition organised by the literary society of Virsa Vihar attracted many aficionados, presenting the best on Punjabi literature and poetry. Kewal Dhaliwal, president of Virsa Vihar Society and noted theatre person inaugurated the exhibition in the presence of Punjabi poets Parminderjit, Rashmi Nanda, Bhupinder Singh Sandhu and other noted literary personalities.

The exhibition had popular fiction, historical, poetry and prose books in Punjabi and was open for sales. The collection at Dhani Ram Chatrik Libarary has also been exhibited there and a special discussion was also held to look out for possible solutions to promote literature among youth.

Amritsar, November 21
A book based on the life and history of Guru Teg Bahadur written by academician Jagjit Singh Nagpal was released today at Prabhakar School, Cherherta. The book titled ‘Guru Teg Bahadur- Matchless Martyr of Faith’ records the life and the sacrifices made by the ninth Sikh guru.

Jagjit Singh Nagpal

The book attempts to retell some of the historical discrepancies about Guru Teg Bahadur, claims Nagpal. “I got intrigued to know more about the ninth Sikh guru as I read different accounts of his life in various books. No two books say the same thing and that’s when I decided to do more research on the subject,” said Nagpal during the book launch ceremony.

“There are varied accounts related to some notable events of his life and his execution. Some manuscripts from the Mughal era say that he was a dacoit, who wreaked havoc along with a Persian man Hafiz Adam. But, I discovered that Adam was a Persian student and died in 1670, five years before Guru ji was executed. There are several other misinterpretations and distorted stories that my book tries to explain,” he said. — TNS

Amritsar, November 21
The Local Bodies Department today announced several appointments in various improvement trusts, Municipal Corporations and sewerage boards across the state.

Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi today handed over appointment letters to 245 candidates aspiring to serve in various capacities.

As per information, 17 SDO level officers, 123 JEs, 36 sanitary inspectors, 36 draftsmen/head draftsmen and 33 accountants got appointment letters in various departments.

Joshi said 4 posts of law officers and 15 posts of chief sanitary inspectors would also be filled up soon.