Amritsar, March 20
A number of trucks and other vehicles bringing devotees from far off places, including Punjab, Haryana and other states, for performing “langar sewa” (community kitchen service) at Guru Ram Dass Langar Hall have been causing lot of pollution in the Golden Temple apart from causing inconvenience to the devotees.

The “langar sewa” was launched on the initiative of Surinder Kaur Badal, wife of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, and leaders of the ruling SAD and BJP have been vying with each other to perform the sewa.

The SGPC president, Avtar Singh, admitted that the four-wheelers had been creating havoc in the Golden Temple complex yet it was difficult to stop them since the jathas were led by VIPs. Earlier, data collected by the pollution control board revealed that the pollution level in the surroundings of the Golden Temple had been constantly rising. Every goldsmith and dhaba/hotel owner uses 15 kg to 25 kg coal or up to 50 litres of diesel/kerosene a day, depending upon the workload and availability of electricity.

The government was also contemplating a ban on use of fuel other than LPG by goldsmiths, hotels and dhabas in the walled city here to reduce pollution affecting the Golden Temple, following a report of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB).

The PPCB had found high levels of harmful nitrous oxide and sulphur dioxide in the ambient air. Experts had also cautioned that fireworks released these gases, which could react with marble leading to corrosion and blackening. Miniature paintings and gold-plating were also under threat from harmful gases, experts had added.

The PPCB had also recommended to the Punjab government to ban burning of fuel other than LPG in the walled city to save the Golden Temple.

Amritsar, March 20
Many heads are likely to roll during the interrogation of four Inter Service Intelligence spies recently held in a joint operation of various units of Counter Intelligence wing of the Punjab police and Special Narcotic Cell (SNC) here.

With the police authorities already informing the army officials about the involvement of certain Army men into spying, the main thrust of investigations would now be on how the ISI agents got access to these important and sensational documents including significant military installations, photographs, charts, movements of military units etc.

SSP (SNC) P.K. Rai said the matter was also being probed on their links in Indian side who brought them into the contact of ISI and their recruitment was also being looked into.

He said their (four accused) easy access to these documents had raised many questions which were necessary to be answered.

According to sources, the startling revelations after the arrest of an Army jawan posted somewhere in Pathankot side have raised hackles in the Army circle. The arrested Army jawan was close relative of Baldev Singh who was nabbed for spying. The sources added that the accused used to interact with their Pak-based bosses on computer, Internet and mobile phones with the help of a Pakistani SIM card, which is yet to be recovered.

He said during further investigations, the investigating team would recover the computer system and scan the SIM card, which is likely to open a Pandora’s Box. Till now the team has traced 30 to 40 mobile numbers besides identifying their other accomplices involved in spying on the Indian side, the sources added.

Amritsar, March 20
With the onset of summer, mosquitoes have started giving sleepless nights to the residents not only in the slum areas but also in the posh localities of the holy city. The situation may worsen resulting in spread of dengue as one fourth of the staff of the Health Department is likely to be deputed for the forthcoming parliamentary elections to be held in May.

However, the Health Department has started taking stringent measures in advance so as to effectively control the spread of dengue, which had claimed many lives in 2008.

The whole city has been divided into two parts, one consisting of the areas in the old walled city, which would be taken care of by the staff of the municipal corporation while the rest of the areas would be looked after by the staff of the Health Department.

This step of the department was being seen as to escape any harassment at the hands of the local politicians, who may not want their voters to be troubles by the mosquitoes as it would have considerable affect on their vote banks.

Talking to the Tribune, civil surgeon Lehmber Singh said they had received a letter from the election officer for submitting a list of the staff which could be deputed for the election duty.

He said though it was obligatory on the part of the department to provide staff for the poll duly, they have requested for sparing the technical staff including the paramedical staff and the doctors.

The civil surgeon said the department has also started a campaign to educate the masses especially living in the slums or the areas, where the people had suffered from dengue or malaria.

He said the people were being urged to drink boiled water besides using chlorine tablets to clean the water of any infections. He said water samples were also being taken to check the water of its impurities.

Posters would also be pasted in the sensitive areas besides holding ‘nukkar’ meetings to educate the masses.

The civil surgeon said they had constituted 15 teams each comprising three staff members, including supervisor and two insect collectors. These teams would inform the department about the spread of larva in a particular area.

Amritsar, March 20
Known for the eminent role it used to play during the freedom struggle, Gol Bagh in the city has presently acted as a haven for anti-social elements and beggars with shanties blotting its face. Morning walkers and social activists rue the fact that a number of patches in the park are lying unused. 

They are without grass, flowers and trees, complains Vikay Kapoor, a morning walker. “Government and civic agencies harp on planting saplings. Why don’t they use the space under their control optimally? Hundreds of sapling could be planted in these patches which could give a fillip to movements like ‘go green and go clean’projects.”

He says the concrete sitting platform erected in a portion of the historic bagh does not match the landscape. “It fits only in a playground where spectators could sit and enjoy the match,” he adds.

He said the land could be used for adding more greenery and the bagh could turn into another green lung of the city after the Ram Bagh garden.

Another visitor to the bagh, Subhash Aggarwal, said, “Negligible security and unused land draws beggars, anti-social elements and rag-pickers to encroach upon it. Some of them have even raised shanties inside it. They also defecate in the open, take bath and cook meals, adding to the unhygienic conditions.” He said for these reasons families avoid visiting the bagh which provides unhindered access to these people.

Close proximity to the railway station is said to be another reason for the presence of a huge number of beggars. He rues that not a single toilet exists in the park.

Officials of the Municipal Corporation say the park has seen a facelift recently. They said the work was stopped after the model code of conduct came into force.

In all, about Rs 23 lakh has been allocated for sprucing up the bagh which would see Rs 3 lakh for a fountain, Rs 5 lakh for installing grills, Rs 5 lakh for a children’s park and Rs 5 lakh for canopies.

Besides, works like construction of footpaths, water supply, rain sheds, toilets and installation of high mark lights and fancy lights are also to be carried out. The work in children’s park has been finished. Some canopies and surrounding wall with grills have also been constructed.

Amritsar, March 20
Deputy Commissioner Bhagwant Singh issued directions to the public to provide details about the domestic helps and tenants to the police.

Bhagwant Singh said photographs, verified residential address and other required documents of servants and tenants should be provided to the nearest police station within 15 days of hiring them to check any criminal acts in the city. 

Gurdaspur, March 20
Dr Nirmal Singh, professor, Mechanical Beant College of Engineering and Technology, Gurdaspur, has been given the dual charge of principal and the DEO.

The orders were issued by Tejinder Kaur, principal secretary, Technical Education and Industrial Training Department, Punjab vide her order no 2/34/08 dated March 19 withdrawing the powers of principal and DEO from Dr Dayal Chand, professor, Applied Physics, who had been holding the charge since July 30, 2008.

However, no additional financial benefits have been given to Dr Singh for performing the additional duties.

Meanwhile, Dr Chand has lodged a complaint regarding violation of model code of conduct against principal secretary with the Election Commission over the said order.

He alleged that additional charge of principal and DEO given to Dr Singh was in gross violation of the modal code of conduct as it has been done on political considerations and under pressure from a minister.

Dr Chand claimed that Dr Singh was junior to him and added that the new appointment was not fair during the imposition of model code of conduct.

Amritsar, March 20
The crucial election of Chief Khalsa Diwan (CKD), the oldest Sikh body, would be held on March 22 through voice vote as the local court dismissed the petition of Dr H.S. Soch, a former Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, who pleaded that election be held through secret ballot.

Earlier, CKD had announced to hold the election of office-bearers through voice vote which was challenged by Dr Soch.

Dr Soch said he would decide the next course of action after holding meeting of his group here tomorrow.

However, CKD president Charnjit Singh Chatha, who is seeking re-election, said the stand of the executive body to hold the election by voice vote stand vindicated following dismissal of petition.The CKD has an annual budget of about Rs 16 crore and runs hundreds of educational and social institutes, including an orphanage where Shaheed Udham Singh was brought up.

Earlier, on December 24, 2003, Akal Takht had directed to postpone the elections of the CKD scheduled for January 4, 2004.

After a gap of about five years, Tarlochan Singh, a Rajya Sabha member and former chairman of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM), in a missive to Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh, had urged the latter to intervene to ensure holding of election amicably.

He said the jathedar should send his representative on March 22 in the premises of CKD so that consensus could be reached for electing the next body. The Akal Takht had intervened to postpone the elections, scheduled for January 4, 2004 on the basis of the recommendations made by the committee comprising Justice R.S. Narula and Justice Kuldip Singh, Principal Ram Singh, Dr Prithipal Singh Kapur, a former vice-chancellor of GND varsity and Dr Kharak Singh.

The Minority Commission had to intervene to resolve the imbroglio about five years ago when the Deputy Commissioner had appointed an SDM as the administrator though there was no provision for that. Jathedar Akal Takht Giani Gurbachan Singh has announced that he would visit Chief Khalsa Diwan to ensure that the elections of office-bearers on March 22 are held in a free and fair manner.

Amritsar, March 20
Carrying his love for Punjab’s rich culture, heritage and literature, Dr Norio Okaguchi, a Japanese scholar, professor and head of Research Institute for Languages and Culture for Asia and Africa, graced the state again and interacted with students and staff of the Khalsa College here today.

Speaking in Punjabi, Dr Norio said he was greatly inspired by the rich culture and heritage of Punjab during his first visit to India in 1973.

He said he had come to India to visit various places associated with Budha which include Sarnath. He said he started learning Hindi and other languages of south India, including Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. Talking of Okaguchi, Dr Jatinder Singh, professor of School of Punjabi Studies, Guru Nanak Dev University, said he started learning Punjabi language at Delhi University in 1975. His wife Yoshiko also studies various Indian languages and both had translated the captions of the Indian films in Japanese language during the Indian Film Festival held in Tokyo, Dr Jatinder added.

He said Okaguchi in association with first Japanese Punjabi researcher Dr Tomio Mizokami had also prepared a Japanese-Punjabi dictionary consisting of around 20,000 words.

He had also translated the two books --- Guru Nanak Dev and Faith of the Sikhs --- authored by renowned Punjabi intellectual Dr Harbans Singh.

Khalsa College principal Dr Daljit Singh said it was unfortunate that the present generation was drifting away from the mother tongue and national language.

He said it was a matter of pride for all the Punjabis that a foreigner was initiating steps for the spread of rich Punjabi and Hindi language abroad. He said this would also help in contradicting the report of UNESCO that Punjabi language was on the verge of extinction.

Fusao Okaguchi, son of Dr Norio and student of architecture, accompanied his father. He would study and capture the architectural marvels in Amritsar, Anandpur Sahib, Chandigarh and Delhi.

Amritsar, March 20
About 3,000 books were showcased at a three-day book exhibition held at the Khalsa College Library.

Students were drawn towards books on fiction and Sikh religion, while teachers were attracted towards their subject books.

Books on various streams like science, mathematics, arts, computer science, agriculture, commerce, economics, biotechnology and others were exhibited on the occasion.

Students laid hands on Harry Potter, Paol Selo, Peter Bains, Maharaja Dalip Singh, Jaswant Singh Kanwal’s Punjabio!, Jeena Hai Ki Marna, Narinder Singh Kapoor’s Mala Manke, Ajmer Singh’s Kis Bidh Ruli Patshahi, Dr Jodh Singh’s Sikh Dharam Vishav Kosh, Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha Encyclopedia of Sikh Literature and Arshroop Singh’s Bird Photography for the Beginner.

On the recommendations of teachers and head of the departments, the management of the college procured books worth Rs 5 lakh for the college library.

College teachers were of the opinion that purchase of books on a range of subjects turned the library among the most sought after by the serious students and academicians.

The book exhibition was inaugurated by Dr V. Venugopal, Director, Bhabha Pramanu Khoj Kendra, Mumbai.

Daljit Singh, Principal, Khalsa College, said almost all major publishers from North India were participating in it. He said it was a good opportunity for the students to keep abreast of latest arrivals in the literary world. — TNS

Amritsar, March 20
The first five-star hotel would be inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal here tomorrow.

Alpha G. Corp’s, a private company, is setting up a mixed-use development project - AlphaOne - in an area of wo million square feet, on the Amritsar-Jalandhar GT Road with a total investment of Rs 700 crore. It would also throw open Ista, the five-star business hotel on its premises.

Apart from this, three more five-star hotels are in the pipeline to cater to the ever growing rush of tourists to the holy city.

Stressing on the emerging global trend of having a five-star business hotel on the premises of a mega mall, Director and CEO S.K. Sayal said AlphaOne was one of North India’s largest mixed-use development projects in terms of area of construction, retail scale, fiscal aspect and quality of development.

He said planning of the entire project was done keeping in mind the ever-growing needs of the people of areas, including Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Kapurthala, Ferozepore, Ludhiana, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Muktsar, Hoshiarpur and Tarn Taran, for their requirements in shopping, entertainment and cultural events.

It is also an attempt to making AlphaOne a new destination point for tourists after the Golden Temple and the Wagah border.

Amritsar, March 20
Historical buildings, especially of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh and British era, in Amritsar stand in mute testimony to the irreparable destruction of heritage.

The latest example of wanton destruction of heritage buildings pertains to eating up of an old wall, which acted as an enclosure and defence for the city, constructed during the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh along with 12 gates.

The construction of the building that virtually destroyed the old wall, constructed with Nanakshahi bricks, has been going on unchecked. Earlier, the Britishers demolished the wall on the western side facing Gobindgarh Fort.

According to Balvinder Singh, a reader, Guru Ram Das School of Planning, Guru Nanak Dev University, and conservator, and Binny Chatha , a heritage lover, the wall had completely disappeared due to alleged callous attitude of enforcement agencies. As per the Amritsar District Gazetteer, 1893, the Britishers reconstructed the wall from Lahori Gate to Rambagh Gate between 1866-68.

They said the failure of the government agencies to implement the legislation, ie The Punjab Regional, Town Planning and Development Act, 1995, which was amended for the incorporation of the concept of listed buildings and heritage zones, led to the destruction of the heritage buildings in a passage of time.

Earlier, wall along Lahori Gate had disappeared following renovation/ expansion of D-Division police station and other private buildings.

Earlier, it was British, who not only renamed the historical buildings, but also demolished many sites on the pretext of modernity and development. Now, the local administration is involved.

It was Maharaja Ranjit Singh who took keen interest in the development and beautification of Amritsar during his rule. He followed the Mughal pattern in laying out beautiful gardens and constructing beautiful buildings, including forts, most of them now on the brink of ruin. He got Sri Harmandar Sahib gold plated. This was how it received the name Golden Temple. It was at this time that the Sikh school of art got the much-needed patronage.

However, the successive state governments, including the Badal government, that had promised to give governance on the pattern of “Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s rule” and the SGPC failed to preserve the invaluable art of Maharaja’s time. Amritsar looked like a fortified city in the days of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. 

The fortification consisted of an immense rampart of earth and a wide ditch, apart from 12 gates, to save the town from foreign invasion. While most of the gates have been demolished, there is no trace of the ditch. Unmindful of their heritage value, most of the gates were pulled down in the past. After the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, many old buildings were replaced by “modern monuments” constructed by the British.

Amritsar, March 20
Singapore’s Silk Airlines plans to start operations from Amritsar next month, much to the relief of tourists and business community who had been facing hardships after the cancellation of Singapore’s national carrier last month.

Punjab Council of CII Chairman Gunbir Singh told The Tribune that they had been pressing upon the Singapore Airlines to reconsider its decision to operate its no-frill economy class airline to fill the void created by the termination of its own thrice-a-week flight operations from Amritsar.

He said during the last visit of the Singapore Ambassador to India, the CII had mooted the proposal in view of the demand of a large number of NRIs settled in South-Asian countries, New Zealand and Australia. Now the final nod was being awaited for the resumption of flights.

Gunbir Singh said there was a tremendous scope for lifting of export cargo from here, including hand tools, hosiery, fresh vegetables. He said the operations would become economically viable even as the Singapore Airlines were operating flights choco-block during its last four years of operation.

Amritsar, March 20
“Our Sanskrit literature is very rich and that’s why our past was bright and with due implementation of those valuable ideas mentioned in the Sanskrit literature through interdisciplinary interactions we should make our present bright to ensure the best future.”

These views were expressed by Dr Vachaspati Upadhyaya, vice-chancellor of Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Delhi, while delivering his presidential remarks on the inaugural day of the two-day national seminar on “Social and environmental disturbance: Remedial steps in Sanskrit literature” inaugurated at Guru Nanak Dev University here today. The seminar is being organised by the department of Sanskrit, Pali and Prakrit of the university.

Dr Upadhyaya categorically mentioned that the root cause of mutual conflict and tension lies in the mental disorder. He said, therefore, the need is to regulate the mind with sense of sacrifice to ensure the common good and people should try to live in tune with nature. He rued that today the man has tried to conquer nature. He warned against misuse of the natural use of resources and invited the audience to enjoy with a sense of sacrifice.

He released a recent publication of the department, “The contribution of Punjab to Sanskrit literature,” edited by Dr Lekh Ram Sharma and Dr Dalbir Singh, on the occasion.

Dr Shridhar Vasishth, director, R.J. Dalmia, Shrivani Trust, Scindia House, Delhi, in his keynote address expressed his views regarding the problems of terrorism, deterioration in the family relations, water and air pollution and deterioration of the natural resources.

Earlier, Dr Raghbir Singh, dean, academic affairs, welcoming the delegates and scholars, said the social and environmental disturbance today was posing a serious threat to humanity. Its remedial steps could be found in Sanskrit literature. The Vedas, Puranas, Ramayana and Mahabharata contain very valuable guidelines in this regard.

He regretted that the present society was forgetting the ancient values. He expressed the hope that the scholars participating in the seminar would reach at some valuable conclusion, which would prove to be useful guidelines for solution to the current problems. He also thanked the department for holding such a seminar. Dr Raghbir Singh also honoured Dr Upadhyaya on the occasion.

Earlier, Dr Renu Bala, head of the Sanskrit, Pali and Prakrit department, presented the brief report of the achievements of the department, while Dr Lekh Ram Sharma, professor of Sanskrit, introduced the guests. A distinguished Sanskrit scholar, Dr B.B. Chaubey, and Maha Mandaleshwar Swami Shantanand also presented their views.

About 50 scholars are analysing the remedial steps on terrorism, national integration, foeticide, decline in family and social relations, indiscriminate running after money and its related crimes, water and air pollution and deterioration of natural resources in the seminar.

Amritsar, March 20
The district police today arrested Harbal Singh of Guru Nanakpura, Sultanwind, and recovered 50 grams of smack from him besides a sharp-edged weapon and a mobile phone from him.

According to the police authorities, a police party of the narcotic and cross border crime cell conducted a raid near Chattiwind Chowk and arrested 
Harbal Singh.

A case under sections 22, 29, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act and sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act has been registered at B-Division police station.

Meanwhile, the city police in two separate cases arrested five persons and recovered two stolen motorcycles and one scooter from them. The arrested persons have been identified as Vikramjit Singh, alias Vicky, resident of Fateh Singh Colony, Nand Lal, alias Nand, resident of Gali Devi Wali Jaura Pipal Gillwali Gate, Deepak of Mahal village, near Pawandeep Hospital, tenant at Fateh Singh Colony, Prabhjit Singh of Anngarh and Inderjit Singh of Chhota Haripura.

On a tip-off, police parties of B-Division police station and Islamabad police station while on patrolling on the Mahna Singh road and Gurbax Nagar Jhabal road, respectively, intercepted five persons riding on three motorcycles and asked about the papers of the vehicles but they could not produce them.

The three motorcycles, which were stolen by them from various parts of the city were recovered. Two separate cases under sections 379, 411, 420, 467, 468 and 471 of the IPC has been registered.in Police Station B-Division and PS Islamabad.

Amritsar, March 20
A controversy has erupted for the postgraduate student (anesthesia) of the SGPC-run Guru Ram Das Hospital and Institute of Medical Sciences, who had worked simultaneously as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) with the Shri Guru Ram Dass Trust.

As per the official orders of the hospital, Dr Singh is discharging duty as OSD. In an order issued in his capacity as OSD on February 3, Dr Singh dismissed OT technician Ranjit Singh from service.

When contacted, trust secretary Joginder Singh said Dr Singh was working without drawing any honorarium or pay.

However, Dr A.P. Singh refuted all the allegations and said he got admitted in the postgraduation course of anaesthesia in May 2008 and had taken three years leave without pay in early May. He said following a resolution by the trust, he joined the office as OSD only for a few hours in a month to discharge some pending work.

Amritsar, March 20
Rajdeep Singh (13), did the city proud by winning a gold medal in the 11th National Science Olympiad. He secured the 28th position among 99,587 students who participated in the contest. The results of the event were declared recently.

A student of Delhi Public School, Rajdeep was awarded a merit certificate and a gold medal by the Science Olympiad Foundation of India.

The school said Olympiads were a kind of examinations for assessing the potential and credibility of a student at the national and international levels. The motive is to work differently from the entitled circle of school curriculum and help the students to move towards their focused directions to achieve success.

The Education Assessment Australia, University of New South Wale Australia, honoured Rajdeep for securing the highest grade in science, distinction certificate in computer skills and English and high distinction certificate in mathematics last year.