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MC House meeting after 11 months
Encroachments |
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PSEB issues advisory to hotels, restaurants
Holy city’s fire brigade lacks infrastructure
Upgradation on Cards
AVM to adopt Sacatary Bagh
22 students get scholarships at ‘Salam-e-June’
Marring Menace
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MC House meeting after 11 months
Amritsar, June 23 At the meeting of the house, which was held after a gap of 11 months, the councillors targeted the errant departments of Health, House Tax, Water and Sewerage and Land, which have brought bad name to the corporation’s functioning. It was for the first time that a house conducted the proceeding in a democratic way where all factions were given the opportunity to air their views. Several councillors expressed their unhappiness over the functioning of Department of Registration of Birth and Death, which had caused widespread resentment among the general public because of the lackadaisical approach of the officials manning the department. The councillors urged the Mayor and the commissioner to streamline the functioning of the department and appealed them for the computerisation of the entire working to eradicate delay and corruption. They said a common man suffers at the hands of inefficient staff manning the department as they had to wait for days to get the certificate. Senior Deputy Mayor Ajaybirpal Singh Randhawa of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) along with other Akali councillors alleged that the solid waste management collection system under the private management of Anthony Waste Collection Company was not doing a good job and was avoiding certain areas. They said the company should be directed to fulfil their commitment to unclear the garbage from the whole city. The issue of garbage and filth cleaning was also raised by councillors of other parties, who said thousands of tourists visit the city to pay obeisance at Golden Temple and it was the duty of the corporation to keep the city clean and beautiful. The Congress councillors, led by party leader Ranjan Aggarwal, alleged that the BJP-SAD combine was discriminating against the Congress wards and were not undertaking the development works in their areas. Mayor Shwet Malik, countering the argument of the Congress councillors, said the development works was going on without any bias and the whole city was being spruced up with never before developmental project. He said Rs 80 crore was spent on the repair and laying of new roads and added that more projects were in the pipeline. He said let the Congress issue a white paper on developments works done during their tenure and compare it with the works undertaken by the present regime. Deputy Mayor Kashmir Singh of the SAD raised the issue of encroachments by vendors around the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial area and alleged that certain official of the Land Department were hand in glove with the unauthorised encroachers. He said the corporation must remove all the encroachments and make the city clean and green. The House also paid homage to former communist MLA and renowned social activist Vimla Dang and Cabinet Minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh, who died in a car accident. Later, the House adopted the agenda to the voice vote and cleared various projects worth several crores, which included buying equipments for sewerage cleaning and to upgrade the fire brigade system with a grant of Rs 10
lakh.
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Encroachments
Amritsar, June 23 The Punjab Human Rights Organissation (PHRO), which had earlier filed a petition in this regard, has threatened to file contempt of court proceedings against various government agencies, besides the state government, for their failure to remove the encroachments. Kirpal Singh Randhawa, Deputy Chief, PHRO, alleged that the government had been contemplating to regularise the encroachments by giving the possession to those who were already in possession of the government property after inviting limited auctions. He said the High Court had given clear instructions in November 2008 to the district authorities to clear the government lands from encroachments. However, nothing concrete has been done so far. Deputy Commissioner Kahan Singh Pannu said he had given strict instructions to all the agencies, including the Local Bodies Department, the Improvement Trust, the MC, PUDA and the Forest Department to take proactive action for the removal of the encroachments. He added that the police authorities had also given assurances to provide help in this regard. Randhawa said that by regularising the encroachments the government would encourage the land mafia in the state for grabbing the prime properties belonging to the government. He said that PHRO would soon file contempt proceedings in the High Court if the government failed to remove encroachments. He pointed out that if the government wanted to auction then it should first remove the encroachments and then hold an open auction, which would benefit the government. |
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PSEB issues advisory to hotels, restaurants
Amritsar, June 23 According to information, the genset power backup was counting double the amount of the normal power rate of Rs 4.50 per unit,
which was affecting the costing of the finished goods. Pyare Lal Seth, general secretary, Shawl Club, said the production of these units had been reduced to almost half and they were unable to meet their export and domestic commitments. He said the production in most of the industrial units had come down by about 30 to 40 per cent. He said on one hand the government was taking minimum charges for power, but on the other hand industrial power cuts had been increased rendering the industry totally nonviable. The industrialists said the government must plan to provide round-the-clock power to continuous processing units at least five days a week to keep the wheels of the industry running. Meanwhile, the PSEB has issued advisory to hotels and restaurants to clamp down on power consumption, especially shut down the glow and neon signs by enforcing strict control over consumption of power in the lobby, etc, to save power to meet the grim crises facing the state. In similar instructions, the board has also advised its officers across the state to shut down the air-conditioners as an austerity measure to save the power to meet the needs of the trade, industry, agriculture and the domestic sectors. |
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3 killed as bus runs over auto-rickshaw, ‘gharuka’
Amritsar, June 23 The deceased have been identified as Ajit Singh and his son, Sonu, both residents of Bandala village, and Ramesh Kumar of Jandiala Guru. Those injured are Jyoti of Meharbanpura village, Lakhbir Singh and Sahib Singh of Jandiala Guru and Bharat Singh of Maqboolpura. As per details, the accident took place when the private bus of Pyar Transport was going from Amritsar to Jandiala, while the auto-rickshaw and “gharuka” were coming from the opposite side (from Jandiala to Amritsar). The eyewitnesses said as the work of construction of four-laning of the Amritsar-Jalandhar road was in progress, the traffic was diverted to one way. The driver of the bus lost control over the vehicle and ran over the “gharuka” and auto-rickshaw. The injured have been rushed to Civil Hospital where the conditions of some of them is stated to be serious. The police authorities said the Jandiala police had booked the driver of the bus, who fled the scene immediately after the incident, under section 304-A of the IPC. |
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Holy city’s fire brigade lacks infrastructure
Amritsar, June 23 Overall there are nine vehicles in the fire brigade. However, five of them are not in a good condition. Hence there are only four fire engines that are fully operational for a population of about 14 lakh and that too with a ladder of about 25 feet, which are not sufficient and old to douse the flames in high-rise buildings, including malls and hotels having a height of more than 100 feet. As per the records of the fire station, every year more than 300 incidents of fire are reported in the holy city. Most of the incidents happen during summers as the electricity wires get melted resulting in short circuits and during Divali. During Divali, major fires break out due to the carelessness of citizens, as they don’t take any precautions while playing with firecrackers. If there are four or five incidents of fire breakouts in the city simultaneously, the fire brigade finds itself helpless in controlling them. At present there are total five fire stations in the holy city, four under the Municipal Corporation, which are situated at Town Hall, Gilwali Gate, Beri Gate and near Sadar police station and one station under the Seva Samiti,
Dhab Wastiram. The Municipal Corporation has total nine fire engines and five engines are damaged and total four engines control the fire incidents in the city and out side areas. The Seva Samiti has only two engines. According to sources, most probably there is no turn table ladder (TTL), which is fitted on fire engines. There is also staff crisis and at present 62 persons are working in the fire brigade and 56 employees have retired or expired. Fire Officer K.K. Rana said with the help of the Municipal Corporation, the fire station had got two new engines. He said in case of need, the Commissioner and Mayor provide them with necessary apparatus to meet the challenge. |
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Without water for 20 days
Amritsar, June 23 Even though the corporation has set up a tubewell in the crematoria of the area about two months ago but it had failed to start functioning. The residents had made several representations to the department concerned but nobody had taken care for the supply of the water in the intense heat wave conditions. The residents also approached Mayor Shwet Malik in this regard today, who assured them that a tanker with potable drinking water would be sent to the area. However, no tanker had arrived in the area till the filing of the report. The residents have threatened to block the Majitha Road if the authorities failed to supply water. |
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Gliding on skates is a pleasure
Amritsar, June 23 The government’s apathy is the main reason for not making the game as popular and career-oriented as it should be. Even though the government wants to promote the sports in schools and colleges, this was the only game because it received no proper attention. Even the coaches who train the students during summer vacation are not getting proper remuneration. Every day in the evening, about 500 children accompanied by their parents join the skating rink and work hard to learn the game but as soon as the holidays are over they are asked by the parents to leave the game and concentrate on their studies. Coach Amit Chopra said this game could provide employment to the youth, provided the government promoted the game at the college and university levels. He said some of the students were just adopting the game to take admission in professional colleges in sports quota. Chopra said he was in the coaching line for the past 14 years and has worked as a skating coach in various schools. He rued that he was earning enough through this profession to live a simple life and provide higher quality education to the children. He said he had been a member of a skating club which was organising four tournaments every year. He said winning or participating in tournaments only helped the students in getting gradation and was not in any way beneficial for them to obtain jobs in government or private organisations. He said the club had been working hard for getting recognition from the government so that students adopt skating as a profession. He hoped that their hard work may bear fruits within two to three years. Another coach Smridhi Sharma said she had the distinction of getting her name recorded in the Limca Book of Records by skating up to a distance of 90 km in five hours without break. She said she also participated in the world skating championship in 2004 on her own. She rued that no company was coming forward to sponsor the game. She said there was no proper ground in the holy city for skating and for conducting tournaments. They hire the ground of a private school. |
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Upgradation on Cards
Amritsar, June 23 Much to the delight of heritage lovers and theatre personalities, Virsa Vihar, a repository of cultural heritage, would house a sabhyacharak satth (cultural gathering place) and an open-air theatre dedicated to theatre personality late Harbhajan Jabbal and film star of yesteryear Balraj Sahini who was a theatre stalwart, respectively. Society President Kewal Dhaliwal said they were waiting for a financial grant from MP Navjot Singh Sidhu. As soon as they would receive the amount, they would complete the project, he added. He said the society had planned to use traditional “nanakshahi” bricks and decorative traditional doors to give Virsa Vihar a new heritage look. He said it would become the Amritsar cultural centre in true sense by creating the theatre with a throbbing activity which should bring in more and more theatre and heritage lovers, besides audience to applaud the good work done by the stalwarts and the budding artistes. Brainchild of Punjabi writer Kartar Singh Duggal, Punjabi Virsa Vihar came into existence in
January, 2007. Dhaliwal said Deputy Commissioner Kahan Singh Pannu was also instrumental in
reliving the dream of Virsa Vihar. The five-storey building currently housed five prominent wings, Amrita Pritam Sahit Sadan, Gursharan Singh Rangmanch Sadan, Baiju
Bawra Sangeet Sadan, Natraj Nritya Sadan and Amrita Shergill Fine Art Sadan, besides Dhani Ram Chatrik Library. It had a seminar hall named after Punjabi writer Nanak Singh Navalkar. Meanwhile, Dhaliwal said they would ensure that Virsa Vihar would attract more young and old artistes and the people from several hues from the villages and the city to make this preferred destination for art and culture. He said they would ensure regular live performances which should send a social message and encourage the young artistes to give their best while performing the act in the newly constructed auditorium. |
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AVM to adopt Sacatary Bagh
Amritsar, June 23 A team of the manch paid a visit to the bagh in this regard and discussed the issue for making the garden more beautiful and methods for its upkeep. Daljit Singh Kohli, vice-president of the manch, said situated on the outskirts of the city on the Tarn Taran road, the garden is one of the major green lungs of the city. It can be divided into two parts. The area near the drain is low-lying, due to which filthy drain water has been filled in the area damaging the green cover and trees as the repair work is still going on the drain. However, the remaining area, which is little higher, is being maintained by the Municipal Corporation although it is not up to the mark. He said a delegation of the AVM had also met Deputy Commissioner, Kahan Singh Pannu for adopting the park. The manch would carry out plantation work in the park with the active help
of other non-government organisations (NGOs), including Pingalwara, Red Cross and other similar societies, which could provide saplings of decorative and shadow trees. Sakatri Bagh, has been in the eye of storm as sewerage water and filth frequently enters the park, adversely affecting the flora and fauna. The storm water drain, which runs parallel to the park, is under repair and a temporary drain has been built through the park to drain out the filthy water. During rains, the temporary drain overflows and the water enters the park, turning it into a pool of filth. It is pertinent to mention here that the corporation had also released big advertisements seeking topnotch landscape consultants to spruce up the green lungs, which are getting rapidly choked due to burgeoning urban growth and commercialisation. However, the corporation is yet to initiate any steps to maintain such parks, lamented a nature lover. |
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22 students get scholarships at ‘Salam-e-June’
Amritsar, June 23 Punjabi Samvad organised the programme and also an gave opportunity to the schoolchildren to showcase their talent in acting, drama, classical dance and music. Jaswant Mintu presented choreography on children poems penned by Parmindrjit and Ravinder Singh. “Zahar De Bij”, a play by Jyoti Bawa, unfolded the dangers of indoctrinating the brains of young children with negative views regarding other religious beliefs. Directed by Bhupinder, the play showed how casual statements germinated in the young mind and grown into a concrete belief. The play highlighted that it consummated into riots. Harsimran, Jaskiran Bawa, Guneet Bawa, Ishu Arora and Malvika Jain presented classical dance on famous Hindi number “Jhum-jhum mayoori”. OP Soni presided over the pragramme, while Punjabi poets Parminderjit, Ravinder Singh and famous comedian Surinder Farishta were the guests of honour. He said he would provide Rs 50,000 for this noble cause to the organisation for providing education to the needy children. The Salam-e-June concluded with laughter
shows presented by Sumit and Manpreet. |
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Marring Menace
Amritsar, June 23 He said a local MP who has been making tall claims about initiating advertising policy in the city has failed to come up to the expectations of the city. Bedi said even though the Deputy Commissioner had issued warning and directions to advertisers to remove advertisements put up various places, it had no effect on them as two new advertisements had appeared on the busy Bhandari Bridge. He said advertisers continued to violate the orders of the district administration by putting up billboards on government and private buildings. This was being done in spite of Justice Swatantar Kumar’s order in 2002 that there would be no hoardings in Punjab, he added. However, Deputy Commissioner Kahan Singh Pannu said the notice had been served on companies whose advertisements had been displayed on unipoles and explanations had been sought from them as to why action should not be taken against them. The DC said action would be taken against those
who failed to comply with the order. Bedi, while talking about the advertisers, said huge steel structures put up on government and private buildings could pose a threat to human lives as it could collapse in case of a severe storm. He said violators had even put up high steel structures on private buildings which were very close to high tension wires passing through the area and could prove fatal for the residents. He said there was hardly any place left in the holy city where advertisements had not been put up. He said advertisers had not even spared posh areas like Sant Singh Sukha Singh Chowk, Customs Chowk, Crystal Chowk and Novelty Chowk. He rued that the corporation authorities, for earning a few quick bucks, had allowed advertisers to mar the beauty of the historic city, whereas advertisers were earning crores by selling spaces of unipoles to multinational companies. |
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Bajrang Dal holds commando training camp
Amritsar, June 23 Apart from judo, karate, the participants were given training to handle fire arms also. Interestingly, most of the youths who underwent rigorous commando training hailed from border belt, especially the countryside. Interestingly, out of 137 youths, as many as 25 were Sikhs, who joined the organisation recently. The 10-day training camp was organised to help the needy persons at the time of crisis. The scenes of youths passing through the fire all around and breaking marble tiles with hands earned a lot of applause from the spectators.
— TNS |
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Illegal subzi mandi The Amritsar subzi mandi was shifted at Valla four years back. The Army had declared it illegal because the site came within the 1000-metre radius of the ammunition dump. Now the Punjab and Haryana High Court has also endorsed this decision and ordered the Mandi Board to shift the market out of the national security zone. But the officials concerned are not implementing the court order and are delaying the action under political pressure. People are suffering a lot because the Army authorities have banned further constructions of shops. — Kawaljit Singh Pahwa, Amritsar If you have a grievance against a public utility, or if you have a complaint about any dealing with a public servant, in a government office, bank, finance company, post office, insurance company, in a train or at a bus stand… or if your grievance has not been attended to, send an e-mail to jalandhar@tribunemail.com or jalandhartribune@yahoo.com, or post the complaint to News Editor, Amritsar Plus (Listening Post), The Tribune, SCO 20, Ladowali Road, Jalandhar. Complaints against individuals will not be entertained. Your complaint is our concern and The Tribune offers to suitably highlight it.
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