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Staff’s absence hits work at DTO office The District Transport Office in Amritsar wears a deserted look.
Photo: Vishal Kumar
Durgiana Beautification Plan |
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A sambhar, which strayed into the Gurbax Nagar area in Amritsar on Friday. Photo: Vishal Kumar
Hearing Of RTI Appeals
Guthi’s back with the pearls on
Best principal award for Neera Sharma
Police
inaction under political pressure alleged
Junior docs further postpone protest
Revive what was once Babar’s hunting ground, DC tells jawans
Planting saplings in memory of riot victims
City gets dotted with foundation stones all around
The inuguration plaque outside Lohgarh Gate chowk poses danger to citizens. Photo: Vishal Kumar
Nishan-e-Sikhi Trust starts 5-year course in religion
Pay Matter
Sarpanch booked
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Staff’s absence hits work at DTO office
Amritsar, August 7 The people visiting the office alleged that the staff present in the office has become inhospitable and rude. “They have just got one-liner that they do not have key to open the almirah as the staff members concerned are not reporting at the office,” they said. Jaspal Singh, who had done several rounds of the DTO office to get the RC of his Alto car after repayment of his loan to the ICICI Bank, said the employees were not ready to listen to him and reply that the staff members had taken the keys with them. “Upon being asked when to turn up to fetch the RC, they said they do not know,” he added. Locating on the Taylor Road, the DTO office offered a deserted look from outside. Unclean entrance and almost empty parking lot tell a sorry state of affairs. Meanwhile, District Transport Officer (DTO) Manmohan Singh Kang said the work has started running smoothly with the arrival of two more clerks and three temporary staff members from Suvidha Centre. He brushed away allegations of work being held up and employees being uncooperative. He said an assistant DTO, four clerks apart from him have been regularly attending the office and discharging all official duty. He accepted that four employees have not been reporting on duty for quite sometime and took away keys with them. He added that some of the keys have been brought. He informed that he would soon be writing to the head office in Chandigarh for their prolong absence though on leave. He said the newly inducted employees were being trained to handle the official work and receive people efficiently. Deputy Commissioner Kahan Singh Pannu has directed SSP Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh to probe the matter after at least five stenos and clerks were allegedly found involved in the disappearance of office records. |
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3-member panel visits temple
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, August 7 Rajindermohan Singh Chhina, who recently joined as Chairman of the Improvement Trust, had deputed the three official - Rajesh Kumar, revenue patwari of the Improvement Trust, Kuldeep Singh, kanungo, and Paramjit Singh, collector - to settle the claims of about 37 shopkeepers in the area. These officials, who would also check the documents of the claimants, said that they would soon prepare the report and submit it to Chhina to settle the compensation claims. Meanwhile, Harish Taneja, spokesman, Durgiana Management Committee, has urged the Deputy Commissioner and sernior police officials for shifting of police chowki situated in the shopping complex so that a modern commercial complex could be constructed there as per the government plan. He said the committee members had also assured the officials that they would cooperate with them in settling the claims of the claimants. While giving details of the development plan, Taneja said Rs 37 crore released by the Punjab government for the beautification of the historic shrine would be spent soon. He further said that compensation to 37 shopkeepers in the area would be provided soon as the Chairman of the Amritsar Improvement Trust had deputed an official to take up the matter with the state government at Chandigarh.
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A visitor from forest
Amritsar, August 7 He was first located by the some morning walkers in the park who called up the police and later informed forest officials. However, the Forest Department was not able to capture him till the filing of the report. It had ran towards Rakh Bohru on the Jhabal road side. Divisional Forest Officer N.S. Randhawa, talking to The tribune, said that it was difficult to tell exactly from where it had strayed into the city which had dense population along the banks of the Ravi and the Beas. He said that the Forest Department had rescued about 25 such male adult sambhars this year alone which He said the sambhar was last located near Rakh Bohru where forest officials had been stationed for capturing it. He said that it was difficult to catch till it exhausted. However, he ruled out that he stepped out of the forest due to lesser amount of rains. He said that usually sambhars strayed during foggy season or during April-June in search of water. A child was reportedly hurt as he came in the way of the sambhar running for shelter.
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Video conferencing to start from Amritsar
Sanjay Bumbroo Tribune News Service
Amritsar, August 7 He said the National Information Centre at the Administrative Complex here was having the entire necessary infrastructure. “After the functioning of the video conferencing system at Chandigarh, the officials would initially be able to present their point of view,” he said adding that the facility would further be extended to the complainants after evaluating its initial success. He said special RTI counters would be set up to facilitate the filing of complainants and appeals in those districts where the video conferencing facility was available. He said the people should first seek information under the act from the office of the District Magistrate which would them in getting speedy justice. He further said at present the complainant and the officials of the department concerned had to personally appear in the commission’s office at Chandigarh causing loss of precious time not only of the complainant but also of the officers who have to remain away thus affecting working of the department. Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Kahan Singh Pannu assured the CIC that he along with administrative team would make all out efforts to make it a success.
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Best principal award for Neera Sharma
Amritsar, August 7 Sharma said in order to promote scientific attitude among the children, SOF - a non-profit organisation is conducting Olympiad for the students from 2- 12 classes. He said the foundation has decided to hold 9th National Cyber Olympiad, 12th National Science Olympiad and 3rd International Math Olympiad on September 10, November 19 and December 10, 2009, respectively. Meanwhile, students of Springdale Senior School, DAV Public School, Bhavan’s S L Public School, St Francis Convent School, Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School (Majitha Road and Sultanwind Road), Khalsa College Public School, Sri Ram Ashram Senior Secondary School, Manav Public School, Ryan International School, Delhi Public School Army School, Kendriya Vidyalaya No 1, Pancham Public School, St Thomas Convent School, Manohar Vatika Public School, Jandiala, were awarded with cash awards and trophies on the basis of their performance in 11th National Science Olympiad, 8th National Cyber Olympiad and 2nd International Math Olympiad. |
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Police inaction under political pressure alleged P.K. Jaiswar Tribune News Service
Amritsar, August 7 Karanveer, while addressing the media, alleged that the police was working under pressure of a SAD legislator after which the DSP, who was earlier investigating the case, had recommended cancellation of the FIR registered against his wife Harjot, father-in-law Bhupinder Singh and mother-in-law Jagbir Kaur, besides others. Duped by his wife, he is now running from pillar to post to get the custody of his only son Kabirpal Singh who was taken to Australia by his wife. A resident of Nagina Avenue, Majitha Road, Karanveer alleged that the Batala police was working under political pressure. He was a truck driver in the USA when he was married to Harjot Kaur of Batala in 2006. He left the country on the insistence of his in-laws and later applied for the spouse visa of Australia (again on their insistence) which was rejected by the Australian Embassy due to technical reasons. He said he deposited Rs 12 lakh in the joint account of his wife and his father-in-law, besides medical fees and other requirements. However, he said on March 6, 2009, his wife fled to Australia taking his son Kabirpal and his passport and documents. He alleged that he was not satisfied with the investigations conducted by the Batala police and urged the IG to conduct another probe into the case. He said he only wanted the custody of Kabirpal.
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Junior docs further postpone protest
Amritsar, August 7 Dr Vishal Garg, president of the Junior Doctors Association, said the minister conceded that all the demands of junior doctors were genuine and would be forwarded to the Finance Department soon. He said after getting the minister’s assurance, the association decided to wait till August 20. He pointed out that the Punjab Government must come out with a notification accepting the demands of the JDA, failing which all the resident doctors and interns of both Government Medical and Dental Colleges Patiala and Amritsar would resume their stir. Earlier, the doctors had suspended their strike till August 5 due to scheduled meeting with the minister. The Association has also been demanding included hike in the pay of junior residents and interns.
— TNS |
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Revive what was once Babar’s hunting ground, DC tells jawans
Amritsar, August 7 Kahan Singh Pannu, Deputy Commissioner, stated this while addressing jawans and their families during the 2nd Van Mahotsava organised by the 23rd Flaming Arrow Brigade at the New Military Station, Khasa, here today. Pannu said it was a matter of grave concern that the holy city of Amritsar, which was once a dense forest and was a habitat of lions and other species of rare animals, has now become a city of stones and mundane concrete structures. He said former Muslim ruler Babar used to come here for hunting. He said the administration had distributed about 10 lakh saplings in the district during the past couple of years but due to lack of supervision many of them could not survive. The DC said the holy city has a special status due to the holy Golden Temple. He said even Sikh gurus have laid special emphasis on the environment and advised humanity to be attached with nature. Lauding the army for taking keen initiative in increasing the green concern, Pannu said he would also urge other army units in the border The Commander Flaming Arrow Brigade SK Gadeok said last year they had planted about 30,000 trees and all of these were in good condition as not only the jawans but their family members had also taken keen initiative in taking care of these saplings. He said this year they were going to plant more than 35,000 trees (30,000 to be provided by the administration) and announced that these would also be taken proper care of by the jawans. Speaking on the occasion, District Forest Officer, NS Randhawa said there was need for sustained development as considerable damage has already been caused to the environment. He said as per the resolution passed at Rio de Janeiro, the leaders of G-8 nations had prescribed 50 per cent reduction in green house gases by 2020. But due to selfish interests of the developed nations, nothing has been done on the ground level. He warned that if effective steps were not taken, it would lead to increase in two to three degrees in temperatures which would wipe out 30 per cent of the endangered species on earth. Meanwhile, Mission Aagaaz, an NGO, has appealed to the residents of the holy city to plant maximum trees on Janamashtami and August 15 as it would benefit the entire ecology and mankind. Deepak Babbar, spokesman, Mission Aagaaz, said they have planted 1,800 saplings and would give 300 shrubs from its nursery to Red Cross. He said apart from planting saplings, there was an urgent need to save water failing which our coming generations shall suffer a lot.
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Planting saplings in memory of riot victims Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service
Amritsar, August 7 Trust Chairman H.S. Phoolka said plantation of 50 lakh saplings would make it the biggest-ever plantation campaign in the world. Volunteers from Baba Sewa Singh Kar Sewa Wale Khadoor Sahib are planting saplings and maintaining them. The Sikhs for Justice and the All-India Sikh Students Federation would join the campaign by planting saplings where Sikhs were killed. Besides, in view of global warming, climate change, depleting green cover and falling groundwater, it was important to undertake such campaigns and to connect emotional issues with environment so that more would join the movement to save the environment, added Phoolka. He said instead of wasting our energies in holding demonstrations or blocking roads, it was much better to work for social issues. He said our target was to plant 25,000 saplings in the national Capital. He said saplings were being planted with the permission of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and its government. Phoolka said many non-Sikh organisations had joined hands to make the campaign a success and one of them was Bachpan Bachao Andolan, a child rights organisation. National Secretary of the andolan Ribu Bhuwan said every citizen should plant a sapling.
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City gets dotted with foundation stones all around
Amritsar, August 7 About 4x4 feet wall with a plaque proclaiming the inauguration of a high mast light has been installed in the middle of the busy intersection outside Lohgarh Gate. This has endangerd the lives of human beings. The wall has become a cause of concern for drivers. It has the names of Health Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla and Mayor Shwet Malik engraved on it. Another foundation stone for the work on the divider on Bhai Veer Singh Road, known as the Lawrence Road and adjoining Mall Road has left the city
residents shocked. Citizen Sanjay Sen said, “It seemed that the city would be dotted with foundation stones. I fail to understand that is it really needed and if this becomes a tradition than one could imagine what the city would look like one day. I request the authorities concerned to see to it that no new foundation stones should be erected for cheap publicity by squandering public money.” It is setting a wrong precedent for councillors as they have also decided to join the race by erecting cemented signboards on the roads indicating their residences. Some time back, Congress leaders had alleged that councillors of the SAD-BJP combine had erected foundation stones with their names
outside their wards. |
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Nishan-e-Sikhi Trust starts 5-year course in religion
Tarn Taran, August 7 Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, former Jathedar of Akal Takht, being the patron of the trust, and Waryam Singh, former secretary, SGPC, while talking to newsmen, said every year 15 students would be admitted to the course. An eight-storied building of Nishan-e-Sikhi is under construction for the purpose from where, besides this institute, a hockey academy and other institutes would be run. The students admitted for this course would also be helped for doing BA and MA from Punjabi University, Patiala, through correspondence studies, said Vedanti. He added the students would be given knowledge not only about the Sikh religion but would be able for the comparative studies in other religions also. — OC
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Varsity teachers suspend academic work Tribune News Service
Amritsar, August 7 The call for the action was given by the Punjab Federation of University and College Teachers Organisations (PFUCTO). Earlier, the teachers of the university wore black badges and held a demonstration to express their anguish. Addressing the rally, Dr S.S. Dhillon and Dr T.S. Banipal, president and secretary of the GND University Teachers Association, respectively, said the delay in issuing the notification was unjustifiable as Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had accepted this demand at a meeting on February 13 with the leaders of the PFUCTO and the same had been passed by the Punjab Cabinet on June 18. They further said that in case the Punjab government failed to act timely, the PFUCTO would be left with no option but to intensify the struggle and the government will be held responsible for the loss of academic work. Dhillon said the teachers would go on strike on August 11 from 11 am in all the universities and colleges of the state.
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Sarpanch booked
Amritsar, August 7 |
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Work at the DTO office has been crippled in absence of four District Transport Office employees ever since the issue of illegal allotment of vehicle numbers and involvement of employees cropped up.
The pace at which inauguration plaques and laying foundation stones are being installed across the city, seem to outnumber the development projects being undertaken. The foundation stones could be noticed in any part of the city. Strangely in the absence of space, stones have been put up even in the middle of roads caring two hoots for the safety of people.
