Amritsar, August 21
Untimely deaths of infants and women, from water-borne diseases, have put a question mark on the quality of civic amenities being provided by the Municipal Corporation to the sub-urban areas in the periphery of the holy city.

The residents of the Mustafabad area on Batala Road have been up in arms with the MC, for not providing clean drinking water to them.

They rued the lethargic and casual approach of the corporation, to the localities where people from lower and middle income groups reside, as the drains had not been cleaned before the onset of monsoons.

A resident Rajesh Kumar said the civic authorities never took pains in cleaning the area and said the tragedy could have been averted had the MC taken precautions to prevent the mixing of sewerage with potable water. He said despite repeated complaints, the officials did not bother to take corrective measures to mend faults. Unhygienic and germ-infested water, owing to mixing with sewage, snuffed out the lives of tiny tots.

Civil Surgeon Dr Lehmbar Singh said the deaths did not take place due to cholera but water-borne diseases like gastroenteritis and diarrhoea. He said in view of the shortage of potable water, some people in the area have installed submersible pumps to augment water supply in their houses. He informed that round the clock staff has been deployed at Satellite Hospital, Mustafabad, to monitor the condition of the patients and provide adequate medical care.

Meanwhile, Commissioner, DPS Kharbanda along with officials of Health department visited the affected areas and took stock of the situation.

He said the mixing happened as people had got illegal water connection without the permission of the MC and added that they had been receiving water supply through sub-standard pipes. He found the third biggest culprit in prolonged power cuts in the area, hampering the disposal of sewage to drains.

He said as an immediate remedial measure, a generator has been installed for clearing the disposal of sewerage in the area. He informed that the area fell in the periphery of the city which is not covered under sewerage so far. He said a permanent remedy would only be possible after the augmentation of the present outdated sewerage system. With the help of Japan International Cooperation Agency, sewerage at the cost of Rs 360 crore would be laid in the peripheral area of the city.

Amritsar, August 21
In a significant decision, the Punjab and Haryana High Court while dismissing the petition of the Municipal Corporation, Amritsar, regarding the dispute of regularisation of tubewell drivers and chowkidars has slapped a fine of Rs 25,000 for filing “utterly frivolous litigations”.

The Corporation had filed petition against the award of Punjab Industrial Tribunal in year 2000, which was decided in favour of the 60-tubewell drivers and chowkidars who were transferred from the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board and later termed as independent contractors.

According to the decision of the High Court, “the labor court’s award in every aspect regarding the prayers in the claim statement is in accordance with law and perfectly justified. It calls for no interference. The writ petition is dismissed with cost assessed at Rs 25,000 for the utterly frivolous litigations that the MC has been fighting all these years.”

The judgment adds that the pay in the regular scales, the labour court has held, shall be applicable from the date of regularisation of the workmen. It has directed that the benefit will accrue with effect from January 1, 1996.

As per details of the case the workmen (tubewell drivers and chowkidars) were transferred with the tubewells by the sewerage board to the corporation with effect from January 1, 1995 and they continued to work thereafter and were paid wages at rates given by the board. The board had employed them for the project of establishing new tubewells to meet the needs of the city and later all of them were transferred to the corporation.

Amritsar, August 21
The Income Tax sleuths today conducted raids on several leading hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centres and wholesale medicine dealers in the city to detect large scale evasion of tax.

A strong team of more than 250 officers of the IT department led by a senior commissioner from Jalandhar and Ludhiana in the group of six to seven members accompanied by police swooped on the premises of hospitals, lab and diagnostic centres and residences of doctors and their close relatives early in the morning and searched the complexes to look for hidden documents, cash and jewellery. The relatives of the doctors rued that they have no connection with the hospitals and the diagnostic centres and were needlessly being harassed for no rhyme or reason. They lamented that the families were subject to lot of inconvenience.

Meanwhile the Income Tax Department summoned the jewellery evaluators to evaluate the gold and other precious items to determine the concealment if any. The raid continued till late in the evening and the officers involved in the raid refused to divulge details of the extent of the evasion and said that they would be able to estimated figures after the complete evaluation was done.

Amritsar, August 21
Concerned over the ignorance among families of the martyrs and ex-servicemen about the facilities being provided by the central and the state governments, the Army has decided to distribute pamphlets in Gurmukhi to create awareness.

Addressing the families of the ex-servicemen during the Veer Naari Sammelan organised at the Panther Division here today, Suchita Pama, Convener FWO 15 Infantry Division, said they have launched “sahayata kendra” in the cantonment where family members could lodge their complaints.

She said the officer on duty would also be responsible for the follow-up action and giving them the latest information.

Pama exhorted the family members of ex-servicemen to take benefits launched by the government and informed that there were over 40 schemes for them and it was their right to get the facilities without any delay or hassles. She said they should either contact the kendra or the District Sainik Welfare Officer (DSWO) to solve their problems.

Col JDS Bhullar (Retd), DSWO, informed the gathering that they have started various pre-coaching schemes in which training was given to the wards of the ex-servicemen without any charge in various courses such as NDA, CDS, computers besides preparing them for various clerical exams.

He said they should send their wards to get the benefit of the schemes launched by his organisation.

Col Bhullar said there was about 13 per cent job quota in various departments for the wards of the ex-servicemen and urged them to apply for the same to get the benefits.

He also informed them that the scheme was only for those whose family members have laid their lives for the country. Pama also honoured about 20 ‘veer naaris’, mothers or wives of the martyrs, on the occasion besides interacting with them to know about their problems.

Amritsar, August 21
The city is bursting at it seems like never before and concrete structures of all shapes and sizes are dotting its landscape.

Though there are big and popular gardens in the city, the recreation activity is somehow limited because of several reasons. Considering all these factors, the district administration along with the Amritsar Improvement Trust has decided to give residents of the holy city another green lung --- Rose Garden-cum-environmental park, with all embellishments to provide an exquisite recreation centre.

The park would come up on 30 acres at Sector E, Ranjit Avenue, along with the GT Road, prohibited by the Punjab and Haryana High Court from raising any structure within 100 metre of highway.

Deputy Commissioner Kahan Singh Pannu said the park plan was included in the vision paper released in the beginning of this year. z

He felt that following the court guidelines, it would be a nice place to de-stress for the residents in middle of flowers and plants. Pannu said the park would be opened for the public within the next six months.

To be developed at the cost of Rs 4.5 crore, Messers Beyond Built (Architect-cum-landscape consultant) has been given the responsibility to develop the patch of land into a park. Earlier, the design of the park was selected after holding a design competition.

The city already has historic Ram Bagh, belonging to legendary Maharaja Ranjit Singh period, which is spread on about 80 acre. It was improved and developed during the British. However, it has several concrete structures including some with heritage value.

Gol Bagh is yet to be developed as a garden. It has its origin during the British era. However, it sans proper green cover. In the pre and post Independence period, it was used as a place for holding political rallies.

The SAD-BJP coalition government in its previous term had decided to turn it into a park and had allocated some funds but the plan was shelved by the Amarinder Singh government citing financial constrains.

The Municipal Corporation is currently engaged to make it a park in the true sense.

The Leisure Valley cum Rose Garden, famously known as Challih Khuh, is another green belt of significance with a tremendous area under trees. However, it is not popular with the locals since it’s located far away and approaching it through narrow road and twin railway crossings is also a bottleneck.

Amritsar, August 21
Concerned over global warming due to over exploitation of natural resources, pollution and dwindling tree cover threatening very existence of life on earth, the district administration today exhorted the eminent educationists to launch a campaign for planting trees to save the mother earth.

Addressing the principals at the circuit house today, Deputy Commissioner Kahan Singh Pannu urged them to procure saplings and involve students, teachers and parents in not only planting the saplings but also sustaining these for at least three years.

The Deputy Commissioner proposed that in the next parent teacher meeting they should distribute saplings and ensuring their survival.

Pannu said a circular should also be issued before inviting the students and parents for notifying the plants which are available in the school for plantation so that they could come prepared for taking the saplings for planning them in their houses, farm houses and other vacant places.

A comprehensive detail of plants distributed can be prepared and eco-club of the school can be given the responsibility of monitoring the plantation and its periodical review by visiting various places where plantation has been promised by the students and their parents. He said schools at their own level can also take up some places even outside the school for tree plantation and plant as number of trees as possible with the help of students and staff of the school. He said our recent past has played havoc with the natural environment by cutting trees recklessly, so that our current generation could enjoy the physical comforts of life.

He said it has become our prime responsibility to plant as number of trees as we could imagine through the joint effort of community. He said the district administration has launched ambitious project of Green Amritsar in which government agencies, NGOs and the military authorities have been involved.

Amritsar, August 21
The Jamhoori Kisan Union (JKU) in association with the Border Sangharsh Committee (BSC) would hold “Kisan Jagao” Conference in Bhindi Saida 
village in Ajnala tehsil in this border district on August 27.

A decision to this effect was taken during a meeting of the JKU and BSC recently. State JKU president Satnam Singh Ajnala, senior BSC vice-president Rattan Singh Randhawa and other leaders of various farmers union were present during the meeting.

Randhawa said all preparation have been completed for holding the protest rally in the border village to demand opening of gates by the Border Security Force for about 10 hours in a day so that the farmers could work on their fields situated across the fence.

He said at present the gates were being opened for a limited period and it was impossible for them to work in their fields.

He said they the conference would converse on their major demands from the Centre and the state government for giving adequate support price for the paddy crop i.e. Rs 3,500 for 1121 variety, Rs 4,000 for basmati besides Rs 5,000 per acre as compensation to the farmers in view of the drought in the region as about 30 to 35 per cent of the crops have been damaged.

He said they would also discuss their demand of Rs 20 per litre on diesel, continuous power supply for about 8 hours to the farmers besides implementation of Rs 1,200 as fee per D-Load horse power.

While appealing the other farmer unions, including Kirti Kisan Union, to make the rally successful, Randhawa said they would not allow the privatisation of the Punjab State Electricity Board due to which the farmers would not be able to get power supply at subsidised rates.

Amritsar, August 21
Guru Nanak Dev University here yesterday released the schedule of the commencement of various semester/annual/supplementary (theory) examinations for 2009-10.

Professor in charge (examinations) Dr R.K. Bedi said the examinations of first, third, fifth, seventh and ninth semesters would begin on November 25, 2009, while the examinations of the second, fourth, sixth, eighth and tenth semesters would commence on May 1, 2010.

He said the annual theory examinations would start on March 18, 2010, and the supplementary theory on September 25 next year. The only supplementary examinations of BA/BSc (II) would commence on September 27, 2010, he added.

He said the annual theory examinations of BA/BSc (I and III), BSc (home science)-I to III (including reappear), BSc fashion designing (three-year course) Parts I to III, BSc clinical nutrition and dietics (I to III), B.Com (I and III), BA (I to IV), bachelor of fine arts (I to IV) and BSc microbial and food technology (I to III) would be held from March 18, 2010.

The examinations of BA/BSc/B.Com (II) and B.Com (professional)-I to III would commence on March 19. The examinations of bachelor of food science and technology (hons)-I to IV would begin on March 20.

He said the examinations of MEd, PG diploma in computer applications (teacher education), BCA (all parts), BSc (IT)-I to III, BSc (electronic media)-I to III, bachelor of computer-aided management (I to III), B.Com (professional)-I to III, BSc agriculture (hons)-I to IV and MSc (agriculture)-I (reappear) and II would be held from April 1.

The examinations of MA/MSc (annual system)-I and II would start on April 10, including MA geography, economics, history, political science, psychology, public administration, media studies and production, sociology, English, Hindi, Persian, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Urdu, Russian, French, religious studies, police administration, MA music (instrumental and vocal), MA fine arts, history of arts, classical dance, M.Com, MSc (electronic media), MSc (IT), MSc (computer science), master of design (interior design), MSc (chemistry and physics (annual system)-I (reappear) and-II, MSc (mathematics and statistics - annual system), botany, zoology, bio-informatics and bio-technology, I (reappear) and II.

The MSc (fashion designing)-I and BSc (biotechnology)-I to III would also start on April 10.

The examinations of B. pharmacy (I to IV), BA (hons) in English (I to III), BBA (I to III), bachelor in insurance and risk management (I to III), bachelor of e-commerce (I to III), BPT (I to IV), diploma in library science and diploma in counselling would be conducted from April 15.

The examinations of B.Com (II and III - hons) would commence on April 19.

All PG diploma/diploma/certificate course examinations would commence on April 21.

The annual theory examinations of BPEd, BPE (I to III), MPEd (I and II), LLB (3-year course), LLB (5-year)-I to III and two-year LLB (academic) will begin on May 1. PG diploma course examinations under the faculty of law would commence on May 5.

Similarly, the examinations of BA (hons) II and III would start on May 18, while the advanced diploma courses, diploma courses and certificate courses under add-on courses and the part-time diploma and certificate courses in Urdu, Persian and Arabic would start on May 20. The BEd examination would begin on June 4.

Taekwondo tourney

The university would organise inter-college taekwondo (men and women) competition for the year 2009-10 at its campus from September 1. Similarly inter-college tug of war (men and women) competition for the year 2009-10 would also be held from September 3. Dr Kanwaljeet Singh, Director Sports and Head, said the competitions for taekwondo for men would be held at 10:30 am on September 1 and for women it would be at 10.30 am on September 2.

Amritsar, August 21
Dressing up in traditional, subtle, almost colourless shades, for what we call make-up today, and precious golden ornaments - gifted to them by their aristocratic, doting husbands - were adornments which none of the erstwhile queens were regarded complete without.

Gold ornaments weren’t just objects of utility, what necklace hung by the queen’s decolletage, characterised her nobility and lineage.

With lesser options available in skin-friendly colours and shades, jewellery used to step in to do the needful.

With the modern times, however, as tales of kings bear increasing semblance to distant fairy tales and gold prices skyrocket, women have taken to light weight jewellery sometimes with just a pinch of gold for show, to save money.

Keeping this in view, designers have reintroduced traditional designs in artificial jewellery, and are being used as a perfect make-up by would-be brides.

Heera Anthony, a make-up artist, said now old beautiful jewellery in a new form was the latest trend. He said during the dynastic rule women dressed themselves up in heavy and untreated jewellery. He further said the environment was not polluted then and the skin of the women looked glossy so there was no need of any make-up.

Anthony said the present-day girls wish to have a different look and that too with tradition so they are now using less colour make-up with very gaudy dresses. He said some time ago ladies felt that the heavy gloss framework was good but were now giving stress on lesser colour and mixed shades on the face of the young brides.

Otherwise, for the make-up of a normal girl, red smoky was the most preferred shade in which only the eyes were the centre of attraction to give a different look. 

Amritsar, August 21
H.S. Dhami and Kanwarpal Singh, President and Secretary General of Dal Khalsa, here today hailed senior BJP leader and former External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh for courageously writing to discover the “real culprits responsible for the partition”.

Taking exception to the sacking of Jaswant Singh from the BJP, they termed it a reflection of the rising intolerance within India in general and Hindutva forces in particular.

However, they alleged that Jaswant Singh’s book stopped short of unfolding the bitter fact that Vallabhbhai Patel was indirectly responsible for the killing of thousands of innocents on this side, for being the Home Minister he failed to prevent the bloodshed.

The radical Sikh group squarely held Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Patel responsible for the country's partition.

They alleged that all the three knew that a large population of Muslims would be the biggest 
hindrance in converting India into a Hindu state. Portraying M.A. Jinnah as a villain in India for partition was also the brainchild of these leaders, they said and added that bloodshed had taken lives of million of innocent Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs.

Amritsar, August 21
The district police has nabbed Vikram Kumar of Gali Khazoor Wali inside Gilwali Gate for allegedly possessing 250 gm of charas.

The police in a press note issued here said acting on a tip-off a police party of Gate Hakima police post arrested Vikram Kumar coming from the Bhagtan Wala side. During his search the police team seized the contraband.

A case under sections 20, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act has been registered. — TNS

Tarn Taran, August 21
A three-day sports tournament, under the Sports Authority of India’s Panchayti Yuva Krida Abhiyan, concluded at block Naushehra Pannuan here today.

Kailash Cheema, Distt Sports Officer said more than 500 boys and girl, under the age of 14, participated in the tournament.

Shehan Shah Singh of Government High School, Shahabpur, got the first position in 3,000 and 400 meter race whereas Ranjit Singh of Sports Club Dhotian in 1,500 meter race. The other teams which stood first in different games are Baba Bir Singh Sports Club Dhotian (volley ball), Sports Club Naushehra Pannuan (football and kho-kho) and Baljeet Memorial Public School Kahlwan (kabaddi). Sawinderjit Kaur, Government Girls Secondary School Dhotian was first in 3000 meter race whereas Rajwant Kaur, Baba Sidhana School Sheron stood first in 1500 m race). — OC