Amritsar, December 18
Evan as the authorities promise good living conditions for the residents, the faulty policy matters and political dominance in the system have failed to yield the expected results in Amritsar, incidentally, being projected as international city.

The much sought-after elevated road project to decongest traffic from the GT Road to the Golden Temple, the “go green, go clean” project, widening and recarpeting of roads, upgrading the sewerage and water supply system, besides encroachments and traffic management were some of the proposals which have been hanging in the balance for years. Various factors contributed to its inordinate delay which included lack of planning and a financial crunch.

The execution and implementation of Rs 200-crore project was the one which the residents were aspiring for the free flow of traffic in and around the GT Road area.

The Tribune team talked to residents to know what they felt about the tardy progress of the city’s several projects undertaken by the government till this year and their expectations in the coming year.

Skeptical about completion of the development projects, a majority of the residents felt that the government lacked clear vision and expected change in the work culture.

A.P.S. Chatha, hotelier and secretary of the Heritage and Tourism Foundation, said he was saddened with the progress graph. “The public and the NGOs must do the social and financial audit to pinpoint the irregularities and lapses on the part of the execution authorities. Without people’s participation, nothing can work in proper direction. I feel the elected representatives and bureaucrats should be answerable for their conduct and must undergo examination in the people’s court for transparency and accountability,” he said.

Another prominent opinion emerged was that due to rampant encroachments by all kind of shopkeepers and sundry sellers all main roads, including Hall Bazaar, Katra Jaimal Singh, Katra Sher Singh, Lawrence Raod, Mall Road, have been laden with goods spilled over the roads.

The ootpaths are always found to be blocked by shopkeepers allegedly in complicity with corporation officials and the police. The authorities’ hollow claims in the past are likely to continue next year too, if the present state of working continues. “I at least expect that the common man like me should at least be safe while passing through the bazaars,” said Ravi Bakshi, a businessman.

N.S. Gabarhia, a retired deputy station officer of the Railways, pointed out that encroachments were mushrooming in the city because the power to be were hand in glove with the encroachers. “The political will is required with a heavy police involvement to curb this menace. At least the officials should be faithful to the duties they are paid for,” he said.

Many opined that the way the heritage city was being vandalised, it was giving a wrong impression to the young minds. “The government must come clean on all the projects and give clear directions on the completion of these development works. A large number of tourists and religious devotees who visit the city were a disappointed lot as the city is lagging in infrastructure resulting in going down in the esteem of its own citizens,” said Sampada, a government teacher.

Amritsar, December 18
Around 70 per cent of the population in Punjab has been found to be exposed to corneal injury, due to their occupation and more importantly faulty policy matters on the part of the state government which create hurdles for the eye banks to work efficiently, opined Dr Baljeet Singh Dhillon, president of the Punjab Ophthalmological Society (POS), here today.

The society, holding its 13th annual conference, has decided to approach the state government to revive the Cornea Transplant Act 1962 and the Head, Akal Takht Sahib to call Sikh sangat to donate eye for a noble cause.

It is evident to mention that this Act is not prevalent in Punjab for some time. The cornea transplantation used to be done from 1969 till 1985. Thereafter, the Act was sent to Punjab Vidhan Sabha for revision but it was never executed. Later, more hurdles were created due to another the Human Organ Transplantation Act, which was entangled in legal bindings.

Elaborating further, Dr Dhillon said looking at the prominent cases of eye injury in the state, the society would urge the government to implement the act in its true letter and spirit as it was there in other states.

“The government should not take it as Human Organ Transplant Act, it’s different. Cornea is a tissue, the transplantation of which could be governed under the Blood Transfusion Act. It is the need of the hour keeping in mind the innumerable number of eye injury cases because over 70 per cent of the population in Punjab has been working in the agriculture sector. Due to this occupation nature, they are more exposed to corneal injury, cornea ulcer formation and ultimately corneal opacity, which cause corneal blindness”, said Dr Dhillon.

“Due to absence of any policy matters, the eye banks and surgeons cannot work freely as they would be afraid of police harassment and legal ambiguity. Naturally, the patients’ demand cannot be met. We would urge the government to implement the Cornea Transplant Act”, he added.

Dr Shakeen Singh, Organising secretary of the POS, said the executive committee of the society would request Jathedar Gurbachan Singh, Head, Akal Takht, to issue “Hukamnama” to Sikh sangat to donate eyes after death. Dr Shakeen said according to a survey, out of a total blind population, around 17 per cent persons got blind due to corneal opacification and they need cornea grafting to have proper vision. “About 25,000 corneas would be required every year to meet the demand of the patients, whereas due to complicated policy matters on the corneal transplantation, at present hardly between 100 to 150 operations are being conducted in Punjab. Obviously, they have to rush to other states to get treatment by spending more money and time”, said Dr Shakeen.

Meanwhile, the conference would be held here till December 20. The main focus would be on cornea and refractive surgery, paediatiric cataract and corneal blindness keeping in view the aims of Vision-2020. As many as 15 eye specialists of international repute would present their research papers.

Garbage lies scattered near a park in Tung Bala area. Photos: Vishal Kumar

CouncillorSpeak

Narinder Tung, councillor of the area, expressing his dismay, admitted that there was a lot of work needed for the development of the area and blamed political discrimination as a major reason for underdevelopment.

He said the Mayor was distributing funds only to his near and dear ones, while wards belonging to Congress councillors were totally being ignored.

He pointed out that a councillor understood the problems of his respective area, while they were not asked before releasing any funds, which resulted in the ill-conceived and ill-planned development. Citing the example of Ram Avenue, he said the sewerage was laid during the parliament elections, obviously to woo the voters without even sparing a thought about the level of the street.

Amritsar, December 18
The Union government has responded favourably to the suggestion of setting up a Amritsar-Mumbai industrial corridor, Local Government, Industry and Commerce Minister of Punjab Manoranjan Kalia said.

While addressing industrialists at Focal Point, Vallah, during a function organised by the Focal Point Association, Kalia said during the national convention held lately, Union Industry Minister Anand Sharma floated the proposal of setting up a Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor.

Kalia said in the next session an industrial estate maintenance act would be proposed to meet the long-standing demand of the industry for better infrastructure in the focal points. He said special purpose vehicles (SPVs) would be created to look after the industrial focal points. Within a year 100 per cent upgradation of nine focal points of Punjab would be achieved.

Kalia said the Punjab government had approved a Rs 100 crore capital subsidy for the industrialists, in addition to Rs 350 crore capital subsidy already distributed.

“Special stress has been laid in the industrial policy to promote information technology, knowledge and ago-based industry. Hotels have been given the status of industry so that the hotel industry can avail the benefits entitled to other industries. Besides, medical tourism is also being promoted and special efforts made to promote large-scale industry,” he said.

Kalia laid the foundation stone of Rs 5-crore worth of development works in Vallah Focal Point, including re-carpeting of roads, sewerage, streetlights, etc.

Earlier, Kalia redressed 27 complaints at the meeting of the District Grievances Committee. He directed the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, to initiate an anti-encroachment drive in the city. He asked the Deputy Commissioner to look into the complaints received regarding recruitment of anganwari workers and helpers in the district 
and submit the report within a month.

Later, Kalia held a sangat darshan programme in Ward 14 of the Amritsar North constituency. He approved development works, including laying of roads, sewerage, tube-wells and other civic amenities for Wards 7, 10, 11, 13 and 14 at a cost of Rs 2.50 crore.

Kalia was accompanied by MLA Anil Joshi, PSIEC Chairman Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina, Mayor Shvet Malik, Senior Deputy Mayor Ajaybir Pal Singh Randhawa, Deputy Commissioner Kahan Singh Pannu, SSP P.K. Rai and MC Commissioner D.P.S. Kharbanda.

Amritsar, December 18
It was nothing short of a miracle that saved the Indian Air Force transport plane to escape the onslaught of the Pakistani fighter attack at the Raja Sansi Airport on December 6, 1971, the opening day of the eventful war that liberated the erstwhile East Pakistan, giving birth to the new nation -Bangladesh.

Recalling the horrendous moments at the sunset, 5.30 pm, outside the airport, Vinod Kapoor said he saw two fighter jets dropping bombs at the airport, amidst anti-aircraft fire by the air defence regiment of the Army. The bombs not only not failed to explode but also allowed the large transport plane to fly off unscathed.

Kapoor, now a leading local businessman, said he, along with his friend Mahijeet Khanna was going for a drive towards the airport in the evening while sipping tea outside a kiosk at the bypass, they were approached by an Army gunner who requested them to drop him at the airport.

Reaching the airport, Kapoor and his friend heard gunfire and to their horror, found that the Pakistanis had launched an air assault. They immediately abandoned the car on the side of the road and took shelter behind a tree. They saw the aircraft dropping bombs and missed a sitting duck, the Air Force transport plane.

Amidst the heavy fire, the Pakistani aircraft fled the scene in no time and without causing any harm, returned to their territory. This heralded the opening of the western front by Pakistan, which received a bloody nose during the 15-day long battle for the formation of Bangladesh.

After the ‘65 encounter, where media was not given proper access to the army’s action across the western border, the 71 war, where India had an upper hand owing to well orchestrated planning and execution, allowed the media to visit the conquered areas and report directly from the front, giving better graphic pictures of battle victories.

Kapoor said as youngsters with a spirit of adventure, they visited the frontier and saw a large number of army men deployed on main roads and saw a number of mine fields with red flags showing the danger zone till the border and across. He said it was a dreadful sign as they were asked to return back to the city as the Army was keeping civilians out due to uninterrupted barrage of artillery gunfire.

After the cease-fire, the citizens of the city gave a rousing reception to the victorious Indian Army which had captured 90, 000 Pak men and officers from Bangladesh.

Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw, a native of the holy city, who was single-handedly instrumental in the liberation of Bangladesh, was accorded a big public reception at the historic Ram Bagh Gardens, hailing him as the greatest Army General to secure victory over repression by the Pakistani army unleashed in East Pakistan. 

Amritsar, December 18
The Cosmo Club, running from the premises of the Gandhi Ground Sports Complex, again was taken to task for encroachment and “illegal” activities.

Cracking a whip over the management of the club for encroaching upon the premises in an unauthorised manner, not complying with the norms of the Punjab Public Premises Act by defying the lease money due, the Amritsar administration got it sealed and put a ban on its activities with an immediate effect.

The possession of the land has now been handed over to the Municipal Corporation, Amritsar. On the other hand, while viewing it as a “biased act”, the management of the club maintained that it was a haphazard decision and the appeal against this “lapse” has still been pending in the court.

Elaborating this development, the MC officials said under the rent recovery provision of the Punjab Public Premises Act, the purpose was to evict the club from the public land, which has been illegally occupied by the club management.

Nevertheless, the anti-encroachment team accompanied by the SDM-cum-Tehsildar, Land Superintendent, the MC officials broke open the locks of the club. The team also broke down the hoardings of the club. It is evident to mention that the Gandhi Ground was exclusively planned for promoting the game of cricket in 1932 by the then Punjab ruler Raja Bhupinder Singh.

Later, the ground was handed over to the MC for maintenance purpose only. Thereafter to promote the heritage culture, AGA Heritage Forum came into being and a club was established on a part of the land by the name of AGA Heritage Club. Things went wrong when AGA on its own, leased out some portion of land to Cosmo Club, apparently, with a vision of promoting sports activities.

The officials said the sports activities took a backseat and gave way to a place for gambling and drinking liquor only. To put cap on such activities, the MC had filed a petition in the court of SDM Paramjit Singh, for taking back the possession of the land on which the club was established. The court verdict went in favour of the MC. Leaving nothing to chance, the MC team replaced the locks of the club and took over the possession.

It is pertinent to mention that this club remained in news earlier also, depicting strong political friction. Several raids were conducted in 2004 and the then District Magistrate Raminder Singh also ordered to seal the club, allegedly for illegal activities, including gambling and drinking. 

Amritsar, December 18
The year heading for conclusion has been marked by inflation and static salary for a resident of Sandhu Colony, Majitha Road, Rakesh Sharma. He has to support a family of four, including his wife and two daughters.

He earns Rs 4,000 by working in an ice-cream shop. His eldest daughter Priya studies in class II at RK Middle School, Nehru Colony, Majitha Road, while the youngest Riya studies in class I in the same school. The school is nearly 1 km from his house. He makes it a point to drop them at school on his bicycle, otherwise his wife Rekha has to walk down to school to drop them.

He works in the shop from 10 am to 10 pm on all days of the week, including Sundays. The saving grace is that he owns a house. He says that nearly 60 per cent of his pay is gobbled up by kitchen. He feels that it was 40 per cent last year. The fee of both daughters consumes Rs 700 per month. He said the fee was increased by Rs 50 per child at the start of this year and is scared that it should not be repeated from January next when the academic session begins.

Apart from Rs 150 per month insurance instalments for his two daughters each with the LIC, he has no other permanent source of savings.

According to him, in the changed circumstances it has become imperative to increase sources of earning to meet hiked expenditure. However, he hastily adds that it is not possible for him to get time out of his job so he has enrolled his wife in a tailoring course to start her own vocation at home.

Amritsar, December 18
Parking lots shown in the basement of big buildings have been gobbled up by none other than the owners of these buildings.

With a view to secure maximum retail customers from market a number of plush and swanky buildings have come up in upscale markets of the city. The multi-storey buildings, catering to middle and higher income groups, have certainly been built after investing crores of rupees, but sans parking lots.

In the absence of parking space, customers, visitors and shopkeepers have to park their vehicles in front of these buildings and even on roads. Given the presence of plenty of visitors at times, the number of vehicles keep growing and it leads to shrinking of roads. Consequently, the flow of vehicles get obstructed that leads to traffic blockade.

A resident of Shastri Nagar, Jaspreet Singh, said in order to keep pace with changing times it was necessary to raise multi-storey buildings with glitzy look, but the builders must imbibe the modern concept with totality. He opined that haphazard parking of vehicles in front of these modern buildings became an eyesore and eclipsed their beauty.

He is of the view that more than the district administration it is the duty of the owners of these big buildings to keep their front portion free from parking of vehicles.

In violation of site plans, malls and hotels have constructed halls instead of parking lots. The situation of traffic becomes severe in these areas, which receive high volume of vehicles. Although the Queen’s Road is one-way and is amply wide, but parking of vehicles before big buildings, especially hotels, as it has a number of hotels and restaurants, also contribute to rampant traffic blockade.

Another city resident Sunidhi Verma said she had to cross the road daily in the noon to pick her children up from the school. However, she experiences traffic blues on the road daily.

When contacted, Municipal Town Planner Shakti Bhatia said as per the bylaws all commercial buildings above 500 sq yd had to provide parking space in their basements. The site plans for all commercial buildings were approved only after duly checking the site and its construction. He did not disapprove the contention that some buildings were using the basement area for commercial purposes instead of parking lot and added that their site plans must have been approved before the introduction of the rules here in 1997.

He said the department observed that even those buildings which had parking in basements saw their front portion occupied by vehicles. He said the tendency of people was also to be blamed as in order to save their time and in haste they did not utilise the parking space.

Amritsar, December 18
Known for taking the semi-classical ghazals to a wider audience, Asif Mehdi, son of legendary Pakistani ghazal singer Mehdi Hassan, enthralled music lovers with his varied notes last night.

The beauty of contemporary ghazals complimented by his sonorous voice, Asif brought the inimitable Mehdi Hassan flashing back to one’s memory with his own unique style showing through from time to time.

For this he says “It is natural to evince the style of my father as I have lived and learnt singing from him and in the process, developed a likeness to his own style”.

Held at the Dashmesh Auditorium of the Guru Nanak Dev University, the concert was organised by Routes to Roots, in collaboration with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), an autonomous body under the administrative control of ministry of External Affairs, and the Department of Cultural Affairs, Punjab.

Routes to Roots is an NGO committed to bring together people, culture and values across SAARC countries, especially India and Pakistan. A sense of elation settled among the audience as the evening advanced and there was tapping of feet and putting together of hands.

Asif effortlessly embellished ghazals with tans, murkis and zamzama.

Besides, a six-member group of Ustad Ahmed Hussain and Ustad Mohammad Hussain from Jaipur captivated the viewers with their ghazals laced with the splendour of Rajasthani folk art.

Their grooming in the classical background was visible in the rendering of ghazals. Born in Rajasthan, they started their singing career rendering classical compositions and thumris, but have now also established themselves in the field of ghazal singing. They have received several awards including the prestigious Sangeet Natak Academy Award, in 2000. 

Amritsar, December 18
The holy city, famous for its traditional Punjabi food all over the world would now savour the western flavour of fast food as McDonalds opened his first ever flagship store. The outlet received tremendous response with a number of people made beeline while a number of young schoolchildren were found to be at the joint bunking their classes.

Kailash Agarwal, head of operations, McDonald’s India (Northern and Eastern Region) said Amritsar was one of the cities in the country that had experienced a rapid growth. He said the residents would have the taste of various burgers, and refreshing beverages. He said happy price menu with a number of products starting at price range of Rs 20 would definitely attract the Amritsaris. Designed with new state of the art technology driven by Made for You food preparation platform, the McDonalds restaurant with seating capacity of as many as 90 people, promises to uphold the commitment of service good quality, he added. — TNS