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Live with hoardings for at least 3 years
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Admn goes strict on copying in exams
Farmers make patwari return bribe money
Thinking power
New trends in sugar, alcohol technology discussed
Seminar on Namdhari Sikhs of 20th century
Amritsar airport registers growth in air traffic
GNDH to get trauma block with geriatric ward
Young World
One held, medicines worth Rs 1.5 lakh recovered
Man booked for rape
OPRC Scheme
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Live with hoardings for at least 3 years
CommissionerSpeak DPS Kharbanda, Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation, Amritsar: It was an agreement of five years between the private players and MC during earlier regime here. Under this agreement, these unipoles were placed at various places of the city. The MC gets remuneration to the tune of Rs 5,500 per unipole per month. Definitely, it disrupts the attention, if placed on road side or traffic points, but three years are still pending under the agreement, before which no alteration can be made. But for sure, its renewal can be intercepted after the lapse of contract period.
Amritsar, February 23 But every statement and steps initiated afterwards proved to be futile exercise. Even the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court had not been adhered to. It would not be exaggeration if the holy city is called a ‘hoarding city’ seeing scores of unipoles, hoardings, glow signs and billboards on high rise buildings, on traffic lights and on road dividers. In the absence of any concrete advertising policy and masterplan of the city, there erupted a billboard mafia, which not only polluted the vicinity but also dented the state exchequer manipulating the advertising revenue norms. The whole city was commercialised and even the footpaths were not spared from the unipoles, which also came up in the green belts of the city. The worst hit has been the commuter. Especially, at the Lawrence road traffic light chowk, there are interchangeable billboards and neon display boards, which divert the drivers’ attention. Consequently, this leads to accidents. “But, who cares? Just a day before yesterday, I got my arm broken here only, when during crossing a road on foot, a car rammed into me after its driver was attracted to interchangeable hoarding of a five star hotel, on one side of the Lawrence road traffic light crossing”, told Manjinder Singh, an executive. Another favourite spot for putting these eyesores is near the Golden Temple.
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Civil Hospital, picture of neglect
OfficialTake Dr Satya Kiran Kapoor, Senior Medical Officer, in charge: Every bit of your observation is true. But all these conditions prevailed due to government’s faulty plan of hiring private contractual hands for sanitation jobs. I have no authority to question them? In spite of the fact that every month I have been conveying the higher authorities in writing about the present contractor’s dereliction in performing his job, yet he managed to grab the contract for next year term? Gurpreet Singh, I am too helpless, when the hospital officials interfere in my job unnecessarily. If I get strict with my hired staff, the hospital officials shield them and further pressurise me. If I be let free, every thing can be placed in order as per the terms and conditions laid down under my contract. I will hire the fresh staff and get the hospital’s cleanliness maintained within a week’s time.
Amritsar, February 23 The Tribune team took stock of the hospital only to find hundreds of patients left to be dependent on the rust-ridden water coolers with fungus and algae infected water trays, stinky toilets with broken seats, and washbasins with missing taps, choked water outlets and overflowing sewage emanating unbearable foul stench. In addition to this, the hospital waste being dumped on the rear side of the hospital building only to burn it down there itself and the defunct fire-extinguishing system add to the miserable state of affairs. And like any other government-run department, here too the officials knew of the shortcomings but did not have a solution. The reason is red-tapism, faulty state governments policy matters, shortage of strength; disagreement between the staff and the hired sanitary contractor. Senior Medical Officer and in charge of hospital Dr Satya Kiran Kapoor maintained that everything has been left on the mercy of the “private sanitary contractors”, hired especially by the higher authorities for maintaining sanitary conditions of the hospital. He maintained that he has no power to question him for his negligence. A further probe into the matter revealed startling facts. The present sanitary contractor does not even belong to this city and the services of this Abohar-based contractor has been hired for other government hospitals at many other states of Punjab like Ajnala, Tarn Taran, Patti, Ludhiana, Ferozpore, to name a few. His one year services for cleanliness of this hospital premises stood at over Rs 9 lakh a year. Due to absence
of any check, the contractor seldom pay promised amount to the sanitary staff, forcing them to restrict their working hours. Questions are also being raised over the integrity of the state authorities and authenticity of extracting such a huge amount from the state exchequer every year for such “unsatisfactory services”. The polluted conditions of this hospital speak volume about “no justification” of wasting such huge money. The in charge of hospital maintained that it was of no use to inform the higher authorities that against the minimum required Class IV staff of 54 for patient’s care, only 8 have been provided by the contractor. In utter breach of his contract, he never bothered to provide the supporting sanitary infrastructure like soaps or phenyl etc. |
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Ward 28 CouncillorSpeak Belonging to the CPI, Parvesh Rani, councillor of the ward, revealed that she had filed a writ petition in 2008 in which the Ministry of Railways, Punjab Government and Municipal Corporation had agreed to construct a flyover at an estimated cost of Rs 20 crore. A detailed project report with a total outlay of Rs 85 crore was submitted to the Central Government for the construction of a railway overbridge last year. However, much to their dismay the same was rejected by the Union Government adding that the Prime Minister had allocated Rs 2,550 crore for the overall development of the city, including construction of railway overbridges to overcome the traffic snarls. She was hopeful that the government would keep its words and would provide suitable funds to complete the projects envisaged by the PM. Regarding setting up a tubewell, She said the tenders would soon be floated for the same as the recent house meeting had passed the project. She said till now Rs 70 lakh had been spent for various development works in the ward, while more funds were being allocated for the remaining
works
Amritsar, February 23 The construction of a flyover is a long-pending demand of the residents, who feel that the authorities concerned and elected representatives have done nothing to solve this biggest problem of the area. The roads passing through the railway barriers lead to Vallah, the main vegetable and fruit mandi, besides residential areas of Judge Nagar, Dashmesh Nagar, Tilak Nagar, Krishna Nagar, Sundar Nagar, etc. The most important landmark of the area is the Chalih Khuh (forty wells) complex, which was constructed by Britishers for recharging the ground water feeding the holy city, where a huge green belt acted as lungs for the area, also known as Leisure Valley. “The railway phataks have not only become a nuisance, but also accident prone as a large number of people trying to save time, cross the railway lines from underneath the closed gates putting their lives to great danger,” said a nearby vegetable shopkeeper. He said many accidents had been reported at this junction. When The Tribune team visited the area, it found many people crossing the barriers. Majority of them were rickshaw-pullers
carrying loads and passengers and two-wheelers. The heavy vehicles have to wait for long time before moving ahead causing congestion and pollution in the area. Another big issue afflicting the residents of the ward is of poor water supply. The ward, consisting Krishna Nagar, Amarkot, Old Judge Nagar, Dharampura and parts of Dashmesh Nagar, is being fed by only one tubewell, which has already exhausted its life term. “As the tubewell has outlived its utility, it usually remains un-serviceable leading to water shortage,” lamented Kishan Chand of the Krishna Nagar locality. He said in spite of repeated assurances by the authorities, a new tubewell was yet to be bored to meet the scarcity of water.
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Admn goes strict on copying in exams
Tarn Taran, February 23 It was resolved in the meeting that the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), all the SDMs, Tehsildars, Niab Tehsildars, DDPO and BDPOs would be given authority to make surprise checks during the examinations. District Education Officer (SE) D.K. Mahia and other officials too were present in the meeting. Students’ pledge
The students of Government Secondary School, Thathi Khara, today took pledge against copying in the coming exams and have also decided to plant more trees in the school premises. Principal Tapinder Kaur said the students have decided to shun copying in the examinations. The principal said the students also decided to plant more trees in the school premises soon after the exams. She added that the ECO Club of the school
had already started a remarkable work towards environment. |
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Farmers make patwari return bribe money
Pandori Sidhwan (Tarn Taran), February 23 The dialogue over the issue had been going on between the farmers and the Patwari for the last so many days. The Patwari was willing to return the money silently whereas the KSC was insisting on making the issue public. At last the Patwari had to agree with the KSC and a big meeting of the farmers was called today in the village. Farmer Baldev Singh was returned Rs 20,000 followed by Jaswinder Singh (Rs 14000), Karam Singh (Rs 9,000), Iqbal Singh (Rs 7000), Mangit Singh (Rs 4,500) and Hartaj Singh
(Rs 2,000). Gurlal Singh and other leaders of the KSC while addressing the
occasion said that the money has taken by the Patwari from the farmers of the village as bribe. The leaders said the KSC has launched a move against the prevailing corruption in different government departments and a Patwari of Ghariala circle has been put under suspension by the District Collector on corruption charges raised by the KSC. The leaders called the farmers to bring such type of cases in the notice of the organisation as the farmers had been exploited by certain departments like PSEB, Revenue etc. The leaders also discussed other demands of the farmers. |
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Thinking power
Amritsar, February 23 A student of Class IX at Spring Dale Senior School, Amritsar, Harmanjot initiated to venture out an alternative source of power through mechanism of dynamo. And his endeavour enabled him to clinch the first place among hundreds of children, who participated in the open science model competition organised by GD Goenka School in collaboration with The Celebration Mall recently. With the help of a treadmill, generally found in multi-gymnasiums or even in homes, Harmanjot experimented to convert the “exert”, one puts in to run the treadmill belt, into “producing electricity”, through a dynamo fitted on its front. Consequently, as soon as the treadmill belt gets rolling backward, it would start generate electric energy without the help of any outsource electric power. Sharing his tale with The Tribune, Harmanjot said, “Actually, I saw this mechanism in bicycles, where the light gets lit up through a dynamo fitted on its front wheel. I observed that no sooner did you paddle the bike, the dynamo fitted on its front wheel moves and convert mechanical energy into electrical energy which further energise the bulb to glow. I was amazed to see that. Then, I along with one of my classmates Mahiyal B Singh studied the basic functioning of this mechanism and developed a dynamo,” told Harmanjot. “While working on it, we thought that this idea was not limited to just a cycle. It could far more helpful to the society”, added very confident Harman. “If developed properly, this mechanism could be applied to run escalators, lifts in malls etc. The family with a home gym could generate electricity just by exercising daily, sounds amazing but this can be made true”, told Dr Bhupinder Singh Walia, his father. “I too was wondered to see his idea. This project is a step that would help the future generations to fight the need of energy, I suppose”, expressed Dr Surinder Pal Kaur, his mother. Younger brother Abhijot Singh Walia now insists Harmanjot to work out on additional source which could charge his iPod and mobile phone through this innovative way. “Even this is possible, I am working on it,” said Harmanjot. With physics and computers as favourite subjects, Harman, the son of doctor parents, wants to take a different route in life. “As space has always attracted me since childhood, so I want to become an astronaut and search about the hidden mysteries of the vast universe,” said Harmanjot. |
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New trends in sugar, alcohol technology discussed
Amritsar, February 23 He said India needed to increase sugarcane production to meet the demand as India was world leader in sugar engineering and technology. India was the second largest producer of sugar in the world and at the same time it was the largest consumer. The conference was organised by the Applied Chemical Science and Technology Department of the university in association with the STAI. Dr Rao inaugurated the conference, which was attended by over 150 delegates from across the country. In his inaugural address, he said sugar industry was close to nature and a source of rural development. He said the yield of sugarcane per hectare vary from state to state, the highest being 60-70 tonnes per hectare in Andra Pradesh and Karnataka. Pointing to Brazil, which was producing ethanol through sugarcane wastes at a large scale, he said if Brazil could do we could as well. Vice-Chancellor of the host university A.S. Brar in his presidential remarks said there was revolution in various technologies. He emphasised the need for renewable and non-renewable energy in the production of ethanol. He stressed that the agriculture waste could produce alcohol, which could be good source of energy as compared to petroleum. He said biotechnology should be used to produce alcohol. He hoped that the deliberations in this conference would be useful for the researchers and for the sugar industry. Earlier, Dr R.S.S. Kaler, Head of the Department, welcomed the participants and hoped that the conference would definitely provide a platform to discuss the new trends in sugar and alcohol technology. Dr Satindar Kaur, coordinator of the conference, while presenting vote of thanks said with stress on low carbon emission and green technology it was imperative that sugar industry be given a boost in terms of modernisation of technology in the policies laid down by the government. She said the conference was held at a time when owing to rise in sugar prices, sugar was not so sweet and was affecting the household budget. |
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Seminar on Namdhari Sikhs of 20th century
Amritsar, February 23 Vice-Chancellor A.S. Brar presided over the seminar, while eminent scholar Dr Satinder Singh Noor delivered the
inaugural address and Dr Sukhdev Singh from Punjabi University, Patiala, delivered the keynote address. Among others, H.S Hanspal, MP and President of Namdhari Darbar, Surinder Singh and Dr Harish Sharma were also present. Brar stressed on the
writing of history based on scientific facts. Sukhdev Singh said the contribution of Kuka Andolan was commendable in the freedom
struggle. He said this was the first public revolt from Punjab against the British empire. He said contribution of the Namdhari movement for the rehabilitation of Namdhari Sikhs, social reforms, education, music and sports was unparalleled. He said that it was a matter of concern that the youth in the contemporary society were indulging in drug addiction and social evils like female foeticide and dowry. He favoured adoption of the Namdhari ideals to get rid of these evils. Satindar Singh Noor in his inaugural address said the Namdhari lehar was the real freedom movement and it should not be specified with a particular religion but a social movement which had its effect on Punjabis and Namdharis equally. He claimed that in the writing of freedom struggle historians neglected Punjab, especially Sikhs and Namdharis. He said historians should approve sacrifies of the Namdharis in the freedom struggle against the British empire. Earlier, Dr Joginder Singh, Head of the Namdhari Guru Ram Singh Chair, welcomed the chief guest and gave details about the seminar. Dr Sukhwant Singh, Head of the History Department, presented a vote of thanks. |
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Amritsar airport registers growth in air traffic
Amritsar, February 23 He said till December 2008, the total aircraft movement from the airport was 528, including 262 domestic and 266 international. The domestic movement increased to 345 and international to 359 by December 2009 taking the total number to 704 which resulted in 33 per cent growth in the aircraft movement in a year. Similarly, the number of passengers for domestic destinations during 2008 was 11,364 and international destinations 35,994 making a total of 47,358, whereas by December 2009 the number of passengers rose to 67,898 including 16,396 domestic. Thus, it recorded 43 per cent growth in passenger traffic. Besides, the cargo movement for international destinations was 106 tonnes during 2008 and it reached 283 tonnes in 2009,
registering a growth of 163 per cent. Pannu also held a airport coordination committee meeting at the airport today. V.P.S Chinson, Director, Airport, Shard Kumar, Commandant, CISF, and other airport officials participated in
the meeting. Later talking to the media, Pannu opined that with the completion of rail ICP at Attari and integrated check post at Attari border along with manifold increase in economic activities at Amritsar International Airport, the city is bound to witness a major boost in economic activities. |
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Hockey fever grips holy city
Amritsar, February 23 Amritsar remained a hub of top international players who form the core of the Indian hockey team during its heydays in 1970-80 with top class players, including Udham Singh, Ajitpal Singh, Pritpal Singh, Col Harcharn Singh and others playing in the national team. The streets of Hall Gate, where the Indian team marched towards the Golden Temple to offer their prayers after winning the World Cup in 1975, once again witnessed a similar spirit created by the students who wished the Indian team best of luck and prayed for their victory in the World Cup. “We want to revive the historic year of 1975 when India won the World Cup,” a student said raising slogans like “Hum honge kaamyaab” and “Chak De India World Cup” etc. with hockey sticks in their hands. Leading sports analyst Paramjit Singh Randhawa said the Indian team had the potential with top-notch players like skipper Rajpal Singh, Prabhjot, Deepak Thakur, Tushar and Vikram Pillay who were among the best hockey players in the world. Meanwhile, the rally started after paying obeisance at the Golden Temple and the Durgiana Temple. DAV College Principal Satish Kumar Sharma offered his best wishes to the Indian hockey team. |
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GNDH to get trauma block with geriatric ward
Amritsar, February 23 This was revealed by Seetal Singh, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Department of Medical Education and Research, during the
sixth Amritsar Medical College Alumni Association (AMCAA)-Amritsar Medical and Dental Alumni Association of North America (AMDAANA) CME-2010, organised on the hospital premises here. He said the government was serious in taking the institute here to the level of AIIMS. He promised all types of administrative and financial help from the government. Dr Satwant Singh from the USA, who is the chairman of the Amritsar project of AMDAANA, pointed out that the government should initiate a group study exchange programme to educate the students about the new techniques available in other parts of the world. Meanwhile, the AMCAA conferred lifetime achievement awards on famous doctors and alumni of the GMC, Amritsar. They include Dr L.S. Chawla, former Vice-Chancellor of the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Dr Balwant Singh Tung, renowned surgeon and former Principal of Government Medical College, Dr B.L. Goel, Director of the Vidyasagar Institute of Health Sciences, and Dr Surinder Singh, Principal of Government Medical College, Patiala. Among others who addressed the CME were Dr S.S. Shergill, Principal of the GMC, Amritsar, Dr V.K. Sikri, Principal of Government Dental College, and Dr A.S. Padda, President of the AMCAA. |
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Young World
Amritsar, February 23 Roots to Wings, a pre-school (a school of Educomp Solutions Ltd), situated in Medical Enclave, Circular Road, Amritsar, today organised Mom & Me Show. Children up to 5 years participated in the event and Shrey, Dhirya and Krishang won Master Roots to Wings and Hitaishi, Hitakshi and Harshita won Miss Roots to Wings. Seminar: A one-day seminar on “Biosciences-Challenges and Scope?” was organised by the Post Graduate Department of Biotechnology of Swami Satynand College of Management and Technology. The main motive behind this event was to make the students aware of the major challenges in the field of biosciences. Dr Sajid Hussain, Dr A.S. Soodan, Dr Jatinder Arora from the Guru Nanak Dev University, were invited as resource persons.
— TNS |
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One held, medicines worth Rs 1.5 lakh recovered
Amritsar, February 23 He was arrested after a tip-off during a naka on the Sultanwind road when he was going to sell the stolen medicines to medical stores and physicians in the city. After his detention, the staff recovered a huge quantity of stolen medicines worth Rs 1.50 lakh stored in a rented room in the New Partap Nagar locality. During investigations it was found that Jatinder used to procure the medicines from three persons operating in Delhi. “They have been operating for the last more than two years and involvement of doctors, pharmacists and staff of the government hospitals situated in Delhi could not be ruled out,” said Suba Singh, in charge, CIA staff. Suba Singh revealed that Jatinder named three persons - Mukesh Kumar, Nitin and Pawan Kumar - who used to supply the drugs to them at Chandini Chowk in Delhi. Jatinder was selling the medicines having government stamps to medical stores and doctors at half of the retail price. “The police team is looking for three accused operating in the Capital besides the modus operandi by which they lay hands on the medicines meant for government hospitals. We have their mobile numbers and tracing all the details and permanent home address before getting in touch with the Delhi Police,” added Suba Singh. He said the police had got vital clues in the case
and many more names were likely to come up during the probe. |
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Man booked for rape
Tarn Taran, February 23 The woman in her statement to the police alleged that the accused took her to his home forcibly when she had gone to a shop. The accused ran away after Gurpreet Singh, a resident of the village came to the spot, when she raised an alarm. The accused is absconding. The woman was medically examined by a team of the doctors today. Gang busted
The police has nabbed a four-member gang of looters and seized 10 mobile phones besides a sharp-edged weapon. DSP Ashawani Kumar giving details to newsmen here today said that the gang members have been identified as Sewak Kumar, Ravinder Singh, Gopi and Darshan Singh, all residents of this town. SHO Jaspal Singh headed the police party which nabbed the gang members. — OC |
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OPRC Scheme
Tarn Taran, February 23 This was disclosed by Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat, while addressing a rural gathering at Fatehbad, 18 km from here. The minister, who laid down the foundation stone of the 24.5-km-long road connecting Fatehbad to Khara, a village situated on National Highway-15, said the 950-km-long roads would be renovated at a cost of Rs 2,100 crore for which the work had already started. Brahmpura said the company which had the contract for the road, besides constructing, would plant trees and beautify the roads. The company would also provide medical facility in case of accidents on the roads. Brahmpura held the Union Government responsible
for the increasing prices of daily usable articles and advocated the federal system in the country to make states more effective. The road, for which the foundation stone was laid, would be constructed at a cost of Rs 27.50 crore. It would make the approach from the Malwa belt to Khadoor Sahib, Goindwal Sahib and Cholha Sahib easier. |
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Ration given to migrated Hindu families
Amritsar, February 23 The All-India Hindu Shiv Sena led by Surinder Kumar Billa and Ashok Kapoor, a social worker, urged the Prime Minister to take up the issue of ensuring security of Hindus and Sikhs with their Pakistani counterparts. Billa claimed that about five families had migrated to India for shelter. Strongly condemning the killing of innocent Sikhs in Peshawar, he said the SGPC should also pressurise the government in taking urgent steps for providing security to the two communities. |
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