Amritsar, November 15
Even as the “plan” of regulating traffic around the Golden Temple could not see the light of the day due to legal implications, another “plan” has found place on the agenda of the administration. But keeping in mind the funds-starved corporation, this time, MP Navjot Singh Sidhu has decided to blow the bugle.

Acknowledging the “failure” of the civic authorities in streamlining the traffic flow in the city, Sidhu remarked that he had a discussion with the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal about the grave issue of traffic snarls and he had assured of extending funds to the tune of Rs 2.5 crore.

“The Deputy CM has committed to grant Rs 2.5 crore for improving the road infrastructure, especially those roads leading to various routes beneath the flyover on the GT Road. Besides this, he has announced to grant Rs 50 lakh for the amendments made on various key roads and other Rs 2.5 lakh for introducing new insignias depicting the route map on various points of the city,” Sidhu said.

The plan, with the collaboration of the local police and administration, had been divided into two parts - short term and long term. Under the short-term plan to be executed within a fortnight period, the central verge on the Bhandari Bridge would be removed and the traffic would be put on “one way” here. “On the Tarn Taran road, we have planned to install new blocks for centre verge at a cost of Rs 8 lakh. The new florescent insignia boards would be installed to guide the tourists to their destination,” he said.

Similarly, Tarawala Pul on the Tarn Taran diversion road would be widened and the police chowki located on one of its side would be shifted to some other place.

In the long-term plan, a comprehensive master plan was there to workout a project to systematically remove the encroachments by providing parking on the BOT basis at various important junctions. An idea of establishing rehri markets, on the pattern of Chandigarh, was also on the cards.

And to streamline the traffic around the bus stand, three parking lots had been mooted. “This step has been taken to provide place for parking of three-wheelers, so that these should not halted around the boundary wall of the bus stand. An area of 2 acres inside the bus stand has been earmarked for the purpose,” he said.

Amritsar, November 16
Rural veterinary officers appointed on a contract basis today threatened to boycott cattle fairs besides staging massive agitation in zonal pashu mela (cattle fair), slated to be held on November 24 at Bathinda, if the state government didn’t become serious on their regularisation issue.

Protesting against apathetic attitude of the government on the issue, the Rural Veterinary Officers’ Association, led by Dr Navdeep Singh Khinda, pointed out that the government had regularised as many as 14,000 teachers, 7,000 computer teachers and other employees after 2 to 3 years of service while 434 rural veterinary officers, who have been working for last four years, had been totally ignored.

“We are being exploited by the government. We are paid meagre salaries and no government facilities entitled to a government employee is extended to us,” said Dr Khinda. Instead, we were forced to protest to get our genuine demands fulfilled, he added. He said the association submitted memorandum to various dignitaries visiting the animal fairs, including Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal but nothing had been done so far.

It is pertinent to mention here that about four years ago, the state government invited applications for 682 posts of RVOs out of which only 434 were filled while remaining posts remained vacant.

Amritsar, November 16
Despite the alarming increase in number of patients suffering from diabetes in India, the Central and state governments have failed to initiate any programme for its prevention.

The fact that the country has the highest number of patients suffering from sugar in the world, this is high time that a national level programme be chalked out to control the spreading of deadly disease, said various experts in the field of diabetes.

Ironically, whatever the efforts are being put in spreading the awareness is done by the individuals and there is urgent need for a nationwide programme.

“The major stress of the programme should be focused on early detection and diagnosis of the ailment,” said Dr Rohit Kapoor, an expert diabetologist and heart specialist and director of Carewell hospital. “There is a pre-diabetic stage where the development of disease could be blocked in time. Early detection and diagnosis reduces the chances of its development and ensure healthy life. But once it developed, its become very difficult for the patient to control and he had to remain careful throughout his life,” he added.

At present, there are 4.37 crore people in nation who is suffering from diabetes while the number is expected to rise by 20 percent in next two decades, revealed Dr Kapoor quoting some data.

The people of Punjab are more prone to developing sugar due to consumption high calorie and fatty foods which is major cause of obesity and hence diabetes.

Besides obesity and sedentary lifestyle of the people, genetic history, lack of physical exercise, stress are among the major contributors in development of Sugar. About 37 per cent of females and 34.7 per cent of males are obese and overweight.

Dr Puneet Arora, consultant diabetologist, who is also associated with the International Diabetes Federation, said, “As per the estimates of the federation, at present about 10 per cent of the country’s population in the urban areas and approximately 3 per cent in rural areas above 15 years of age are suffering with one or other form of diabetes.”

IDF is an umbrella organization of over 200 national diabetes associations in over 160 countries. The main aim of federation is to promote diabetes care, prevention and cure worldwide. Meanwhile, various hospitals held free medical and consultation camps in order to spread the awareness about the deadly disease also known as a silent killer.

Amritsar, November 16
UGC-sponsored two-day national seminar on ‘Working of Indian Democracy and Problems of Governance’ was held at Khalsa College, Amritsar. The seminar was inaugurated by Iqbal Singh, Lt. Governor of Puducherry. The seminar was organised by Post Graduate Department of Political Science.

In his presidential address, S Iqbal Singh discussed the working of Indian democratic system and its various aspects and problems. He said by far democracy is still the best form of governance but in this a careful mandate and conscientious voting is very necessary. The keynote address was delivered by Dr S.S. Narang, former Director, Centre for Studies in Punjab Politics, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar.

Talking about “Problems of Democracy”, he discussed various eras with special emphasis on Nehruvian period. Paying his tribute to Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru, Dr Narang referred to him as a true nation builder because he was responsible for strengthening two major pillars of democracy namely equality and fraternity. He also explained the notion behind the well used phrase ‘Majority is Authority’ and said representative government is the most superior form of democracy.

Principal Dr Daljit Singh expressed that such seminars are a need of any society. “Democracy is a complicated term and needs to be discussed thoroughly to be understood properly,” he said, adding, it could only be understood by proper analysis and open discussion.

Amritsar, November 16
Taking a serious note of the rampant black marketing of kerosene and LPG cylinders by ration depot holders and gas agencies, respectively, the Health Minister, Laxmi Kanta Chawla, today warned the defaulters of strict action.

As the department miserably failed to prevent the black marketing of kerosene and LPG cylinders in the district due to alleged corrupt practices prevailing in the department, the Health Minister also mulled over penalising the officials of the department in order to stem the problem.

“Besides punishing the depot holder indulging in the illegal practice, action would also be taken against the official under whose jurisdiction the depot falls,” said Chawla.

In a meeting with officials of Food and Civil Supplies Department and ration depot holders, she announced to constitute a five-member team in each area to keep a close watch on the depot holders. She also instructed the authorities of the Food and Civil Supplies Department to conduct raids along with the District Transport Office and Police Department to check the misuse of domestic LPG cylinders.

It is evident to mention here that a bottle of kerosene, which is provided at a subsidised rate of Rs 10 (per bottle) by the government, is being sold at more than Rs 30 by the black marketers, while an LPG gas cylinder that costs Rs 363, is costing more than Rs 500 to customers.

Without spending too much time, Dr Anjuman Bhaskar, District Controller, Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, immediately issued notices of banning the use of domestic gas cylinders for commercial purposes by dhabas, marriage palaces, resorts, etc imposing Section 3 of the LPG- Gas Supply and Distribution Order-2000 of the Essential Commodity Act-1955.

“Criminal cases would be lodged against the persons for violating the orders. They could be sentenced to jail, which could be from three months to seven years, besides imposing fines. Provisions are also there to punish the persons who help the accused in his illegal deeds,” said Bhaskar.

As per orders, the owners of marriage palaces, resorts, hotels and dhabas have been instructed to display a board depicting the ban orders on commercial use of the domestic LPG cylinders.

Tarn Taran, November 16
Agro Service Centres, opened by the cooperative department in different Cooperative Agriculture Services Societies (CASS’s ) in villages to provide farm equipments on rent basis were doing a good job not only for the farmers but these societies were also increasing their income at the same time.

To promote this trend of taking farm equipments in place of purchasing these with high prices, the cooperative department started this move three years back.

Under this scheme, the CASS’s were given a facility to purchase farm equipments worth Rs 10 lakh and the Punjab farmers Commission (PFC) gave a subsidy of Rs 3.3 lakh to the society.

At the first stage the CASS of village Naushehra Panuan, Thathi Sohal, Chabal, Gorkha, Gharka, Kasel, Naurangabad, Jaura, Jeobala, Fatehchak and Bhusse have been given the facility. It is the provision to take loan against the remaining amount of Rs 6. 7 lakh from a bank by the society.

According to the norms released by the cooperative department, the society repays the loan taken to the bank in installments and the same time the society earns more money by giving the equipments on a rent basis.

Bhupinder Singh Ahuwalia , Assistant Registrar (AR), Cooperative Societies, said each society was not only paying the bank installment but were earning an amount Rs 80,000 to 1.5 lakh per season.

He further said the CASS of village Naushehar Pannuan, Gorkha and Fatehchak have paid the whole amount of the banks.