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Dengue Death: BSF orders preventive measures
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For the love of god
Traditional Ramlila scores over its slick, hi-tech avatar Amritsar, October 1 Even gods like all the attention! As the festive season begins, it’s time for Lord Rama to take centrestage, sit back and enjoy the limelight at the traditional Ramlila shows.
Guru Nanak Dev University teachers to boycott classes
heritage walk
Flour millers’ body denies misuse of foodgrain
Kidnapping case that was actually theft
Private firm joins ground-handling services at airport
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Dengue Death: BSF orders preventive measures
Amritsar, October 1 Concerned about this development, the government has ordered the local health authorities to fumigate the trains coming from Pakistan and thoroughly screen the passengers entering India from land or rail routes in order to prevent the disease from spreading. Local health authorities had deputed the team of doctors to check the patients at the Attari Railway Station and joint check post. It is pertinent to mention here that Bikas Kumar, a resident of Bihar, who was posted with 74 Regiment of the force posted in the Ajnala sector, was admitted in the hospital on September 24 with symptoms of the disease. He was the first victim of dengue. Himmat Singh Gill, IG BSF, while confirming this said that he had also passed instructions to the medical officers of the force to take precautionary measures. He said he had asked them to keep a check on the patients who show symptoms of dengue and start the treatment. However, Dr Avtar Singh Jrewal said, according to health officials Bikas died due to typhoid and pneumonia. “According to my epidemiologist reports, the NS-I test conducted to ascertain dengue was negative. However, I would personally investigate into this whether he died of dengue or some other reason after getting his reports from the Guru Nanak Dev Hospital,” said Jrewal. When asked about the preparation of the Department to fight dengue, he said he had already taken up the matter with the Deputy Commissioner and Municipal Corporation Commissioner. He said it was the duty of the MC to provide a clean and hygienic environment. He said he had also asked the corporation authorities to conduct spray at all the suspected areas where the larva of the dengue mosquito was found. The health authorities have found the larva of the dengue mosquito in Rani Ka Bagh, Ranjit Avenue, Pavan Nagar, Roadways workshops, Putlighar, Tehsilpura, Majitha Road, EKta Nagar, Gwal mandi etc.
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Violators speed past traffic norms
Amritsar, October 1 The city has only 250-260 cops to deal with the severe traffic problem. An average of 50,000 new vehicles get registered with the District Transport Office every year. A majority of these vehicles are two-wheelers while the number of unregistered new vehicles is double, according to sources. A large number of three- wheelers and auto-rickshaws add to the traffic chaos in the city. Youth can be seen flouting traffic rules openly. Haphazard parking, violation of the building by-laws and encroachments besides the lackadaisical approach of the authorities concerned, including the Municipal Corporation and District Transport Department and alleged intervention of politicians adds to the problem. The lack of coordination between the various departments concerned is responsible for the same, sources add. Despite the police and the MC marking specific routes for heavy vehicles, traffic rules are being flouted openly. A major part of the transport business is owned by the who's who in the ruling party in the state as well as the opposition. The traffic police remain a mute spectator to traffic violations by them. Bhandari Bridge, Hall Gate, outside inter-state bus terminus, Hussainpura Chowk, Crystal Chowk, Court Chowk, Lawrence road, inside the old walled city, 4 SSSS Chowk, Majitha Road, Sheranwala Gate, Sultanwind Chowk, Chatiwind Chowk, Tarn Taran road, Putlighar, Islamabad, Nawan Kot, Chheharta Chowk, area outside the bus stand, hall gate, Bhandari Bridge and Queens' road are the worst affected areas. A huge number of three-wheelers plying without their documents, teenagers flouting traffic norms etc add to the problem. The police often buckles under alleged political pressure whenever it tries to act tough against erring drivers, they have to buckle under the pressure of unions backed by political parties. Over the past decade, several residential areas have been converted into commercial ones, thus adding to the problem of traffic chaos. A majority of these buildings lack the necessary parking facilities due to which vehicle owners park them on the road. "People park their vehicles wherever they feel like," said Ashok Kumar, a senior citizen. The police has put up barricades at Kachehari Chowk, Bhandari Bridge, Hall Gate and several other chowks, to ease the traffic. To overcome the problem requires a collective effort from the administration, Municipal Corporation, district administration, the police and the traffic police, a senior police official said.
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For the love of god
Amritsar, October 1 It has been the best way to celebrate our religious spirit. Though over the years, the epic has turned into an extravaganza given the tough competition posed by television. In the holy city, the story remains the same, the script has not changed in a trillion years! “Technology can be intimidating for our audience. Since we don’t need to attract any, we keep it simple, without using a lot of technological advancements for our stage shows. That way it’s traditional,” says Darshan Lal Hazoori, secretary, Shiv Mandir Ramlila committee, Chheharta. “When people come to watch Ramlila, the religious sentiments attached with it take centrestage and not the presentation,” he feels. The 40-odd independent Ramlila clubs active in the city stick to the traditional way of nautanki-style Ramlila, with classical ragas and renditions from Ramcharita Manas. Also, due to the lack of a common Ramlila committee, finances have become an issue as going hi-tech means a lot of investment. “Each group tries to bring in a difference with actors or costumes or maybe some stage antics, but not with technology. Using sound-and-light effects and other hi-tech mediums needs funding. Since it is mostly organised on a small scale, with a limited collection of funds, the cost goes up. The reason why most groups stick to traditional ways,” says Satish Ballu, president of the Bhalla Colony dramatic club that has been organising the Ramlila for three decades now. “Amritsar is a city that takes pride in its culture and still find comfort in its own set lifestyle. People are used to the traditions they have been following for so many years and Ramlila fits into that category. Since Ramayana didn’t happened in a time where lasers and digital effects ruled, the audience too expects to relate to the human element,” says Ajay Thapa, director, Bhagwati Dramatics club, Khandwala.
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Guru Nanak Dev University teachers to boycott classes
Amritsar, October 1 Criticising certain decisions taken during the syndicate meeting chaired by Vice Chancellor AS Brar on September 27, the teachers demanded uniform implementation of the policies, as per stipulated UGC guidelines and the university calendar. The authorities had unceremoniously removed a senior professor, GS Bhalla, from the Department of Commerce and Business Management (CBM), while alleging that he had committed forgery by submitting TA/DA bills, flouted the university norms while awarding internal assessment and tried to procure internal information from the Department with ill intentions. Besides this, the authorities had indicated to target association president Balwinder Singh who is also Head of the Department of CBM. It has been learnt that an inquiry has already been ordered to scrutinise the students’ attendance procedure followed by Balwinder Singh, being Head of the Department. Terming these decisions as “vindictive” and “politically motivated”, the teachers, on condition of anonymity, told that no proper procedure was adopted by the authorities, while dismissing the services of Bhalla. “The dictatorial attitude of the authorities could be gauged from the fact that in the alleged TA/DA bills case, Bhalla was given a clean chit following an inquiry conducted by KBS Sidhu, a retired IAS officer and the proceedings were a part of the syndicate meeting held on December 3, 2009. Secondly, the other charges levelled gainst him are yet to be inquired into. The teachers have questioned the grounds on which the authorities have announced such a harsh decision against a senior colleague who has to his credit a spotless career of over 30 years, he said. Balwinder Singh said the teachers have unanimously decided to wear black badges in protest against the authorities’ “undesirable” moves on October 3. “Bhalla’s case was misrepresented by some unscrupulous elements who twisted the facts. Moreover, he was not granted enough time to explain his side of view. We would also observe a three-hour teaching boycott in protest on that day”, he said.
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Crumbling structures need attention
Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service
Amritsar, October 1 The heritage walk includes the British-era Town Hall, Saragarhi Gurdwara, Quila Ahluwalia, Chowk Jalebiyan Wala, Akhara Sangalwala, Akhara Chitta, Darshani Deori, Baba Bohar, Thakurdwara Dariana Mal, Chaurasti Attari Chowk, Taksal, Radha Krishan Mandir, Crawling street, Puratan Rasta (Ancient passage) and Akhara Brahm Buta. Once belonging to the great Sikh warrior Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, who repelled foreign invasions during the 18th century, the crumbling building of Qila Ahluwalia requires immediate attention and needs to be conserved. Its exceptionally tall, wooden gates, dome-shaped arches and the wooden façade with intricate carving and motifs are a reminder of the bygone era. At present, it is occupied by a large number of families. Many of them have tinkered with the original design keeping in view their needs. Representing the colonial-style architecture, complete with intricate stonework and beautifully designed gates and spiral staircase, there is a well and adjacent stable inside. There used to be a pond in the centre which is now a parking lot. Another monument that needs immediate restoration is Thakurdwara Dariana Mal. The frescoes present there offer intricate floral patterns, ornamentation and depicts numerous episodes from Hindu mythology. Completed in 1876, the Thakurdwara is dedicated to Lord Krishna and contains two shrines. It is currently being looked after by the Shri Durgiana Temple Management. Timely restoration will save the centuries-old structure for posterity. Only a part of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s mint (taksal) at Katra Hari Singh still exists. He had issued Moranshahi coins dedicated to his queen Moran from here. The priests of the Golden Temple did not approve of coins being minted in the name of Maharaja’s concubine (Moran), so they declared him guilty of religious misconduct. The PHTPB Community Development Officer Harpreet Kaur said that the Board was well aware of restoring these sites to successfully hold regular heritage walks. She said efforts were on to contact owners and caretakers of these buildings, while the funds were being made available from the Asian Development Bank. She said Shri Durgiana Management had given an NOC to carry out restoration and conservation at Thakurdwara Dariana Mal, owner of famous Jalebi shop at Chowk Ahluwalia had also agreed to carry out restoration work. She said MC had accepted to shift water tubewell from near Taksal.
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Flour millers’ body denies misuse of foodgrain
Amritsar, September 30 The association members led by Naresh Ghai told mediapersons yesterday that all the roller flour mills have delivered the entire stock of flour against the allocated wheat to the fair prices shop holders according to any sale order issued by the department. “The same was intimated to the depot holders through SMSes to prevent any leakage,” said Ghai. He alleged that some vested interests were trying to defame the roller mills. Hundreds of quintals of fortified flour, meant to the distributed under the public distribution system, were allegedly usurped by flour mills in connivance with the staff of the food and civil supplies department and ration depot holders. A probe was conducted by the then District Food and Civil Supply controller in this regard following a complaint lodged by former BJP councillor Naresh Sharma. A team of the department inspected 11 ration depots to which Whole Wheat Fortified Atta (WWFA) was supplied by various roller flour mills. The investigations have pointed out embezzlement worth Rs 46 lakh and huge loss to state exchequer.
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DAV school students shine in TT tourney
Amritsar, October 1 Principal Anjana Gupta said the school’s U-14 girls’ team defeated GPS Public School while U-19 girls’ team defeated DAV Public School, Lawrence Road. In boys U-14, DAV International won against MGN School, Jalandhar, and boys U-19 defeated APJ School, Jalandhar. In individual events, Adya Mehra (U-14) outshone others as she secured gold while Harshit Mehra (14) stood second and Tanveen Kaur (U-19) was adjudged third.
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Kidnapping case that was actually theft
Amritsar, October 1 The police received information from the family of Ritesh (7) that he was allegedly kidnapped by an unidentified person while he was playing in a park in the posh Basant Avenue area here. While the police was investigating the case, the boy was recovered from the Shastri Nagar area where the alleged kidnappers had left him. Naresh Kumar, the ADCP City-II, while talking to The Tribune correspondent said that during investigations it was found that it was not a kidnapping case as was suspected by the family. He said the unidentified person actually wanted to steal the cycle which the boy was plying in the park. He said after luring the boy on the pretext that he wanted to purchase a cycle for his son, he took the boy to a nearby area and ran away with the cycle.
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Few give ‘lift’ to Improvement Trust’s commercial drive
Amritsar, october 1 Raised in the 90s, the multi-storied shopping complex, having 376 shops, has a majority of its shops lying unoccupied. The unoccupancy rate increases with rise in each storey. Majority of shopkeepers blame the non-functioning lifts for the flop show of the complex. According to them, lifts were never operational during the last 10 years. In the absence of easy access, customers never evinced interest to visit upper storeys. Hence, investors did not dare to invest money in opening shops and offices on the upper floors. Heaps of garbage lie scattered near the lifts. Stink around the place discourage visitors against visiting the place. But the shopkeepers had no alternative for having invested in the market. A shopkeeper, Jatinder Mahajan, also general secretary of the Nehru Shopping Complex Welfare Association, said unhygienic condition and non- operational lifts were taking a heavy toll on the shopkeepers. He said many shopkeepers had closed their shops and shifted out to private markets. He said he opened his shop in 2002 and since then never saw the lifts operational. He lambasted the AIT for branding all shopkeepers in the complex as defaulters and dared it to disclose the list of defaulters. Despite being amply spacious and equipped with multi-storey parking facility, the AIT failed to market shops. On the other hand, the private plazas and shopping malls on the Lawrence Road and the adjoining Mall Road are buzzing with activities. Chairman AIT Sanjiv Khanna said two lifts were installed in the complex. He said they were operational at the launch of the complex, but thereafter they developed snags. He said the private company that installed the lifts and had closed. He said there was a proposal to run these lifts in partnership with the association of the complex. He added that the maintenance cost would be borne by the parties on 50:50 basis. He said the proposal to open cube lift worth Rs 12.50 lakh was in the pipeline. The Superintendent Engineer AIT, Rajiv Sekri, said about 33 per cent of the original allottees of the shops were defaulters. He said the trust earned about Rs three lakh rent monthly. He said the trust had initiated action against defaulters by filing of rent suit under relevant sections.
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Private firm joins ground-handling services at airport
Amritsar, october 1 It is for the first time that apart from the Airport Authority of India (AAI) a private concern would handle the ground services operations at the Amritsar airport. IndoThai president Rakesh Jain said his concern would undertake comprehensive ground handling services comprising passenger, cargo, ramp, cabin cleaning, flight dispatch operations, and technical assistance services in terms of new ground handling policy. According to him, his company was already handling ground responsibilities at Jaipur, Lucknow and Varanasi airports. According to him, at Amritsar airport the company had received approval from Turkmenistan Airlines while talks were on with more airlines to get the contracts. According to him, a state-of-the-art new generation ground handling equipment like motorized passenger stairs, motorized baggage conveyor belt, low-floor passenger coaches, aircraft push back tractor are part of its network here. Airport director Sunil Dutt said arrival of IndoThai in ground handling services here was a welcome step. According to him, it would generate healthy competition with the AAI and upgrade technology. Besides, the passengers would receive quality services.
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Amritsar, October 1
