The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Elevated Road Project Pending ramp works elevate miseries of residents GS Paul Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 3 Seven years back, it was a reason for joy for residents. The elevated road project on the Jalandhar-Amritsar GT Road had then been inaugurated with much fanfare. But the joy vanished as soon as the project kept getting delayed. Today, even as Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal inaugurated the 1.5-km long ramp on the elevated road leading to the Golden Temple parking, residents were least happy as work on other ramps leading to local areas continues to lie incomplete. The opening up of the ramp leading to the Golden Temple parking has given much respite to tourists coming to visit the Sikh shrine. But in the absence of other expansion ramps from Hide market, the basic purpose of the project, ie to solve traffic bottlenecks, gets defeated. Commuters from at least 10 places --- Rani Bazaar, Hussainpura, Sharifpura, Tehsilpura, bus stand, Ram Talai, Golden Avenue, Mall Mandi, Chawrang Road to Maqboolpura, Focal Point, Vallah Mandi, Pratap Nagar and New Pratap Nagar --- remain a harried lot. In the absence of a ramp between Bhandari Bridge and Hide market, they have to cross the 3.5-km stretch on elevated road to reach their destinations on the GT Road. The flow of traffic increase manifolds during morning and evening hours on the roundabout of Bhandari Bridge which leads to chaos. Moreover, the incomplete ramp work on this stretch has become a nightmare for traders whose shops are located in the area. For instance, over 30 shops located just opposite the bus terminal have seen dismal trade for the last few months as approach roads to these shops have not been laid by the administration. Though pillars have been erected by Gammon Company, which undertook this elevated road project, the job of constructing the ramp has been left midway. Informed sources said road projects under the elevated road could not be completed due to official rigmarole. Project cost shoots up The project, estimated at just Rs 178 crore, was conceptualised during the Congress government’s tenure in 2005. The project was meant to be completed within a span of two years, but the ministry got changed and the SAD-BJP alliance took over reins. The delay in the project has cost the government Rs 229 crore -- Rs 154 crore by the Punjab government and Rs 75 crore contributed by the Centre. RESIDENTS speak As the construction work of the ramps has been left midway, the ever increasing pile of dust and filth makes it difficult to open our shops. During the rainy season, the situation becomes more pathetic. It becomes difficult to reach our shops as multi layers of mud accumulates on the entire stretch. —JS Arora, a chemist on GT road Large pits, dug up at many places, can prove fatal for commuters. But the authorities have no time to think on the matter. — Rajwinder Singh, A trader The government completed this stretch just to facilitate its VVIP guests who visit the shrine. Otherwise, the government is least bothered about grievances of the common residents of the holy city. — Balbir Singh, a resident oFFICIAL speak Completion of remaining work of the elevated road project is now our top priority. —Dharampal Gupta, Commissioner, Amritsar Municipal Corporation
	Teachers’ strike hits studies at aided schools GS Paul Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 3 Studies were affected in 40 government-aided schools of the holy city as teachers today left for Jalandhar to take part in a statewide protest rally at Jalandhar. The Tribune team today took a round of aided schools only to find classrooms locked. Ironically, students in many schools were not even told of the teachers’ move yesterday, which is why many students came to schools only to find their classrooms locked. A group of students of Class XI of Pandit Baij Nath Senior Secondary School was a harried lot. Hailing from Beas, all of them were stuck up till 12 pm as they did not have a return train before noon. “We did not know that the school would be closed today,” students said preferring anonymity. The principal of DAV School and the president of the District Government-aided School Teachers Association, Sushil Kumar Luthra, said in the wake of the teachers’ protest, all aided schools of the holy city have been shut down for a day and students were informed well in advance. He said, “We realised that the studies would suffer but we were compelled to take this extreme step because the government paid no heed to our demands.” Students a harried lot Students in many schools were not even told of the teachers’ protest Many students turned up in schools only to find their classrooms locked Petrol dearer Hiked price Rs 76.54 Previous Rs 74.52 Difference Rs 2.02
	Good Duronto days yet to arrive Residents feel increasing frequency won’t help train gain popularity PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 3 Even as the Railways has decided to ply Amritsar-Chandigarh Duronto train on all seven days from tomorrow, residents feel that the move would not make the train any popular. They think that halting the train at other key stations in Punjab is what authorities should do to attain popularity. The 1,400 capacity train is already incurring huge losses due to low occupancy rate. On an average, about 250-300 passengers travel daily from Amritsar to Chandigarh on the train and from Chandigarh to Amritsar the figure is 150-200, informed authorities. The train, which was launched amid much fanfare on August 24, is fast loosing steam in view of low number of passengers. The railways is said to be losing about Rs 4 lakh daily. “The authorities should consider halting the train at key stations such as Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mohali etc. This would only enhance the number of passengers,” said Dr AL Adlakha, a noted doctor. “Though it’s good news that the train will run on all week days, the Railways should also consider halting the train at other major stations of the state,” said Amarjit Singh Asal, a communist leader. An official, on the condition of anonymity, said the name of the train should be changed and more stations should be added to the halt list. In loss mode The 1,400 capacity Duronto train (in picture) is incurring huge losses due to low occupancy rate
	in poor health Potbellied men in uniform run the show here PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 3 Unhealthy eating habits and unscheduled and long duty hours have been taking a toll on the health of police personnel in the holy city. Roughly 20 per cent of the policemen, including officials, are obese and quite a number of cops are suffering from hypertension, high blood pressure, Hepatitis B and C, diabetes and even deadly HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) etc. Depression is also telling upon their health. Importantly, the department has no particular data of total number of unfit policemen as majority of police personnel hardly turn up for regular checkups. Only a few policemen go to police hospital situated at police lines for mandatory annual medical checkup. In last three years, over 2,100 cops in total have come at the hospital for the annual checkup. In 2009, only 512 policemen came for medical examination while the number in 2010 was 1,129. This year, only 509 cops have come for the examination at the hospital. Medical examination of these cops revealed that out of 509 cops examined till now, 26 were suffering from hypertension and blood pressure while 17 of them were diabetic besides 3 were having hepatitis-B and 4 from hepatitis-C and one was ailing with HIV. Out of 1,129 policemen examined last year, six cops were suffering from HIV, 21 from hepatitis-B, 33 from hepatitis-C, 6 from diabetes, 42 from hypertension and one from cancer. In 2009, six were infected with HIV, 22 had hepatitis-B, 30 had hepatitis-C, 5 had diabetes, 21 had hypertension and one had cancer. Sparing a thought for these unfit policemen, former Police Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma had set up the state-of-art gym. However, the deserted gym speaks volumes about the deplorable interest of the cops. Only a few numbers of cops visit the gym. Majority of cops hardly get any time to go to the gym. "We have written to senior authorities to ask policemen to get their medical examination done on a regular basis. We are still waiting for response from the police department. Unfortunately, they hardly find any time for checkup because of their tight schedules and VIP duties," said Dr Shivinder Singh, in charge police hospital. "We hardly find any time for our family due to long duty hours," said a police official preferring anonymity. The Police Commissioner, RP Mittal, said, "I have to first go through the data available. This is serious matter. We would motivate jawans to take care of their health and we would organise yoga camps." oFFICIAL speak This is a serious matter. We will motivate jawans to take care of their health and organise yoga camps. —RP Mittal, police Commissioner
	Setting of garbage afire goes unabated Even public parks are not spared Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 3 While the Municipal Corporation (MC) has been spending crores of rupees to make the city garbage and pollution-free, still there are some Class IV employees, who pollute the environ and do not even hesitate to burn the garbage at public parks, where people seek come for getting fresh air. One such incident was spotted at a public park located in the vicinity of Medical Enclave. The refuse was set on fire at one corner of the park, which not only polluted the environment, but also posed danger to the children playing in the park. It has been noted that in the absence of any check on them, sweepers in various localities have found a quick solution to dispose of the garbage by setting it on fire without any guilt and fear. Municipal Commissioner Dharampal Gupta said a special drive would be conducted to check the menace and the guilty would be penalised.
	‘Research on turmeric for treatment of lung cancer at advanced stage’ Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 3 A high-level research is on in the USA on the use of turmeric for the treatment of lung cancer. This was stated by US first non-resident presidential management fellow (PMF) and molecular scientist Mantej Kaur Chhina. She was giving a power-point presentation before an assembly of research scholars and teachers at Guru Nanak Bhawan of Guru Nanak Dev University here. She elaborated about her own ongoing research on lung cancer patients and how curcumin, a chemical found in turmeric (haldi), is being researched to prepare medicines to treat cancer patients. A top administrator in the US Federal Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Mantej Chhina, said the research on curcumin’s properties to treat the lung cancer was in advanced stage and only a few final experiments were required to ascertain the chemical’s total strength to cure cancerous tissues. Amongst those who listened and praised her presentation were Vice Chancellor Dr Ajaib Singh Brar, Director, Research, Dr AK Thukral, and Ph.D scholars and students from various science departments of the university. Dr Chhina turned nostalgic and said after completing her secondary education from Khalsa College, she came to GND University for graduation and masters in human genetics and the time spent in the laboratories here were still fresh in her mind. She was later honoured by Dr Brar in the presence of her father Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina, honorary secretary, Khalsa College Governing Council.
	12,000 ESI beneficiaries receive smart cards Can get medical services throughout the country with it Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 3 Going online, the local branch of the ESI (Employees State Insurance) Corporation has issued 12,000 smart cards to its beneficiaries and the remaining work is expected to be completed by December 1. Talking to The Tribune about the project, ESI Corporation’s Branch Manager OP Sharma said, “More than 12,000 smart cards have already been issued to the beneficiaries. Around 6,000 more would be issued in the next few days.” He claimed that the office had already completed 55 per cent of the work on the project. The local branch had more than 32,000 beneficiaries attached to it and the beneficiaries could get their cards made during the working days, he said. Pacing towards successful implementation of the smart card scheme, the local ESI Branch Hospital at Majitha Road had already computerised all the Out Patient Departments (OPD) and other departments. Presently the hospital’s pharmacy was getting computerised and the work was expected to be completed in 10 days’ time, said ESI Medical Superintendent Dr EK Gabba. He added that the doctors and the other staff of the hospital had already been imparted training to use the system to the advantage of patients. He said the medical history of the card holders could be accessed anywhere in the country with the card. “The card would help the doctors access patients’ medical history online, which is of utmost importance in providing treatment,” said Gabba. “After the scheme is implemented, the reference slips required in case a patient is to be referred to some other hospital and leave certificates required in case the doctor prescribes a complete bed rest to the beneficiary will also be generated online,” he said. “An endeavour of the ESI Corporation, each registered beneficiary is entitled to get two smart cards - one for his or her personal use and the other for the family,” he said. “Sometimes the registered beneficiary is working in a city that is different from the city his family lives in,” said Gabba, adding that the two cards would help the beneficiary as well as the family in getting services at two different hospitals simultaneously. Both the cards would be valid throughout the country. The move was expected to make things simpler for the beneficiaries of ESI (Employees State Insurance) hospitals as they would be able to get the medical services throughout the country with the help of their computerised smart cards, irrespective of the ESI Branch Hospital they had been registered with, he said.
	Dal Khalsa seeks justice for ’84 riots’ victims Asks United Nations to intervene in the matter, stages protest Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 3 Seeking United Nations (UN) intervention, Dal Khalsa chief HS Dhami said all attempts to get justice within the legal framework of the Indian system for the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots had failed. He stated this while addressing protesters at a sit-in organised by his party’s youth wing, Sikh Youth of Punjab, to voice their anger against the mass killings of innocent Sikhs in Delhi and elsewhere in November, 1984. The gathering passed a resolution urging the UN to intervene as the Indian state “has failed to deliver justice even after 27 years of the tragic episode”. The organisers said the copy of the memo would be sent to Delhi and Geneva UN offices. Paying tributes to thousands of innocents that were killed in the capital of the country, the activists performed ardas at Akal Takht. Thereafter, they assembled at Hall Gate, where a two hour sit-in was organised. Dal Khalsa leader Kanwar Pal Singh took a dig at the Badal family for hurting the emotions of aggrieved families saying that “when Badals were supposed to organise public protests on the 27th anniversary of the tragedy, they were making merry with Bollywood stars at the inauguration of the Kabaddi World Cup at Bathinda”.
	From schools & colleges DAV Public School wins zonal youth festival Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 3 DAV Public School, Lawrence Road, bagged the overall trophy for the 10th consecutive year in the Mahatma Hansraj Aryan Zonal Youth Festival held from November 1 to 2 at DAV International School here. Principal of DAV Public School, Lawrence Road, Neera Sharma said students of the school participated in all the 20 events of the youth festival, in which eight schools from the Amritsar zone competed, and proved their mettle by winning 12 first, six second and two third prizes along with the overall trophy. The school campus reverberated with cheers of joy and glee as the students danced to the beat of dhol celebrating their win. The state-level youth festival would be held from November 11 to 12 at Police DAV Public School, PAP Campus, Jalandhar Cantonment. Chemistry Day celebrated Khalsa College celebrated Chemistry Day by holding day-long deliberations by experts on the latest research and trends in the subject. The students and teachers participated in discussions and competitions were held. Dr MS Hundal, Dean, College Development Council, Guru Nanak Dev University, who was the chief guest at the function, said the chemistry has significance in our day-to-day life as a fraction of change in molecules can lead to devastation and change the earth forever. “Chemistry needs to be popularised among younger generation,” he stressed. In poster-making competition, Ravinder and Pawandeep from BBK DAV College stood first, while Harmanpreet Singh and Simarpreet from Khalsa College stood second and third, respectively. In the power-point presentation, Ashima Mehra from DAV College stood first, while Shivani Arora and Amanpreet Kaur from Khalsa College stood second and third, respectively. In the quiz competition, Harpreet, Sapna and Jaskirat from Lyalpur Khalsa College stood first, Abhishek, Pooja and Manjit from DAV, second and Gagandeep, Diya and Manpreet from BBK DAV stood third. Meanwhile, Dr SS Tandon from Kent State University (USA) said global warming is a major challenge before the world today and efforts must be made to protect the ozone layer. Prof Manoj Kumar from the Department of Chemistry, GND University, narrated the history of chemistry. Principal of the college Dr Daljit Singh welcomed guest speakers.