The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Rs 5 form for Rs 50, courtesy touts Touts and agents continue to fleece applicants as RPO runs short of forms Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 13 Owing to unavailability of passport forms, applicants are forced to acquire them from touts and agents operating from the basement of a building next to the Regional Passport Office. The very office which has been asking people to stay away from touts is pushing them right into their arms. The same forms which are in short supply at the passport office are readily available with the agents. Buying a form from an agent comes with a rider though. One has to get the form filled from the same agent as well. They fleece the applicants as a form which costs Rs 5 comes for Rs 50 when you buy it from the agents. Avneet Singh, from Tarn Taran who had come to get Form 2 required to fill an application for Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) said, "The forms are not available with the office. People are forced to buy and get these filled from the agents." He said the person designated by the office did not have the forms. Avneet Singh said agents charge Rs 50 instead of Rs 5 for the forms. Gurpreet Singh, another visitor said, "If someone wants to fill the form on his own, he would not have got it." He said if the Regional Passport Office is serious to shoo away agents it should not help them indirectly. Another visitor, Harpreet Kaur, who came to get the Form 2 for her parents said, "The employees at office seem hand-in-glove with the agents. Otherwise making these forms available to public is not an uphill task." She added that office is pathetic to the needs of the applicants. Regional Passport Officer, JS Sodhi said, "In case the forms are not available at the counter, the people should file an online application instead of going to the agents. Our motto is to be more and more 'applicant friendly'." He said that unavailability of forms is a serious matter and will be probed.
	PTU tech brigade logs in to help fill online passport forms RPO to hire varsity’s computer course students GS Paul Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 13 Fresh faces from Punjab Technical University will soon replace agents at the Regional Passport Office (RPO). For those facing trouble filling online application forms, these tech savvy students will step in to help. The move to set up an in-house exclusive cell for the submission of forms comes in recognition of the fact many applicants need help in filling up of online application forms. The passport office authorities have proposed to tie-up with the Punjab Technical University (PTU), Jalandhar. Regional Passport Officer, JS Sodhi, the man behind the move, said filling the application form requires skill and the computer- savvy students of the Punjab Technical University will assist the applicants. “A number of complaints have been received by the department that people generally fall victim to passport agents in the absence of having computer knowledge required to fill the form online. They end up paying anything between Rs 800 and 1,000. That's why, to provide them relief, it has been decided to establish an online application wing in the passport office itself," he said. "We are executing this arrangement soon where in the Punjab Technical University students will assist the applicants. They will charge Rs 100 each from the applicants which they get to keep. In a way, they will also earn a handsome pocket money. We have devised a roster pattern of three batches with five students each,” he added.
	Move to authorise 350 colonies brings cheer to residents Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 13 The news of the state government regularising illegal colonies across the state has come as a welcome respite for residents of nearly 350 illegal colonies in city. Some residents and colonisers, however, feel that the step may prove to be a setback for the planned development of the city. The Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) has identified over 400 illegal colonies in the city and a majority of them fall within the municipal limits. Over the years unauthorised colonies have mushroomed in the city. Government agencies, including the Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) and PUDA have failed to set up adequate number of approved colonies to cater to the needs of urbanisation and increasing population. Caring two hoots about the established rules and regulations, the cabinet passed the rules before the next Assembly elections. Apparently, the decision was a populist move for votes. On the other hand, it undermined many previous legislations of the same government. The SAD-BJP coalition government had formed the Amritsar Development Authority (ADA) and framed laws for a planned growth of the city under the master plan. However, advantages of the move were frittered away with the regularisation of illegal colonies, said Krishan Sharma, President, Amritsar Builders and Colonisers Association (ABCA). According to the new policy, the Amritsar Municipal Corporation (AMC) will identify and demarcate unauthorised colonies being developed along the existing developed areas. The identification will also ensure that no unauthorised colonies come up in the future. The municipal bodies will approve the building plans in the demarcated areas after charging development fee from colonisers. Sharma said the move will set a wrong precedent for the developers and residents. He said many developers will sell the plots to gullible customers on the premise that the area will be regularised with the passage of time. He said these illegal colonies upset the topography of the city. He said authorised developers are required to leave nearly 50 to 60 per cent of the area open which includes, 30 per cent for roads, five per cent for greenery, schools, water tanks etc. He said this leaves only 50 per cent land for sale. On the other hand, unauthorised developers do not pay any charges and sell the entire portion of the land without fulfilling the norms and bear no expenses. A real estate agent Harpinder Singh Walia said instead of regularising these colonies, the government should have fined these colonisers.
	Banks fail to install CCTV cameras PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 13 CCTV cameras are yet to be installed at several branches and ATMs of the Punjab and Sind Bank and Amritsar Central Cooperative Bank despite repeated instructions of the police. This came to light during the quarterly district-level security committee meeting held at the Police Line, which was presided over by Sat Pal Joshi, Deputy Commissioner of Police. The police department has made it mandatory for all the banks to install CCTV cameras at their branches and ATMs to avoid any untoward incident as well as help cops in the investigations in case of any mishap such as lootings and robberies that occur in the bank premises. During the meeting it came to light that 30 branches/ATMs of Punjab and Sind Bank besides 16 branches/ATMs of Amritsar Central Cooperative Bank are yet to install the cameras. The bank authorities have assured the committee to install the same by the end of this financial year. A number of incidents have occurred earlier this year in which a number of vehicles carrying cash to the banks were looted by armed robbers close to a bank or ATM. In one such incident, a guard lost his life due to gun shots. Following the spurt in such incidents, the city police have directed all the banks and its branches to install CCTV cameras outside and inside their premises to identify the criminals involved in incident. Officials of various banks present in the meeting took up the issue of renewal of licenses of the arms which they said have been pending for a long time. Joshi assured them to get it done as soon as possible while asking the banks to approach him tomorrow in this connection.
	Surrender arms before elections, cops tell residents Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 13 Following the instructions issued by the Election Commission of India in view of the forthcoming Assembly elections in the state, the police has directed all the arms licence holders to deposit their weapons with their respective police stations. “The firearms holders have to surrender their firearms at their nearest police stations where they will be given a receipt and once the elections are over, they can take their weapons back by showing the same,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police, Sat Pal Joshi. He said the instructions were issued by the Election Commission during a recent meeting held at Chandigarh. He said failure to do so before elections will invite action. He said private gun shop owners and dealers have also been asked to cooperate in this direction and furnish details of the licence holders. On why the instructions have been issued so early before announcement of election dates, he said the Election Commission has started the process early to prevent any untoward incident during elections process, said DCP. There are over 22,000 arms licence holders in both urban and rural areas of the district. Till now only 500-700 firearms have been deposited with the various police stations in the city area, the DCP said.
	holy Divine morning walks for tourists from today Punjab Heritage and Tourism Development Board to launch ‘Panj Sarovar Walk’ Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 13 Tourists will soon be able to begin their day in the holy city with spirit rejuvenating ‘Panj Sarovar Walk’. The Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board (PHTPB) will launch the guided tour tomorrow morning. State Tourism and Cultural Affairs minister Hira Singh Gabria will inaugurate the walk at 8:30 am at Town Hall tomorrow. The Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board already runs a two-hour walk, which showcases 14 heritage buildings. Both walks share the same starting and end points. Both will begin everyday from the Town Hall and culminate at the Golden Temple. Another walk to tour all the sarovars (holy ponds) in the city will begin in December. A train connecting all the five Takhts will also be started in December. The Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board has hired two more guides Gurinder Singh Johal and Amritpal Singh to operate the walk. Tourists will first visit Gurdwara Santokhsar followed by Gurdwara Ramsar, Bibeksar, Kaulsar and the walk will culminate at the Golden Temple. Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board project manager, Simran Sekhon, said all arrangements have been completed to launch the walk. She anticipated that the walk will be of great help for Sikh pilgrims and tourists visiting the city from across the country as well as various parts of the world and know the glorious past of the sarovars. Now, the tourists will also have the choice to take part in the walks of their choice. The walk will make the district administration and the Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board to provide clean approach roads.
	Studies hit again in colleges Teachers of govt-aided colleges observe 3-day bandh Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 13 Studies again took a back seat as government-aided colleges went for a 72-hour bandh from today on the call of the Joint Action Committee (JAC). As part of the agitation, members of the JAC held a candlelight vigil today which started from Hall Gate and terminated at Jallianwala Bagh. Addressing a rally at DAV College, PCCTU General Secretary Prof HS Walia said they had been forced to intensify the agitation due to the apathy of the state government. He said the colleges would remain closed till December 15 and during these days teaching and non-teaching employees would observe strike. He said, “‘Rasta Roko’ programme would be held in all the districts of the state and at Chandigarh on December 15. Walia said demands of the Joint Action Committee, include implementation of pension and gratuity scheme, lifting of ban on recruitments imposed in 2005, implementation of revised pay scales of non-teaching employees from January 1, 2006, release of arrears due on account of revision of pay scales with effect from January 1, 2006, provision of security of service for teachers working against unaided posts, relaxation from refresher courses as the UGC guidelines. A protest march would be organised from Gate Khazana to the residence of MLA Inderbir Singh Bularia to submit a memorandum of demands.
	GND University team invents new drug for cancer GS Paul Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 13 In a significant development, the team of Guru Nanak Dev University has invented an economical and effective medicine for cancer patients. The research group of Prof Palwinder Singh including Kamaldeep Paul, Anu, Atul, Jatinder Kaur, Matinder Kaur, Puja Verma, Shaveta (all PhD students) and Sukhmeet Kaur, Amandeep Kaur, Rajni (MSc students) in the Department of Chemistry, took the challenge of developing highly-effective, safe and economical anti-cancer drugs. Elated Prof Palwinder Singh said with a worldwide figure of 10 million deaths annually and ‘expensive but not sure’ treatment of cancer put the challenge before the scientific community for developing new treatments of this disease. “It took us seven years to finally reach some conclusion. We evolved design and synthesis of new molecules and their screening for anti-cancer activities at National Cancer Institute, Bathesda, USA. We have been successful in identifying a compound which has been passed through various preliminary anti-cancer tests. At present our research is ready for clinical trials,” he said. If everything goes well, this new anticancer drug will be much cheaper and more effective as compare to the presently clinically available anticancer drugs. “To prolong a cancer patient’s life span for, say a month, it required atleast US $5000 and the some of the available drugs like Mitoxantrone or 5-flurouracin cost very exorbitantly. According to our estimate, this new drug will cost only Rs. 10 for a 200 mg dose”, he viewed. Drug resistance is a major hurdle in the successful chemotherapy of various diseases especially cancer and microbial ones, research group of Prof. Singh in collaboration with Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi has created new modulators which increase the concentration of antimicrobial drugs inside the cells. Awarded Best teacher by Chemical Research Society of India, Bangalore in 2011 and with more than 50 research publications in high impact factor journals, Prof. Singh has generated about Rs. 1 crore of funds in the last 10 years from various funding agencies like DST, CSIR, UGC and is also collaborating with Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow and Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. Gurgaon for creating anti-malarial, anti-tuberculosis and anticoagulant drugs. GNDU V-C AS Brar told that with the research infrastructure created in the university, the faculty is engaged in high quality and path breaking research activities. “It is for the first time that we got success at almost final stages. We hope that this drug would be available in the market in two years ”, he said.
	Award for professor Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 13 Rotary Club Amritsar Civil Lines felicitated Global Institute of Management’s Dean Academics, Prof BD Sharma, at its annual function. He was presented Appreciation Certification of Vocational Excellence Award for the year 2011-12. The award was given to Prof Sharma for his dedicated and exemplary contribution towards service to the highest traditions of the Rotary Motto ‘Service Above Self’ in the field of education. Prof Sharma taught commerce for 37 years and for the last four years, he is serving as a Dean Academics in Global Institute of Management, where MBA course is being run under his guidance. Commissioner of Police Amritsar, Sh. R P Mittal IPS gave away the award to Prof Sharma for his outstanding contribution in the field of education.
	Smuggling in the garb of religious activities P K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 13 Charan Nath alias Charna, who was arrested by the police with 1.50 kg of smack worth Rs 8 lakh, has been running his illegal trade in the garb of religious activities in the Anngarh area. Though he has only a few numbers of followers in the dera, he has been carrying out his nefarious activities in Anngarh, which is synonymous with drug peddling and bootlegging, for a long time now. During investigations, the Gate Hakima identified his remaining accomplices who had escaped from the spot during the checking. They were identified as his son Kirpal Singh, alias Ghuggi, Lala, Jas and Briti, all residents of Anngarh area. It is pertinent to mention here that the city police had red-handedly arrested Charan Nath with 1.5 kg of smack during patrolling on the link road between Ibban Kalan and Anngarh villages, when they saw five persons with small bags in their hands. On seeing the cops they ran in different directions. However, they had managed to arrest Charan Nath on December 11. ACP central, Naveen Singla said the seizures were made during special drive against the drug peddlers active in the area. He said that it would continue in future to eradicate the menace from the notorious area. He said man hunt has been launched to arrest the remaining accused who were at large since the incident. He said more recoveries are likely to be made during the probe. According to police sources, a number of residents in the area including women and teenagers are involved in drug peddling and bootlegging. In year 2007 the police have nabbed one Jaswant Kaur alias Aunti a notorious peddler active in Anngarh for past over a decade while the police also had launched manhunt to catch her accomplice Sukhwinder Kaur Sukhi, another notorious drug supplier infamous as lady don in the region. She was later nabbed by Amritsar rural police in the same year. Her husband Tarlochan Singh was lodged in Kapurthala Central Jail on similar charges. Her family, including her sons, sisters, sisters-in-law and son-in-law were also involved in the illegal trade.