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Posters galore as polls near
Tantrik arrested for raping
married woman
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2 held for forgery
Amritsar, December 22 Following a tip-off, the city police have arrested two persons who used to forge documents for securing bail for accused persons facing various criminal charges.
Finally, road in Sarai Sant Ram carpeted
(Left) A view of a demolished arch at Serai Sant Ram; and (right) the road laid inside the serai in Amritsar. Photo: Vishal Kumar
Road opens after 25 years
Teaching students through radio
Chief Khalsa Diwan Youth Festival starts
Tourism board seeks NOC from BSF
CPEPA status awarded to GND University
GND varsity teachers stage dharna
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Posters galore as polls near
Amritsar, December 22 Interestingly, the violators have not even spared the historic Town Hall, which houses the Municipal Corporation office. It clearly shows the indifferent attitude of the MC authorities towards acting tough against the violators. The violators have pasted posters on the entry points of the Town Hall, besides painting posters of their political leaders on the wall. Leaders of various political parties have dotted the city with their posters pasted on every nook and corner seeking votes for their parties. They have pasted posters on the corners of the dividers of all chowks diverting the attention of the drivers and clearly violating the Prevention of Defacement of Punjab Property Act-1997 and orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The roundabouts at Lawrence Road Chowk, Crystal Chowk and Putlighar Chowk, inter-state bus terminus, Company Bagh, MM Malvia Road, Hathi Gate, pillars of Elevated Road, etc, all are have posters painted on them. Not lagging behind, the owners of various cinema halls have also pasted posters of films at every possible place. The violators have even not spared the historic and government buildings. The Hall Gate and Irrigation and Canal Office are clear examples of this, while not a single wall or divider has been spared. In 2009, the district administration started a campaign to stem this problem and issued show-cause notices to the
defaulters and companies, which resulted in the considerable decline in the trend. They removed their banners, buntings and posters from the city. However, after a few months, they again started pasting posters on public property without any fear. The situation turns ugly prior to the elections when the politicians try to grab the attention of their senior leaders. “The civic and district administration is doing nothing, but being a mute spectator to all the violations in the city. Don’t they know about these violations? If not then they should make a round of the city,” said Brij
Bedi, a social activist who is pioneer in the campaign against hoardings, graffiti, banners etc that dots the city. Launching a scathing attack on the politicians, he said the so-called representatives of the people hardly care about the city and its residents. He has a solution to the problem. He pointed out that the district administration should set up a monitoring cell with the powers of taking action against the defaulters, besides appointing observers from various NGOs, who informs about the violations to the officials. What the Act says
As per provisions of the Prevention of Defacement of Punjab Property Act-1997, any person, who defaces any property in public view by writing or marking with ink, chalk, paint or any other material or by erecting stuffs, banners or by pasting notices and writing slogans without the written permission of the owner of the property shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may be extended to Rs 1,000 or with both.
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Tantrik arrested for raping
married woman
Amritsar, December 22 According to the victim, a resident of Verka, the incident took place when they were returning from Bluggan village after holding a langar. The mother of the victim stated that her daughter was not keeping well. She had visited many doctors and got the treatment, however, her conditions did not improve. The family later came to know about the tantrik, Balwinder Singh, alias Baba Binda, also resident of Verka, claiming to treat such cases. The mother of the victim alleged that the tantrik promised them that her daughter would regain her health. After performing some puja, he asked the family members to organise a langar at Bluggan village, near Rajasansi. She said on December 18 they organised a langar at the village and while returning, her daughter sat on the motorcycle of the tantrik as there was no space in the auto-rickshaw, which the family boarded. The victim alleged that when they reached near Escort Hospital, the tantrik took her to a secluded place near Abadi Dhupsari located at the back of the hospital. Taking the advantage of darkness at the place the tantrik raped her and threatened her with dire consequences if she disclosed about the incident to anybody. Later, the tantrik dropped her at Verka bus stand near Debi Book Shop. She narrated the whole incident to the family members, who took her to the police station and lodged a complaint.
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2 held for forgery
Amritsar, December 22 One of their accomplices, however, managed to escape. Those arrested were identified as Jagir Singh, resident of Sanjay Gandhi Colony, Jalandhar, and Balbir Singh of Randhawa Masodan, Jalandhar. Their accomplice, who mange to escape, was identified as Paramjit Singh of Dhilwan, Kapurthala. A case under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC has been registered against them at the Civil Lines police station. The police said it received a tip-off that the trio had formed a gang, which forged documents for securing bail for accused persons facing trials in various criminal cases in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate.
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Finally, road in Sarai Sant Ram carpeted
Amritsar, December 22 The deplorable condition of the kutcha road and Sarai Sant Ram, which dates back to pre-Independence era, were highlighted in these columns on November 25. The MC Commissioner, Dharam Pal Gupta, had assured of carrying out a survey and laying the road. Within a month of publishing of the report, the road was carpeted. A senior citizen, Naresh Johar, said owing to having an exterior of an old haveli majority of the residents were not aware of the existence of the road there. The authorities must install a signboard for the guidance of the public. Besides, at times the road could be used to lessen traffic outside the Hall Gate and the Bhandari Bridge. He said keeping a high number of repair shops of heavy vehicles on the Truckwali road made it unpopular among commuters. He opined that these shops must be shifted out of the city for the optimal use of the roads. Harish Chander Sharma, teacher of history at Guru Nanak Dev University, said the laying of concrete road was a laudable move, but effort must be made to repair and maintain the lost piece of history. Several bus workshops, garages, automobile spare part workshops and a temple are located in the sarai. A cooperative union has also been functioning here since 1944. He said the inn was in an extremely bad condition and was a symbol of callous and indifferent approach of the government and the departments concerned. Owing to having great heritage value, it needed immediate repair.
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Road opens after 25 years
Amritsar, December 22 A foundation stone of the work was laid down today by MP Navjot Singh Sidhu. Residents revealed that the road was blocked by the Army during the days of terrorism in the state, citing security reasons. The Army had used barbed wires on both sides of the road to block the entry. Later, though the barbed wires were removed, but heaps of garbage piled on over the years kept the road blocked. As yet even though the road is unpaved, but the general public has started using it. The road from Naiawala Mor to Gobindgarh Fort runs along the Army cantonment. Residents said the opening of road would ease traffic congestions in the Pultighar and Hathi gate areas. In the absence of the road, the commuters had to cover a long distance to reach the areas like Rani Ka Bagh. “Now instead of facing traffic congestion in the Islamabad area before entering Putlighar, the vehicles can use the road to B Block from where they can use the flyover to reach the GT Road,” said Naval Kumar. He added that traffic jams would be reduced to a great extent because of the opening of the link road. Addressing a gathering of residents and party workers, Sidhu said a long-pending demand of the public had been fulfilled. He added that the Improvement Trust was funding the construction of the road.
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Teaching students through radio
Amritsar, December 22 A Class V student of a government elementary school, she credits this to the education imparted on radio. Thousands of students of over 150 government elementary schools are being imparted their syllabi education through radio broadcast under the Pado Punjab Project. The majority of these students come from the lower and middle income groups. For a long time, parents of these students have been demanding quality education at par with public schools. Students wait for this daily 20-minute period, which lasts from 2.10 pm to 2.30 pm, impatiently. Harpreet says it both entertains and educates them. She loves presentation of rhymes, whose colourful pictures she finds in her textbooks. The programmes in city schools are being broadcast by the All-India Radio, Jalandhar. These programmes present teaching of their syllabi, including subjects of social science, history, environment and science. They are presented in Punjabi in such a way that these are easily understood by the students. Most of these are offered in a skit form. A Class IV student, Ashima, liked the presentation of chapters of geography and history. She said after listening to the chapter she just needed to go through that very lesson in her textbook to memorise it. The medium of learning proved quite useful in educating children in these schools. District Coordinator of the Pado Punjab Project Pankaj Sharma said the state government has provided a radio set in each elementary school to conduct the classes. He said teachers of various schools of the state prepared the script of these programmes and after being directed by famous Punjabi playwright Sahib Singh, they were broadcast on the AIR, Jalandhar.
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Chief Khalsa Diwan Youth Festival starts
Amritsar, December 22 About 1,000 students from as many as 35 Harkrishan Public Schools spread across Ludhiana, Hoshairpur, Anandpur Sahib and Chandigarh participated in 20 different activities, including literary, fine arts, music, dance and theatre. The opening ceremony was addressed by MLA and parliamentary secretary Inderbir Singh Bolaria. Addressing teachers, students and their parents he said the CKD Society was playing vital role in preparing brilliant youth for future. Stage artists Jatinder Kaur, Kewal Dhaliwal, Paramjit Singh, Renu Singh, Narinder Sanghi, Pawandeep, Navtej Singh Sandhu and Ved Prakash were felicitated on the occasion. The Guru Nanak Dev University Director (Sports), Dr Kanwaljit Singh, and Chief Khalsa Diwan Charitable Society president Charanjit Singh Chadha were the guests of honour.
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Tourism board seeks NOC from BSF
Amritsar, December 22 At present, the JCP has only two galleries with a combined strength of not more than 6,500, whereas the daily flow of tourists was about 15,000. Evidently, tourists have to undergo difficulties and majority of them could be seen standing on the middle of the road during the Retreat ceremony. The popularity of the Retreat ceremony has been drawing tourists not only from across the country, but also from around the world. District Tourism Officer Balraj Singh said BSF officials confided that the number of tourists even rose to around 20,000 on weekends. He said the Tourism Department desired to set up U-shaped galleries for a better view of the spectators. He said keeping in view the future needs of the tourists, their capacity would be raised to 40,000. Similarly, supporting basic amenities like toilets and water coolers would be installed for the convenience of the visitors. The building of the state government’s Aman Umeed Bhawan near the JCP, serving as an eating joint for the tourists, would be shortly demolished. Its vacant land would be handed over to the Union Government to be used in the undergoing construction of the Integrated Check Post (ICP). Following an understanding between the state and Union Government, the latter would give about Rs 11 crore to the former in this regard, he added. Subsequently, the restaurant would be shifted to a complex to be raised by the state government on 12.5 acres land near the JCP. The complex would have multi-storeyed parking complex in 7 acres, a children park apart from a restaurant.
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CPEPA status awarded to GND University
Amritsar, December 22 Vice-Chancellor Dr AS Brar said the centre would enable the faculty and students to carry out epidemiological studies, environment, cancer and genetics of these diseases. He informed that the university would acquire vital equipment for this centre like microarray system, ICP-MS, cytogenetic work station, RT-PCR Chemiluminescence analyser, electrocardiograph and others.
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GND varsity teachers stage dharna
Amritsar, December 22 The executive called a general body meeting on January 11 to finalise the future course of action. They also met various syndicate members, who held a meeting here today, and presented their case. The executive body, GNDUTA, President Prof Balwinder Singh alleged that the agreement arrived on October 19 between the GNDUTA and university authorities was far from being implemented in letter or spirit. As promised in the agreement, the matter of anomaly in the date of promotion of a teacher was not referred to in the syndicate meeting. Dr AS Brar said majority of the promises mentioned in the agreement were fulfilled and on the remaining issues the executive needed to hold a meeting. He said headship rotation of Dr Balwinder Singh of Commerce and Business Management was restored, syndicate was re-considering the termination of Prof GS Bhalla, modality committee has been constituted, and legal opinion from constitutional experts had been taken with regard to date of eligibility of promoted teachers. He added that the varsity had already sent the pay scale matter to the state government. Besides, teachers of the Mukandpur University College had been made members of the GNDUTA. Balwinder Singh said as promised in the agreement promotion procedure of the teachers under the AICTE rules has not been initiated till date. The salary of the teachers promoted under the AICTE rules has not been paid yet. He said, on the contrary the teachers were asked to apply for their promotions till December 31, 2011, while no committee was constituted, as mutually agreed upon.
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Amritsar, December 22
Amritsar, December 22
