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House gutted in fire
Civil Hospital’s location unhealthy for patients
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‘Kar sewa’ issue of Ram Tirath Temple resolved
Amritsar, February 5 The “kar sewa” of the ancient Ram Tirath Temple will be carried out under the supervision of the two groups who were at loggerheads over the issue. While one group is headed by former Deputy Mayor Om Parkash Gabbar of the Maharishi Valmiki Dhuna Sahib Trust, the other one is led by Fakir Chand Sahota of the Central Valmiki Sabha International (UK).
City’s dyeing textile industry gradually losing colour
City where old and
new blend
Chaali Khuh garden in shambles
Consumer forum to meet DC
Warning issued to health staff
Insecure residents want respite from rising crime
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House gutted in fire
Amritsar, February 5 The ground floor was completely damaged in the fire, while the upper floor also suffered extensive damage. Household goods worth lakhs of rupees were gutted, claimed Gaurav
Talwar, an owner of the house. It took about half an hour for two fire tenders to extinguish the fire, said Tarlochan Singh, Fire Officer. Earlier, the narrow lanes caused difficulty for the fire tenders to reach the house, he said. As per the details, the fire broke out at about 11.15 am. The family first spotted the smoke coming out of the kitchen. The fire spread in the ground floor of the house within no time. The family members escaped from the roof. The residents of the area immediately rushed towards the house and tried to douse the fire by throwing water with buckets. Gaurav, who runs a cloth business along with his brother, revealed that as soon as they saw heavy smoke coming out of the building, they immediately informed the fire brigade, which reached within 20 minutes. However, by that time the fire had spread in the ground floor. He said the drawing room, having a temple and electronic gadgets such as television, DVD player and other expensive items, was completely gutted in the fire. He said the family was yet to count the loss due to the fire that seemed to broke out due to a short circuit.
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Civil Hospital’s location unhealthy for patients
Amritsar, February 5 The loud noise caused by the trains and vehicles disturbs the patients and their attendants and prevent them from having a peaceful sleep. The outer wall of the JBM hospital is just a few metres away from the railway track and the Amritsar-Jalandhar national highway. Jatinder Singh, attendant of a patient, said, “During nights when patients are sleeping, the noises of trains and vehicles disturb them a lot. They cannot sleep peacefully because of these sounds. Even as patients need a quiet environment to recover from their Satinderjit Singh, another attendant, said, “It was wrong to construct a hospital in this high-noise zone where on one side is the railway track and on other a national highway. We have been staying here for three days and we have almost sleepless nights.” Patients said even as they were not much bothered by the sound during the day because of the hustle and bustle in the corridors, during nights they get impatient on hearing to such noises. A patient said, “Those with heart problems and trauma injuries are the most vulnerable. Patients often get irritated because of these noises. But nobody can do anything now.” He said the sound pollution around the hospital is quite high. He said, “When the sound of a train wakes them up during the night, they try to sleep again, but again awakened by
another one.”
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‘Kar sewa’ issue of Ram Tirath Temple resolved
Amritsar, February 5 The dispute arose when the Valmiki sabha started construction of a room for carrying out the “kar sewa” of the “sarovar” of the temple, which was opposed by Dhuna trust members. This led to tension in the temple, located about 15 km from here. The district administration had to mediate in the matter and resolve the issue by pacifying the agitators. A meeting was held between Deputy Commissioner Rajat Agarwal and the two warring groups at the DC office in which it was decided to continue the “kar sewa” with the formation of a committee, which would include members of both the groups. While Gabbar was installed as the Chairman of the committee, Sahota was nominated as its president. Retired Divisional Commissioner Swarn Singh was appointed as cashier of the committee. It was decided that a new map would be formed after merging the two maps. The “kar sewa” of the temple would be carried out under the supervision of Rishi Ratnagiri, Sant Malkiat Nath, Sant Sewak Nath, Sant Pargat Nath and Sant Atma Nath.
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City’s dyeing textile industry gradually losing colour
Amritsar, February 5 Natraj Wooltex Limited Director Kamal Dalmia said encouraged by conducive environment and policies of the governments of Rajasthan and Gujarat many such units of mega capacity were opened in Surat and Bhilwara. He, however, made it clear that a limited number of local industrialists migrated to Surat and Bhilwara, while a majority of them switched over to other vocations. Majority of these units were located on the Batala and Majitha roads. Though the units began to be installed after the 1950s, but the golden period of textile processing industry was between 1970 and 1990, he said. He said the industry developed on these roads following “exodus” of industry from Chheharta, a flourishing industrial area, that faced huge labour problems. A strong hold of communists saw the closure of industrial units at Chheharta. General secretary of the Textile Manufacturers’ Association Hardit Singh Makhni recalled that once Amritsar was known as the “Manchester of India”. He said a number of big units were running from Chheharta to Khasa. However, at present only one noticeable company, OCM, was left operating there. There had been no reprieve from the government, contended Makhini. The failure of the government to honour its subsidy conditions, too, played a spoilsport. He held imposition of taxes, including entry, excise and terminal, on raw materials as the other reason of the decline of the industry. The different excise tax slabs for “composite” and “independent” units, too, led to the downfall, as the overhead costs climbed. The non-disbursal of timely subsidy deteriorated fiscal condition of many companies, which ended in their bankruptcy. Almost all industrial players were unanimous in their saying that the opening of the Indian economy in the early 1990’s and consequent arrival of similar materials from different parts of the globe, especially textile goods from China and Korea, proved a proverbial last nail in the coffin. Mentally and technically unprepared industrialists employing archaic technology could not stand before the cheaper and high quality-material being supplied by their counterparts from these countries. Tirlok Khanna, whose family processing unit has been in operation since 1939 on the Batala road, said he had seen the entire gamut of industrialisation of the area - its failures and its resurgence. He said fabric manufactured and dyed here was used for preparing some of the finest suiting, shirting, woollen fabrics, blankets, shawls, stoles, as well as curtains and lace. He recalled that 90 per cent of the large textile processing units were installed here during the textile boom of the 1960-70s. At present many processing units have been turned into residential colonies after dismantling them. A leading textile industrialist, PL Seth, said it was strange that no government ever bothered to institute an inquiry to unearth the reasons which led to the fall of once thriving industry here. A highly labour-intensive textile-processing industry used to give employment to thousands of men and women. An optimistic Seth said the holy city had a bright future as it had strategic locational advantage over other cities of the state. It is internationally connected in form of having Sri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport and dry port at the Attari-Wagah joint check post.
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City where old and
new blend
Amritsar, February 5 If one has to experience the old Amritsar they can walk the narrow bylanes and winding alleys of the city that tell many a tales. Old Amritsar is reflected through gurudwaras and temples. Art and architecture, museums and memorials, fairs and festivals also give glimpse of old Amritsar. Along with this Amritsar there also lives Amritsar of this modern time. The fast developing areas in and around the city, in form of extended townships, villas and real estate, have added glamour to it. “The walled city reminds you of a great heritage while the new developments give a touch of modernity,” said Rawal Singh, assistant professor, Department of Architecture, Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU). Speaking about the gradual change in the city over the years, he said, “The city has developed differently with given timelines, changing its character and patterns. One can find the traces of the Guru Period or British period inside the walled city while the modern housing has come up in its peripheries.” Highlighting and categorising the city’s development over different periods, Professor Sarbjot Singh Behl, from Department of Architecture, GNDU, said, “The city had a unidirectional developmental pattern since Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s period that was disrupted during the British era. The British isolated the native development from the new world development. The walled city followed the native pattern and all the latest development happened outside it. Years after, the same politics of development is being followed that has clearly divided the city into two extremes-the North and the South.” This justifies why the latest developments are heavily concentrated in the peripheries. The north see luxury living with ‘elite’ colonies of Green Avenue, Basant Avenue, White Avenue, Civil Lines area and the peripheries promise a good life with proposed golf townships, villas and smooth streets. The southern areas and walled city clings to its heritage. “There are at least 1,300 buildings inside the walled city with traces of Guru Period, with Nanakshahi brick structures and paintings and carvings based on Lahore and Kangra School of Art. Katra Baghian, Sher Singh and many areas have fresco paintings. The narrow bylanes inside the walled city reminds of the old world architecture when the width of the roads was lesser than the height of buildings to keep them heat free and ventilated. There is Lord Krishna temple inside the walled city with 200 year old wall paintings,” said Rawal Singh. “It is a case of contrasts where one has to drive on a high-rise flyover to reach more than five decades old Bhandari Bridge which has been the arterial junction of the city,” said Professor Behl. Though the citizens have welcomed these infrastructural developments, conservationists believe that the city is losing out on its heritage. “New developments need not come at the price of our heritage. As a tourism hub, Amritsar is insensitive towards its past. Conserving the old stuctures through various alternative methods can ensure co-existance of two worlds for more years to come,” said Rawal Singh.
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Chaali Khuh garden in shambles
Amritsar, February 5
During British era, these wells used to meet the water requirement of the city and were operational for almost 70 years. Later, these were disbanded due to advent of modern system of water supply. In 1980, the authorities opened the place as a tourist spot. The garden was conceptualised on the pattern of Rose Garden of Chandigarh, however, owing to the apathy of the authorities, this garden now caters more to the drug addicts than nature lovers. Even the iron grills surrounding the park have been stolen by petty thieves and now stray animals use the opening to enter the garden. Grass and wild plant has taken the place of ornamental trees and shrubs in the garden. Without care, this place has turned into a breeding ground for mosquitoes, flies and other disease spreading insects. The dilapidated toilets, out of order electricity poles, broken swings and joyrides dishearten residents. Karamjit Singh, a resident of Sunder Nagar, who used to visit the park, said this place used to be like heaven and could be developed as the most sought after tourist spot owing to its historic significance. "We have stopped going there for obvious reasons. I am staying here for the past four decades. This was the only place where we could spend our evenings with families or could stroll in the morning. But today, this heritage park has lost its charm." "The garden has 40 wells that were built during the British era. The administration could have preserved this heritage to gain tourists interests," he added. Surjit Kaur, resident of Golden Avenue, said, "After sunset, this place becomes the most preferred place for dodgy people. They probably have damaged the electricity poles and lights here too. Despite knowing these, the police did not come to help us. We have approached the administration time and again requesting them to take stock of the situation, but all in vain."
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Consumer forum to meet DC
Amritsar, February 5 Forum’s Director Dev Raj Sharma said, “Most of the LPG dealers do not book the cylinders before 21 day time period. However, none of the gas company has any such instructions,” said Sharma. He said few of the agencies provide cylinders after four or five days of booking others take 10 to 15 days. The forum would soon take up the matter with the DC. He said the matter was earlier taken up with the District Food and Civil Supplies.
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Warning issued to health staff
Amritsar, February 5 During the inspection, Civil Surgeon Dr Manjit Singh Randhawa expressed dissatisfaction at the state of affairs of the operation theatre. He also showed dissatisfaction over the implementation of various health schemes sponsored by the union and state governments. He said various required equipment were found missing at the operation theatre of the centre.
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Insecure residents want respite from rising crime
Amritsar, February 5 Although the police have arrested some snatchers, yet the crime rate is not decreasing. We spoke to a number of residents to know their view on the present law and order situation in the city.
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A two-storeyed house located in the Gopal Nagar area was gutted in a fire that broke out this morning.
While the family managed to escape from the roof of the house, two pet dogs were burnt alive in the incident.
The location of the Jallianwala Bagh Memorial (JBM) Civil Hospital is not suitable for the patients and their attendants staying during the
nights.
Amritsar, February 5
The snatching incidents have made our life hell. Everyday a couple of incidents are reported in the city.
I believe there is laxity on part of the police in curbing snatchings. First, they are short of staff and secondly they mostly remain on VIP duties due to which they hardly get time for effective patrolling in vulnerable areas.
Law and order situation in city is very grim. People could not walk without fear while the snatchers are ruling the roost. All the claims of
Being a tourist destination, the government should take more care. They should increase police strength in order to control the rising crime graph.