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City’s forest cover rises by 16 square km
Master Chef host to write book on city cuisines
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Mother, child care institute opened before elections, yet to get started
Amritsar, February 9 Even after almost three months of its inauguration, the Bebe Nanki Mother and Child Care Institute at Government Medical College is yet to start functioning as the work on the building is yet to be completed. The institute was inaugurated on November 13 last year by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal ahead of the Assembly elections.
GMC convocation
Workshop on Internet security
state of parks
15th Punjab Science Congress ends
Traders rue delay in VAT refund
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City’s forest cover rises by 16 square km
Amritsar, February 9 This has come to light in the survey report of the Forest Survey of India, which was released a couple of days ago. The report was based on the remote-sensing technology. The report has pointed out that while the national forest cover has declined by 367 sq km over the last two years, it has increased by 100 sq km in Punjab. A noted environmentalist, who is instrumental in carrying out huge plantations in military areas, said it was really heartening to learn that in North India, Amritsar district had taken a lead in increasing the forest cover although it was a non-forest district. Interestingly, very less resources of the government were used for forestation, he added. The data released by the Forest Survey of India relates to the year 2008-09. However, as per the local Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), a huge number of trees were planted in the last couple of years, which would have increased the forest cover in the district. Hopefully, this would be reflected in the next report of the forest survey, which is likely to be released in 2013, said Bhatti. A large number of trees were planted under the “Go Green, Go Clean” campaign during the four-year tenure of KS Pannu, former Deputy Commissioner of the district, who is Chairman of the Punjab Pollution Control Board at present. Leading from the front, he had mobilised NGOs, religious dera heads, schools and Red Cross for tree plantation. During his tenure lakhs of trees were planted through MGNREGA in the district, which has added to the forest cover. The involvement of the military authorities in collaboration with Khudai Khidmatgar, an NGO, has paid good dividends as millions of trees were planted in the military area of the city.
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Master Chef host to write book on city cuisines
Amritsar, February 9 Talking to the media at a function today, Vikas Khanna said the book would be launched by the end of November, 2013. “The idea is to make the people of the world know about the culture and cuisines of the city,” said Khanna. Talking about the cuisines of the city, he said no where in world the cooking is so specialised as a job like here. “Here if one person is making poori’s he has specialised in that job. And if he is indulging in making kanji he is doing that only,” he said. He added that though he knew that the food of the Amritsar could not be recreated at any kitchen throughout the world as the city’s water added its own flavor to the food, he would be happy if the people of the world came to know about the rich heritage of the city. Accompanied by Mughda and Micheal Swami, the teams’ members from the Master Chef, Khanna said they were in the city to do research on their upcoming book. “This would not be one more cookery book. It would have glimpses of the local culture,” said Mugdha. She added that the book would be a visual delight to the readers as it would have a lot many pictures depicting foods and culture of the region. Khanna said the book would be released first at the Golden Temple and then at the White House in the USA. He was also running a restaurant, Janoon, in the USA.
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Mother, child care institute opened before elections, yet to get started
Amritsar, February 9 The nine-storied building was to house the state-of-art-facilities to cater to the needs of pregnant women and newborns. Government Medical College has plans to shift Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital and childcare units to the newly constructed building so as to provide all facilities to the patients under one roof. The centre is yet to be furnished with all the necessary machines and instruments required for providing medical facilities to the mother and child. As per information, the college is busy getting the electricity work done in the building. However, residents of the city feel that the centre was hurriedly inaugurated to gain political mileage without waiting for the project to get completed. Avtar Singh, a resident, said, “The inauguration was much hyped as if the working would start immediately. Now when the work has not begun even after three months, the government has no excuses.” The people in the region want the centre to start providing medical facilities at the earliest so that people are saved from harassment at private hospitals. “As projected it seems that the centre would cater to all needs of the mother and child. If it comes up soon it would be a boon for the area,” said Prempal Singh, private school teacher. Even as the plan has been made to shift Shri Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, the staff at the hospital is really concerned as the century-old building of it is already in shambles. As most of the departments has been shifted out from the hospital, the Gynaecology Ward is the only one operating in it at the time. When contacted, medical college Principal Dr SS Shergill said, “The job on the building will be finished in a week or so. We will make the centre functional as soon as it is complete.”
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After 13-year recess, 285 receive degrees
Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service
Amritsar, February 9 The convocation was held after a gap of 13 years. It was for the first time that BSc nursing students of the college were conferred with degrees at a convocation. Apart from the students who had recently completed their degrees, many pass outs of previous years too attended the function. Dr RS Sidhu, a senior faculty member and a member of the organising committee said, “As the ceremony was held after a long gap, the students were jubilant and excited.” Medical Students Association also organised a cultural programme to mark the occasion. Ridhika, a student said, “The convocation has been held after a gap of some years and this is a reason to celebrate." Another student Jaspreet Singh said, "Getting a degree from the prestigious college is like a dream come true. We will always miss the faculty and environment of the college." He said they were committed to practice the science learnt at the college for the betterment of the community. The students said as the convocation is held after a gap of many years they are lucky to have attended it this year. "Many of our seniors have missed this occasion," rued Karandeep, another student. Dr SS Gill exhorted the students to work for the welfare of the poor and the needy. “The rural areas in the country should be your focus. You should spend at least a few years of your career in the service of the poor people," he told the students. Dr SS Shergill, college principal conferred medals of excellence on the students. He said the college students who have excelled in the field of medical sciences at the world level. Dr Shergill said the convocation will be made an annual event at the college.
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Amritsar, February 9
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Renamed after politician’s father, deserted park greens in months
GS Paul Tribune News Service
Amritsar, February 9 Located on the outskirts of the walled city falling in Amritsar South area, the park, which wore a deserted look till a few months back, has been transformed into a state-of-the-art leisure valley. Renaming of the historic park after the sitting SAD MLA Inderbir Bolaria's father led to a controversy, but it was courtesy the sitting MLA Inderbir Bolaria, who shared a closed proximity with the ruling ministerial circle, that the government did not hesitate to spare Rs 5 crore for a total revamp of this park. When The Tribune team visited the park, it found that work on the installation of state-of-the-art musical fountains worth Rs 1.5 crore was under progress. Drastic steps were also adopted to ensure that the storm water drain, which runs parallel to this park, does not affect the flora and fauna here adversely. Temporary drains, built through this park to drain out water, were nowhere in sight. Earlier, during rains this temporary drain used to overflow resulting in a pool of filth inside the park. It has been learnt that a special blue print was made in collaboration with a Chandigarh-based experts for the landscaping and planning of the park. It has also been proposed to categorise the park on various themes like the different sections of flower varieties. In another proposal, a portion of the park will be developed as a picnic spot. Apart from this, special arrangements for parking and installation food joints too are in the pipeline, officials said. They add that there will also be a separate section dedicated to children which will house swings, toy train besides waterfall. Amritsar Municipal Corporation Commissioner Dharampal Gupta said work on the park is being done on a war footing and it will be opened for the public soon. “Detailing is being done before finalising any proposal to be implemented in this park. Introduction of rainwater harvesting system and underground irrigation systems is also being planned here. The work here got hampered due to the poll code of conduct, yet the portion of the job which was finalised well in advance before the announcement of the polls were finished as per the schedule. Still, the work continued at a slow pace because the funds did not reach on time for want of official formalities, sources said. But now when the things have been streamlined with the announcement of fresh directions by the EC to continue with the ongoing projects, we have placed the completion of this park on our priority,” he said.
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15th Punjab Science Congress ends
Amritsar, February 9 The event was organised by the Guru Nanak Dev University in association with the Punjab Academy of Sciences, Patiala, at Guru Nanak Bhawan Auditorium of the university. More than 600 scientists and researchers took part. Vice-Chancellor, Professor AS Brar, presided over the valedictory session while VM Trahan, chairman, Mekaster Group of Companies was the chief guest. Expressing concern over the depleting interest of students in science, Vice-Chancellor, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot, Dr SS Gill said, "The scarcity of proficient science and mathematics teachers and poor education techniques at the school level has resulted in declining trend of the students' interest in taking up science as their career option." Dr Gill said Indian Science Report for INSA has shown that only 3.6 per cent of the students preferred to choose science as their career. "Science is still being taught as a very difficult and dry subject. Poor planning of teaching material, labs and stress of preparation of entrance tests makes things worst," he said. He said though, scientific and technological progress has also made life of the common man very simple yet science can also be used for destruction of humanity, environmental degradation, global warming and depletion of natural resources. Governor Shivraj V Patil, who was to preside over the occasion, could not come. The message sent by him was read out by the V-C Prof AS Brar. A session was dedicated to the 'Scientific Legacy and Contributions of Professor Brar."
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Traders rue delay in VAT refund Amritsar, February 9 A leading trader AL Jain said non-refund of VAT was taking a toll on their business as the government had not returned the amount running in hundreds of crores for the past more than six months. “Crores of rupees of city-based traders are stuck out of the total VAT refund of Rs 600 crore in the state,” he said. He said department officials say the government does not have funds to meet the mounting expenditure. — TNS
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The renowned chef from the city who hosted the famous Master Chef show, recently concluded on television, has planned to write a book about the culture and cuisines of the city.
