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Maqboolpura presents a picture of neglect
councillor speak |
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No answer from MP office leaves industry fuming
Lifetime achievement award for Kewal
City lad is 172nd in civil services
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Maqboolpura presents a picture of neglect
Amritsar, May 6 Situated on the Amritsar-Jalandhar GT road, other residential areas which come under this constituency include the Golden Avenue, New Golden Avenue, New Tehsilpura, Chamrang Road, parts of East Mohan Nagar, Kot Bhagat Singh and industrial area etc. The most astonishing fact here is that though sewerage lines have been laid but these are yet to become functional. Supply of drinking water has become contaminated. The administration is yet to take steps to stop cases of jaundice, diarrhoea and hepatitis in this part of the city. The area where the underprivileged sections of the society live has no primary or secondary health centre. The residents have to go to private hospitals for treatment or to the Civil Hospital situated more than five-km from here. The only government dispensary here has been lying defunct since 1992. The authorities are well aware of the pathetic conditions prevailing here, but being a Congress dominated area it is not on its priority list. Yet, the recent changes in the political equations brings a ray of hope for the residents as Ajit Singh Bhatia, after snapping his four decade long ties with the Congress for ignoring during the last Assembly elections, has joined the
BJP.
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councillor speak
Why was area neglected for so long? The biggest example of negligence on part of the authorities is the work on nullah which started in 2006 but in-between the
SAD-BJP government came into power and till date, the remaining 100 metre stretch has been lying incomplete. Similarly, the sewerage water outlet projects cry for the attention of the authorities but in vain. No garbage collection arrangement has been made here. The corporation has privatised the garbage collection project in the posh localities of the city, but has ignored this area which is susceptible to diseases. Why did you switch to the
BJP? I broke my 44-year-old ties with the Congress party after I suffered a double blow. The Congress high-ups did not value my contributions and denied ticket to my daughter-in-law Simarpreet Kaur after the sudden death of my son Harpal Singh Bhatia, who too was a party worker. All my proposals for development of the area were ignored by the ruling alliance because I was representing the Congress party. What changes do you propose to bring in your ward? Now that I have joined the
BJP, I have been assured that ample funds will be released soon for various development works in my ward, which were stalled earlier. A sum of Rs 30 lakh has been finalised to be released within few days to lay sewerage project under the JAICA scheme. Earlier, this area was not on their list. Secondly, MP Sidhu has promised to release funds to the tune of Rs 25 lakh to repair internal roads, water disposal and streetlights. Your Ward has been reserved for women, which other ward will you prefer? I have decided to project my daughter-in-law as the candidate from this ward. She stood independently from this constituency for the Assembly elections and got an overwhelming response. She is in touch with the residents here and is well aware of their problems. Though, the BJP has not yet finalised its candidature, but I have been told that Simarpreet is on the top of its list.
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Drug peddler arrested
Amritsar, May 6 “On seeing the police, he tried to leave the bag he was carrying and tried to flee but was arrested. Preliminary investigations have revealed that he had procured these intoxicants from a general store from where he supplied them to others,” he said. “We are hopeful of catching more suppliers who have been associated with drug trade,” he added. The police has registered case. The police also arrested two proclaimed offenders Satnam Singh alias Satta and Bhupinder Singh alias Pinder today. 2 booked for fraud
Two persons have been booked on the basis of a complaint filed by Indian Overseas Bank chief manager for allegedly committing a fraud with the bank. Chief Manager Bhagwan Lal told the police that the accused Surjit Singh and his mother Sarabjit Kaur had mortgaged their property with the bank for a loan of Rs 2, 16, 54, 000. The manager alleged that the accused had by making a fake power attorney sold the land to Tarsem Singh for Rs 50 lakh. 3 held with drugs
The city police has arrested three persons, including a woman, for allegedly carrying intoxicants and habit forming drugs. The Sadar police has arrested Harwinder Kumar of Baba Deep Singh Colony and seized 320 capsules from his possession. The Sultanwind police has arrested Sawinder Kaur along with 300 garm of intoxicating power. Gate Hakima police has arrested Sukhchain Singh of Mohalla Gokalpura along with five gram of smack. Vehicle snatched
The E Division police has registered a case under Section 382 and 34 of the IPC against unknown persons for allegedly snatching a motorcycle from Sahil Sapra, a resident of Tehsilpura. In a complaint to the police Sahil alleged that his motorcycle was snatched by some unknown persons from near Bhushan Park. He said snatchers had come on a black-colour SUV. Shoe shop burgled
The Civil Lines police has registered a case under Section 457 and 380 of the IPC against unknown persons on the basis of a complaint filed by a shopkeeper Roshan Lal. Roshan Lal runs a footwear shop on Malviya road complained that thieves stole shoes from his shop after breaking the locks of the entrance during night.
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NGO gives tips on garbage segregation
Amritsar, May 6 Appealing to the residents to cooperate in making the city clean, Gurbej Singh, general secretary of the NGO said segregating the garbage before is a must. "Our aim is to educate the residents about minimizing production of waste and follow Municipal Solid Waste Handling Rule 2000. The rule requires every citizen to segregate waste in their kitchens into dry and moist waste," he said. Whereas dry waste such as plastic carry bags, aluminum foils, glass, thermacoal, cardboard, paper and empty mineral water bottles can be collected separately and given to rag pickers or junk dealers. Moist waste like vegetable and fruit peelings and fruit can be put in flower beds and flower pots to enrich
the soil. Food waste can be buried in a pit and covered by a thin layer of soil to produce bio fertilizer. Proper waste handling will make our city clean besides decreasing diseases. Deepak Babbar, executive director of Mission Aagaaz said, "Let us join hands to make Amritsar the cleanest city in the world. This will also increase tourist flow to and thus help increase the trade and tourism in longer run," he said.
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Residents ink support for a clean city
Amritsar, May 6 The event was organised by a citizen forum ‘Voice of Amritsar’ (VOA) to collect one lakh signatures from the residents, urging the civic authorities to provide a cleaner, healthier and better city. Members of the organisation said they were fed up with the way the administration was running the city. The members met on an online community page ‘Voice of Amritsar’ and decided to float an organisation to put pressure on the authorities. The VOA intends to act as a pressure group’ to pressurise the administration to do their jobs in a proper and efficient way. They also carried out a cleanliness drive from Hall Gate to Town Hall yesterday.
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IT told to provide amenities
Amritsar, May 6 Ramesh Chand complained that the Trust had charged a non-construction penalty from him amounting to Rs 33,750, though it had not provided the basic amenities. He reasoned that he had not initiated the construction on the plot because of absence of these basic amenities. The consumer forum has also ordered the Trust to refund the amount paid by the complainant as non-construction penalty with an interest of 9 per cent. The complainant prayed before the forum that as the Trust had not provided the basic amenities as listed in the terms and conditions of the allotment, he did not initiate the construction and the Trust has no right to change a non- construction penalty. Ramesh Chand said as per the terms of the possession of the plot, the Trust was required to provide all amenities as water supply, motorable roads, sewerage and electricity. He said the Trust has failed to provide these amenities despite requests from them. Kanwar Pahul Singh and Rabia Gund, counsels for Ramesh Chand said the forum has directed the Trust to refund the money with a 9 per cent interest from the date of receipt of the money to till the payment is made. Kanwar Pahul Singh said the forum has also directed the Trust to pay the complainant Rs 2,000 as litigation expenses. He said Trust has to refund the money and litigation expenses within a month. Ramesh Chand complained that the Trust had charged a non-construction penalty from him amounting to Rs 33,750, though it had not provided the basic amenities.
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Delegates leave to talk business in Lahore conference
Amritsar, May 6 Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani will inaugurate the Pakistan-India economic conference tomorrow. Others who will speak in various sessions of the conference include Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, PTI chairman Imran Khan, renowned industrialists from both countries. One of the delegates Rahul Kansal said the conference will open up a world of economic opportunities for both the countries to work together in the field of commerce. The event can help mitigate the growing problem of unemployment in both the countries and help them move towards socio-economic progress. He said a delegation of Indian businessmen is expected to hold a meeting with Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of
Pakistan in Islamabad on May 8.
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No answer from MP office leaves industry fuming
Amritsar, May 6 The Textile Manufacturers’ Association (TMA) spokespersons has alleged that “it is very unfortunate that the Industry Department does not reply to any letter or representations submitted to it”. It caused great inconvenience to the industrial units belonging to the small scale sector because they do not have either the manpower or the expertise and to frequently visit Chandigarh to submit their representations personally. Therefore, streamlining of the working is very important. TMA general secretary HS Makhani said these acknowledgements were useful as references in future communications and help reach the matters to their logical end. Similarly, the Focal Point Industries Association spokesperson said their letters are neither answered by the Industry department nor the office of the MP. It has set a bad precedent as vital industry matters and their numerous requests remained unanswered and they did not know how to proceed. Association members said the SSI units are the backbone of the industry but they have their own problems mainly due to availability of less capital. Under these circumstances they face competition not only from Indian firms but from the MNCs as well. They said, the government could play an active role to secure the interests of the small scale industry. MP Navjot Singh Sidhu said six persons are employed at his local office to receive communications, forward them to the department concerned, dispatch acknowledgements, to guide the visitors and to keep them in the loop in case of any development. Industry minister Anil Joshi was not available for comments.
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Lifetime achievement award for Kewal
Dhaliwal has been working for Punjabi theatre for more than 35 years has also received various awards, including Shiromani Natakar Award, International Pasta Award by Actor’s Laboratory, USA, and Manohar Singh Smriti Puraskar given by the National School of Drama. The actor-director and playwright was awarded been part of the peace process between India and Pakistan and has also contributed to Punjabi literature through theatre. “In my career span of 35 years, I have worked with numerous theatre productions from Pakistan. My theatre group is a regular at Paanj Pani Theatre Festival in Lahore and actively involved in collaborating with the artists across the borders,” said Kewal. He has given over 3,000 stage performances, directed 108 full-length plays and 52 mono acts, acted in 100 plays, directed 25 light and sound shows and written 20 books. Kewal also holds developmental and street theatre workshops for children in rural areas, especially the border villages. He has done considerable amount of work in international theatre circuit and feels Punjabi theatre is highly respected worldwide. “I have conducted workshops in Punjabi theatre in Canada, Norway and the US, inviting houseful audiences. Artists abroad look towards Punjabi culture and art with a curious eye and what Chekov and Gorky are to Indian theatre, Gursharan Singh is to international theatre,” he said. Kewal is directing a play to commemorate the 100th Birth anniversary of Saadat Hasan Manto.
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City lad is 172nd in civil services
After completing his graduation, Sohail worked with Mahindra Satyam at Pune for four years. In his first attempt to clear the civil services exam, Sohail could not clear the examination because he fell short of just one mark but he made it in his second attempt this year with Public Administration and
Sociology as the main subjects. Sohail did his B-Tech in Electronics and Communication from the JAY PEE University of Information and Technology, Solan, in 2006.
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‘Develop scientific temper to guard against godmen’
Amritsar, May 6 State committee member of the coeity Sarbjit said common people lack faith in themselves and don’t understand science and technology. They easily fall prey to godmen assuring them of having occult
powers. Dr Sham Sunder Deepti held the policies of the government responsible for high inflation and unemployment which results in poverty and people approach godmen to cure their afflictions. Another member of the Taraksheel society Sumeet Singh said the government has framed rules to safeguard people from falling victim to superstition and people claiming powers to cure all kinds of physical and mental ailments but has failed to implement them.
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Amritsar, May 6
Amritsar, May 6