Amritsar, May 31
The bandh call given by the NDA witnessed a partial response from the general public and businessmen. The flow of traffic on the roads was less than normal. Public transport was affected as only few buses plied on the roads.

The number of patients at the Out Patient departments of the Guru Nanak Dev Hospital and Jallianwala Bagh Memorial Civil Hospital also came down.

The health department also deferred its programme to observe World No Tobacco Day for tomorrow. The vegetables merchants said the bandh affected their business as the supply from far off areas was hampered. However, supplies from the villages near the city arrived as usual. Apart from organising small demonstrations at few places, even political activists failed to bring people out on the roads. President of the Women wing of the SAD Rajinder Kaur Verka held a protest at Hall Bazar.

Verka said, “The recent hike in the prices of fuel has resulted in increase of prices of all other essential commodities.” She said the union government must make petrol companies reverse their decision in view of the wider public interest.”

The BJP too held a protest in ward number 27 here. The Communist Party Marxist also criticised the hike in petrol prices. Party president Jagtar Singh Karampura said the UPA has hiked the petrol prices six times in a row. Protesting against the hike, party workers burned Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s effigy outside the Hall Gate.

Even as general public condemned the rise in petrol prices, they felt relieved as activists of political parties did not force closure of businesses. The impact of the bandh was also seen at the petrol pumps as only few of them opened today. An attendant at a petrol station said most of the customers had purchased their quota of fuel last night fearing a closure today.

Bhupinder Singh, an autorickshaw driver said, “Though the government has increased the prices, the fares for customers have not been revised. So the drivers have been forced to pay the extra cost from their own pocket.” He said when the rickshaw fares are revised, it will lead to increase in the cost of many other things.

Amritsar, May 31
In a major jolt to the Congress, the SAD today managed to clinch Ward No 39 seat in the Municipal Corporation elections unopposed by managing to convince the Congress and other contenders to withdraw their names. With this, SAD candidate Dalbir Singh Mammanke has been declared winner as Congress contender Navjeet Singh Babbu and other Independent candidates withdrew their nominations.

In yet another significant move, another Congress contender from Ward 37 Deepak Kumar Deepu, too, surrendered in favour of the SAD-BJP alliance for the ensuing MC elections, scheduled for June 10. Besides, over a dozen other Congressmen switched their loyalty to SAD officially in the presence of Cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majithia.

District Congress Committee chief Jugal Kishore termed it as a non-democratic approach on the part of the ruling alliance by threatening candidates to grab seats. He confirmed that the Congress would now support the candidates who stood opposite the alliance candidates in these wards.

“I would rather call it a murder of democracy by the SAD which haunted the Congressmen by threatening to entangle them in frivolous police cases. Both the candidates had apprised us that they were being pressurised to withdraw from the race by the SAD, yet it was quite heartening to learn that our loyalists have ultimately surrendered before the ill ways of ruling alliance. Otherwise, there was no valid reason for them to withdraw their candidature at this juncture”, he said while asserting ‘since we cannot field our candidate under our banner as withdrawal time has already elapsed, we would now support Independent candidates to defeat the ruling alliance on these seats”.

On the other hand, the rebel leaders said they withdrew their candidature on their own and would support the SAD candidates in the elections. “Even as we are out of race now but we would support the SAD candidates only. Actually, we switched our loyalty towards the SAD just after getting tired of in-house fight in the Congress camp. There is immense resentment among those Congress workers who aspired to contest the elections but were not given the ticket. They would tilt the balance just to satisfy their resentment. Due to all these factors we chose to join the SAD,” said rebel Congress leader Navjeet Singh.

Meanwhile, those Congress men who showed solidarity with the SAD included Youth Congress (south) president Paramjit Singh Chopra, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary Harjinder Chauhan, Punjab Congress secretary Manish Kumar Rompi, District Congress Committee OBC cell vice chairperson Gurjinder Singh Rinku, Akhil Bhartiya Dalit Chetna Congress district president Kumar Mullechak, Punjab Congress OBC cell convener Inderjeet Singh Pandhori and Jaswant Singh Warpal.

Meanwhile, former Congress MLA Jasbir Singh Dimpa strongly condemned the twisting tactics of ruling alliance. “I term the corporation polls as a farce and mere eyewash if the government and the state election commission can't ensure safety and security of the opposition candidates who are being threatened, beaten and forced to withdraw from the contest. There is no need to hold elections and the Akali-BJP combine should simply nominate its men as councillors and the Mayor,” he said.

Amritsar, May 31
Dejected over the denial of ticket, the rebel sitting councillor of the BJP from Ward No 26, Rajinder Mahajan has fielded his wife Neetu Mahajan as an Independent candidate from Ward No 9 against BJP contender Madhu Khanna, the wife of Improvement Trust chairperson Sanjeev Khanna for the upcoming MC polls June 10. Addressing a press conference, Rajinder Mahajan said he become a victim of friction within the party.

“My contribution to the party was overlooked because I refrain from playing the game of sycophancy. Even the Cabinet minister Anil Joshi has fully supported me, despite the fact that my wife is contesting as an Independent,” said Mahajan.

Amritsar, May 31
City police has arrested Prem Lata, a resident of Ekta Nagar, for allegedly possessing 200 gram of charas. She has been sent to judicial remand till June 13. She used to procure the contraband from drug smugglers based in Anngarh.

Parkash Singh, investigating officer, said she bought 200 gram of charas for Rs 3,000 from two residents of Anngarh area whose name she did not know. She said she used to sell the drugs to labourers among other in small pouches. “Prem Lata has been battling with cancer for last over a decade. She said she ventured into this illegal trade only to earn for her treatment,” said IO Parkash Singh. — TNS

Amritsar, May 31
At 47.6 degree temperature recorded today, the heat wave is becoming menacing with each passing day. With power bills threatening to make many go bankrupt, thanks to the air conditioners running overtime, residents are trying all possible means to beat the heat. Some natural, healthy and easy options are available to keep your cool.

Drink to the heat

To prevent dehydration and exhaustion, many swear by quick summer coolers. Roadside vendors selling coconut water, lemonade, buttermilk are making a fortune as the temperatures rise. “There’s a lemonade stand in every street you turn. Gulping down a chilled glass of good old lemonade is simply bliss on a hot sticky day. It is rich in Vitamin C since it has lemon,” says Rahul Singh, a student of Khalsa College.

“The sun drains you out in the afternoon and it is difficult to maintain the energy levels. Liquids are like a life support system in summers,” says Kavita Kapoor, a finance professional from the city.

Iced drinks and yogurt smoothies are vital in summer, she says.

Cooling from inside out

The sale of summer special veggies and fruits has also gone up. Melons, berries and salads have become cooling foods. “Vegetables and citrus fruits with high water content are not only a great way to beat the heat but these are also low in calories making them very healthy. When eaten with its peel, it is a good dietary fibre that help prevent constipation and that in the long run, prevent extra build-up of heat in the body. So, cucumbers and other leafy vegetables with high water content must be used to make a fresh vegetable or fruit salad,” says Sonia Gandhi, a nutrition and diet expert from city.

Hit the pool

There is another fun way to beat the heat; poolside parties. Summer evenings are best enjoyed over drinks by the poolside and everyone knows it. “Thanks to the sweltering heat, we get a lot of queries for pool parties. Be it families, couples and youngsters, everybody wants to chill out by the poolside,” says Rajiv Sharma, general manager, Best Western Merrion.

Amritsar, May 31
Political loyalties count when it comes to doling out development grants. A proof of the fact is Ward number 7, which has posh localities like Medical Enclave, New Medical Enclave, Akash Avenue, Nagina Avenue.

This ward is represented by the Congress councillor Onkar Kaur. Ironically, whatever developmental works have been witnessed in this ward, were executed during the pre 2007 times when the Congress was in power in the state. Thereafter, not a single paisa was ever spared in the name of development here.

A ganda nallah, Tung Bala drain has made life hell for the residents. This partially covered nallah has become the reason for the spread of diseases like viral fever and malaria. More alarming is the genetic changes in the residents of the area due to contaminated water which has seeped into the earth and mixed with underground water.

Half of the about five km stretch of the nullah has been covered. The remaining is yet to be covered courtesy the coming up of a multi-storey Trillium Mall. The mall is a venture of Tata group, which has put forth the condition with the administration to cover up the nullah falling in the project plan. Even four years later, nothing has been done in this regard.

Ironically, despite the sanction of enormous funds under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNRUM) by the Centre, it is short-sightedness and lack of planning on the part of the Municipal Corporation, which has failed to make use of the funds.

It may be recalled that residents of Medical Enclave and its adjoining areas of the nullah, including Guru Gobind Singh Nagar, have been protesting against the failure of consecutive governments in covering the nullah.

Another startling fact is that the politicians are misleading the residents on the pretext of introducing sewerage system in Professor Colony, Bhaktanpura, where as it was technically not feasible to lay underground sewerage. The engineering experts say the sewerage flow in the city has been planned from the East to West, whereas the water level of this colony flows on the reverse side. With absolute no sign of roads, there is uneven surface of sand and pebbles making it impossible for the residents to even reach their homes. Besides the drain, the lanes of some areas in the colony are yet to be metalled and the sewerage lines are ill conceived.

residents speak
Foul smell continuously emanates from the area due to the sewage flowing in the nullah. During elections, leaders of various political parties promised to cover it but after being voted to power, they never came back.

— Ashwani Kumar Soni from Nagina Avenue:

The situation becomes worse during the monsoon when insects come out of the drain besides the unbearable stench. It becomes impossible to reach our home when it rains.

— Vijay Kumar from Bhaktanpura:

Slush gathered by corporation employees during the cleaning of the drain is left on the roadsides for days.

— Ravi Kumar from Professor Colony

Councillor speak
I expressed my inability in redressing the problems due to discrimination. The development here was stalled from the day the ruling alliance came into power. Be it sewerage, laying of roads or cementing the lanes, all have been 'on as is where is basis' since then.

— Onkar Kaur, councillor of the area (Congress)

Amritsar, May 31
Five more years have passed. The sewerage and drinking water facility is still a distant dream for the residents of Indira Colony that falls in Ward number 15 represented by the Congress councillor Harnek Singh.

Like other rainwater channels in the city, the rainwater channel passing through Musftafabad, which encompasses majority area of the ward, has turned into a dirty drain, thus resulting in the contamination of underground water.

Temporary septic tanks, constructed by the residents in front of their houses for disposal of sewerage water, have done no good. It has led to more contamination of water. People have installed submersible water pumps to draw out water for daily use. But the contamination has increased so much that the underground water has become unfit for human consumption. The conditions have become horrific.

“No surprise if epidemic of water-borne diseases erupts sometime in the area,” said a resident.

The area came under the control of the Municipal Corporation more than 20 years ago but there is nothing worth showing in the name of infrastructure and development. Residents say consecutive governments are to be blamed as they failed to take any steps to upgrade the facilities in the area.

In the name of development in other parts of the ward only cemented streets or roads have been constructed while proper and safe water supply system and sewerage system is yet a far cry.

“The corporation has failed to live up to the aspirations of the residents for round-the-clock water supply,” said another resident. Even after more than 20 years of the area coming under MC limit, open drains can be seen all over the area, he added. No body has bothered to de-silt or clean the ganda nullah which has become a perfect breading ground for mosquitoes and insects.

Condition of other areas falling under Ward number 15, including parts of Mustfabad, Sundar Nagar, Dhupsadi, Guru Nagar, Hawaldar Colony, Deen Dyal Colony etc is no different.

Councillor speak
sewerage is being laid many areas in Verka that falls in the ward under the JNNURM and works for which has been recently started. As far as the supply of sewerage in parts of Indira Colony and Musftafabad is concerned many areas were established a few years ago and majority of them even don’t have approved maps or registries.

— Harnek Singh, councillor

residents speak
The overhead water reservoir constructed a decade and a half decades ago could not prove fruitful as only limited houses were benefitted from the water supply. Septic tanks have contaminated the water supply. The area lacks any playground while the children were forced to play in the graveyards located in the area

— Ravi Partap Singh, a resident

The area lacks proper water supply. Many houses are devoid of water connections and they have installed hand pumps or submersible pumps for water. But due to contamination, it has become unsafe for consumption

— Santokh Singh, a resident

Amritsar, May 31
The residents of Ward number 12 here seem more or less satisfied with the performance of their councillor Anuj Sikka as they claim that except lifting of garbage heaps from the streets there is no other major problem.

The condition of roads and streetlights in the area proves the claims of the residents. However, garbage heaps were seen at the corners most of the streets in the area.

“Sometimes there is delay in lifting of garbage as vehicles are not so regular. Otherwise the area has better streets than most other parts of the city,” said Narinder Singh, a resident.

Most of the residents of areas such as Tandon Nagar, Jawahar Nagar, Vijay Nagar, Rajindra Nagar and Guru Nanak Nagar in the ward said unlike councillors in other wards Sikka has always been accessible to the residents.

The residents said councillor sits in his office in the area every day to listen to the various problems of people. They said the councillor has employed staff in his personal capacity to address the problems faced by the residents.

Talking about the problem of garbage, Sikka said, “Even as it is the duty of the corporation to lift the garbage, people too have the duty not to litter the roads.” The garbage collection vehicles visit the area every day. “People must imbibe the habit of keeping dustbins in their homes, which they should hand over to the garbage collectors,” said Sikka.

Councillor speak
Batala Road was repaved at the cost of Rs 5.25 crore. Besides Rs 1.31 crore were spent on the streets and water works. Almost 100 per cent of the streets in the area were re-carpeted during these five years. We got three tubewells installed. Two more are waiting to be inaugurated. I feel more funds should be sanctioned to improve sewerage system and water supply. I had to fight to get the funds sanctioned for the area and it paid off

— counclior

residents speak
The councillor has done many things for the area. Besides few minor problems, the streets are well paved and well lit. The water supply is quite sufficient

— Subash Mahajan

Garbage is the only problem here. But it is less than what we have seen in other areas. The garbage collections vehicles sometimes get delayed in lifting the litter

— Avinash Chand

Amritsar, May 31
The Sultanwind police has arrested Bikram Joshi for allegedly possessing huge quantity of liquor besides a country-made pistol. The police has registered a case under the Excise Act and 25/54/59 of the Arms Act against him. The arrest was made from Sultanwind area. The police intercepted a vehicle with tinted glasses and VIP stickers pasted on it. During search the police seized 10 boxes of liquor.

The police also seized a country-made pistol of 3x3 along with 32 live cartridges. The police has also impounded the car bearing the number PB-02-BF-0110.

Bhagwan Singh, investigating officer said the accused do not have any previous criminal record.