Dead man identified as drug peddler
Amritsar, August 1
The youth, whose body was found in a garbage dump opposite the firecracker market in Jahajgarh on July 20, has been identified as that of a drug peddler Chacha Bhaiya. He was allegedly murdered by his accomplice over some financial dispute, the police said.

Garbage collection: AMC hires 15 trolleys
Amritsar, August 1
Having run into trouble with a private company, Antony Waste Handling Firm, which stopped lifting garbage, the Municipal Corporation has hired 15 garbage picking trolleys from private firms to keep the city clean.



Garbage scattered at a street in Amritsar. Photo: Vishal Kumar

Amritsar, August 1
It is another awaited festival of the year and the fervour seems to be visibly infectious.

But the simple, humble tradition of tying a thread on your brother’s wrist to ensure lifelong protection has witnessed a trendy transformation.

Taking the simplicity out, the festival has gone a wee bit fashionable. Earlier, a plain, simple, red-coloured thread was enough to symbolise a brother’s pledge on Raksha Bandhan to protect his sister. But today it’s the exclusive fancy rakhis with zardosi work, gemstones studded variants, jeweled bracelets have replaced the humble thread, probably a symbol of some expensive love shared between a brother and sister.

While most stick to the trendy yet cheaper versions of rakhi, some have gone a step ahead and prefer symbolic rakhis made of gold and silver. Whether it’s variety of threads studded with gemstones, diamonds or even gold and silver motifs, the expensive rakhis at jewellery stores and hi-end brand outlets offer a lifelong bond. The markets are flooded with emerging trends. “Gold rakhis are not very popular given the high price range, but we do have some exclusive clientele for such expensive rakhis. Mostly, it’s a once in a lifetime gift that comes with a long-term investment,” says Sachin Sharma, sales manager with a leading jewellery brand in Amritsar.

Suitable for those looking at a long-term investment or just plain sentiments, rakhis made with 22K gold or silver motif does give you an edge over the simpletons. Needless to say that these are priced much more than a regular ones, it’s a good option to those planning to give their brothers something special for keeps.

The other, lesser exclusive versions of trendy rakhis include a wide range of threads with booti, feng shui and chandan or sandalwood motifs. A whole lot of people opt for the ‘chandan’ rakhi, which emits a heady fragrance. Stone-embellished and special rakhis like Hanuman Chalisa, Rangraksha, Omeya, good luck rakhi and Morpankh rakhi are also a hit with the sisters. For those respecting the simplicity of the festival, traditional Mouli, or red and yellow thread rakhi also known as kalava, which is extensively used as part of Hindu customs and rituals, is a favourite.

For the younger lot, there are rakhis with cartoon characters like Tweety, Mickey Mouse, Pokemon, Doremon and Chhota Bheem.

While most rakhis are priced between Rs 5 and Rs.900, the hi-end silver or gold rakhi is expected to burn a hole in your pocket considering the current price of the metal.

Amritsar, August 1
The youth, whose body was found in a garbage dump opposite the firecracker market in Jahajgarh on July 20, has been identified as that of a drug peddler Chacha Bhaiya. He was allegedly murdered by his accomplice over some financial dispute, the police said.

The police has arrested Narinder and Ajay in this case while their accomplice Sona fled the spot. The deceased has been identified as Chacha Bhaiya, a native of Uttar Pradesh.

ADCP, Crime, HS Brar, said the deceased was involved in drug peddling in the area. He and his accomplices identified as Narinder alias Pintu of Uttrakhand, Ajay Kumar of Rajasthan both residents of the 100-feet road and Sona of Mehta Road, Maqboolpura, were notorious drug peddlers. He said the police has recovered a motorcycle and 465 gram of narcotic powder from their possession.

Amritsar, August 1
Having run into trouble with a private company, Antony Waste Handling Firm, which stopped lifting garbage, the Municipal Corporation has hired 15 garbage picking trolleys from private firms to keep the city clean.

Antony Waste Handling Firm had to stop its operation as its employees proceeded on a strike few days ago due to non-payment of dues. Firm's manager Anil Chandala said the firm had backtracked mainly because the AMC had not cleared their dues amounting to Rs 1.6 crore for the past over six months. Under normal circumstances, the AMC staff is liable to collect garbage generated in the city whereas the firm was given the job to under the first phase of the proposed solid waste management project in 2009. Around 280 tonnes of garbage is generated on a daily basis.

Amritsar, August 1
To make way for the proposed commercial complex under the ambitious Durgiana Beautification Scheme four century-old trees were axed today amidst protests by several NGOs and residents in the Durgiana Temple complex. The temple management, however, planted an equal number of saplings in the Gold Bagh area.

The Durgiana committee and the Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) chopped off the trees after trying to find ways to transplant them in a scientific way to some other place. The trees were chopped after it was found that they would not survive. Harish Taneja, general secretary and spokesperson of Durgiana committee said special prayers were conducted in the temple from July 25 to 29 before chopping the trees.

Activists of several NGOs and residents held protests against the axing of trees in the morning today. Later, they withdrew the protest after holding deliberations with the Durgiana Committee members over the issue. “It was necessary to remove these trees because we propose to build commercial shops on the same site after demolishing the existing shops. We started the process to chop the trees today. We arranged for 11 priests to perform special prayers before axing them. We have also planted five saplings in the Gol Bagh area. The concerns of NGOs like Mission Aagaaz, Sewa Society, Lok Kalyaan Samiti and Bharat Vikas Parishad were addressed after we apprised them about the ground realities. Moreover, in the proposed beautification project, we would develop a wide green belt and 40 saplings have already been planted in the complex,” he said.

Amritsar Improvement Trust superintending engineer Bharat Bhushan Sharma said these trees would not have survived a transplant. Initial preparation like preliminary root investigation, health diagnosis of the tree, treatment of the infected trees, soil sampling, and testing and site selection was a time-consuming process. “We had engaged a Delhi-based firm for the purpose and the firm had agreed to do the job for 7 lakh. But, they demanded at least three months for initial procedure before uprooting the trees. PUDA had failed at this method in Patiala,” he said.

It was necessary to remove these trees because we propose to build commercial shops on the same site after demolishing the existing shops. We started the process to chop the trees today. We arranged for 11 priests to perform special prayers before axing them. We have also planted five saplings in the Gol Bagh area. The concerns of NGOs like Mission Aagaaz, Sewa Society, Lok Kalyaan Samiti and Bharat Vikas Parishad were addressed after we apprised them about the ground realities. Moreover, in the proposed beautification project, we would develop a wide green belt and 40 saplings have already been planted in the complex

Amritsar, August 1
Government offices witnessed a huge rush of visitors on a day when new office timings came into effect.

The government changed the timings from 8 am to 2pm in view of the power crisis in the state.

Several government officials managed the day without air conditioners at their offices. Even the ACs at the waiting hall of the suvidha center were switched off. As a result, a large numbers of the visitors preferred to sit under trees outside the centre. “It is suffocating inside. However, it is good that the government has ordered to keep the ACs off. It would mean more power for industry and agriculture sectors,” said Baljit Singh, a visitor.

A section of visitors complained that public servants have still not come to terms with the new timings.

“A few of officials arrived late. The early timing suits rural people as they can attend to their crops in the evening,” said Bakshinder Singh, another visitor.

A section of employees said changed timings though are for the betterment of the public, it has upset their routine. A female employee, preferring anonymity, said, “We have to cook food for the entire family and get children ready for the school. It has become so difficult now because of the change.” She said it’s ok to ask officials to turn off their ACs, but timings should not be changed.

A few of the visitors, who did not have information on the new timings, visited government offices even after 2 pm.

Amritsar, August 1
The Amritsar Municipal Corporation has brought in extra manpower in house tax wing and carried out marginal shuffling among its key departments.

A major chunk of those, who have been promoted during the last session, (seven clerks and 13 bill distributors (BDs)) were deputed in the house tax wing.

The wing, which was facing acute shortage of staff, would now be divided into divisions under Additional Commissioner Pardeep Sabharwal.

House tax inspector Pushpinder Singh has been promoted as Superintendent in the Water Supply and Sewerage Department. Anil Arora, who has been looking after three wings --- water supply and sewerage, election cell and computer cell --- simultaneously, has been relieved of water supply and sewerage work. However, he would be looking after the other two wings till further orders.

As many as 13 out of 21 class IV employees, who were promoted as bill distributors, were included in house tax wing.

Those deputed in the wing are Raman Kumar, Surinder Singh, Baldev Singh, Amrik Singh, Ramesh Kumar, Joginder Pal, Nirmal Singh, Chhinda Masih, Harpal Singh, Kewal Kishan, Jiwan Prakash, Ajay Kumar and Ajit Singh.

The rest of BDs, which included Santokh Singh, Vinod Kumar, Bikranjit Singh, Nirmal Singh, Balbir Singh, Kishan Lal, Ravi Kant and Sukhdev Singh, were deputed in the water supply and sewerage wing.

Similarly, as many as 18 employees who have been promoted from BD to the posts of clerk were absorbed with the office of Commissioner and Additional Commissioner.

Amritsar, August 1
The district health department organised a workshop at local Jallianwala Bagh Memorial Civil Hospital today to review the Rashtriya Suraksha Bima Yojna.

Addressing Senior Medical Officers of all the hospitals in the district and other officials, Civil Surgeon Dr Hardeep Singh Ghai said under the scheme, Below Poverty Line families have to pay Rs 30 to be eligible for free medical services up to Rs 30,000.

Dr Ghai said there are 32,000 BPL families in the district. “The scheme was started in district in 2009. So far 62 per cent of the BPL families are availing the scheme,” said Ghai.

He said during 2011-12, government hospitals in the district have helped beneficiaries get free medical services costing Rs 24 lakh. Dr Ghai said the department is going to initiate another drive to enrol the BPL families under the scheme. — TNS

Amritsar, August 1
A meeting of the executive committee of the Guru Nanak Dev University Teachers’ Association (GNDUTA) was held today to take stock of various pending demands of teachers.

The association welcomed the decision of the Central Government on de-linking the issue of retirement age from payment of arrears. “The teachers were being denied arrears on the pretext of non-adherence to retirement age policy of the Punjab government. In the backdrop of this decision, the onus lies solely on the state government to give the teachers their arrears and put an end to this contentious issue,” it said.

Balwinder Singh, president, GNDUTA, said the members have expressed their intention to join hands with the Punjabi University, Patiala, and Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Associations to intensify their struggle for the redressal of their genuine demands.

The GNDUTA said whereas the Punjab Government has released pay arrears of other sections, it has adopted step-motherly treatment towards the teaching community.

The executive members of the association decided to meet the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister of Punjab to press upon the release of arrears which are now long overdue.

The association expressed discontent and unhappiness over the delaying strategies being adopted in implementing the various demands of teachers at the university level.

It has formally requested the GNDU Vice Chancellor to fix a meeting at the earliest to discuss the pending demands of the teachers.