Middle of the road surprise A garbage dumpster lies in the middle of the Mall Road in Amritsar on Friday. (L) and Singer Roshan Prince during a promotional event of his upcoming film ‘Sirphire’ at a Guru Teg Bhadur College in Amritsar on Friday. Photos: Sameer Sehgal

Scooterist killed in mishap 
Amritsar, August 3
Harjit Singh Nikku, a resident of Jai Singh Chowk, Gillwali Gate, was killed on the spot after he was run over by a speeding truck at Bhagtawala area today. The incident took place when he was returning home after buying milk from a dairy near the Bhagtanwala grain market. The speeding truck hit the scooter driven by the victim from behind.


Policemen conduct investigation at the accident site at Bhagtanwala in Amritsar on Friday. Photo: Sameer Sehgal 

Purse snatched
Amritsar, August 3
Two motorcycle-borne youths snatched the purse of a woman when she and her husband were on their way back home on a rickshaw near Dr Prem Rai Hospital. Govind Sharma, husband of the victim in his complaint to the police alleged that he along with his wife Kanta Sharma were on their way to Jagdambay Colony, Bohar Wala Shivala when the accused snatched her purse.

Amritsar, August 3
The death of a woman and injuries to a father-son duo in two mishaps caused due to an open manhole on July 25 uncovered several holes in the MC setup.

Inadequate stock of spare manhole covers

The Amritsar Municipal Corporation doesn’t have adequate stock of spare manhole covers of proper size which could be replaced instantly if the original lid is stolen or broken. The mishaps allegedly took place due to a misfit manhole cover as claimed in the report of the MC.

Sewerman Baldev Singh, who has been put under suspension for his “negligence” in placing a cover of wrong size on the manhole on Albert Road, said “I spotted the cover of this manhole missing a few hours before accidents occurred. He said he had placed a cover, which was available in the store, as a damage-control measure. I could have been nowhere in the picture if I too had ignored the open manhole, as done by thousands of passersby that evening. It just happened by chance that I passed through that road and spotted the open manhole. I immediately brought it to the notice of my seniors, who directed me to place another cover on the manhole. I did the best I could have done as a prompt measure at that juncture. I also placed fluorescent white sand bags all over the manhole cover so as to alert the commuters. When covers of proper size are not available, how can I be held responsible for the lapse?”

Amritsar, August 3
There is a confusion over the extension of deadline for traders, eating joints etc dealing in food products to register under the Food Safety and Standards Act.

While the Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal claim that the deadline has been extended by six months by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the health department said the deadline of August 5 stands as it has not received any communiqué in the regard.

The traders had claimed that they have received a copy of the decision of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India regarding the new deadline.

Importantly, the deadline for traders to get registered and to obtain licence has already been extended twice.

So far there has been a lukewarm response from the traders, manufacturers and others involved in food businesses to comply with the norms under the said Act.

Sources said the department has so far received only 700 applications from the food businesses. The instructions for registration were issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 which was implemented in the state on August 8, 2011.

Earlier, the businesses were given time till April 31 to register under the Act. But only 150 applicants submitted applications in this regard.

Till June end, only 400 businesses cared to abide by the instructions. Later, the department organised camps at various places to make the process easier for the traders.

However, representatives of the industry demanded another extension of deadline.

Civil Surgeon Dr Hardeep Singh Ghai said the deadline for getting registered or obtaining licences ends on August 5. He said it is mandatory for all traders whether big or small or involved at any stage of the business to get registered. He urged the traders to follow the instructions before the deadline ends.

Traders claim that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India had extended the deadline by six months

The health department says it has not received any communiqué in the regard, and hence the deadline of August 5 stands 

Amritsar, August 3
The Guru Nanak Dev University has begun a short-term course on professional development for its B and C class employees at the Academic Staff College.

Dr Rajesh Kalia, course coordinator, said employees would be taught professional ethics and their computer skills would be sharpened.

University registrar Dr Inderjit Singh said computerisation of each and every branch of the university was the need of the hour and the university was moving fast in that direction. “As a part of the programme, the B and C class employees, who work as data entry operators and clerk, would be given lessons which would help them honing their computer skills. — TNS

Amritsar, August 3
Industrialists of border districts have little hopes from the state government which has begun meetings to frame the new industrial policy.

They reason that an inordinate delay in non-disbursal of capital subsidy for border areas under the industrial policy of 2003 shows how non-serious is the government.

Members of various organisations, including the Focal Point Industries Association, Punjab Trade Board and Textile Manufacturers’ Associations, said about Rs 8-crore subsidy grant was due to be paid to industrialists of three border districts --- Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Ferozepur.

President of the Focal Point Industries Association Kamal Kishore Aggarwal said the Punjab and Haryana High Court had passed a verdict in favour of industrialists on May 20, 2011. But, instead of honouring the verdict, the state filed a leave petition application against it.

He wondered that what would be the fate of the next policy when the government was reluctant to pay the benefits made in the previous policy.

A businessman, Rajinder Singh Marwaha said he had constructed a cold storage at the focal point on Mehta Road, keeping in view the grant of capital subsidy.

He said, “The delay in the release of subsidy is hurting my business interests.” He said small-scale industrialists from border districts already suffered from locational disadvantages. He has been waiting for the release of Rs 10-lakh capital subsidy.

Another entrepreneur Sourav Seth said his family was in the textile trade for generations and wanted to upgrade the business to manufacturing and processing. But that dream has remained unfulfilled. The industrial policy 2003 had given them a ray of hope to set up of a textile unit. He said the offer of capital subsidy tempted them to risk investing in establishing a new unit in the border district.

He said the profit margin is already low in the textile trade due to intense competition. “The delay had added to our problems,” he added.

Textile Manufacturers’ Association president Hardit Singh Makhni said there were about 121 claimants for the capital subsidy from Amritsar and Tarn Taran. Early release of funds would help these industrialists to compete with their counterparts in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir, who are better placed due to extension of tax holiday.

Amritsar, August 3
After more than two weeks since the death of deputy DEO and noted writer Jasbir Singh Jass, representatives of various teachers’ unions have alleged that the Department of Education and the authorities concerned have not taken any action against DEO Sunita Karan, who allegedly humiliated Jass so much that he died of cardiac arrest.

A delegation of teachers submitted a memorandum with the officiating Deputy Commissioner Priyank Bharti, seeking transfer of the DEO. They have also demanded that a high-level probe be conducted into the allegations leveled by Jass before his death.

Jass, a noted writer and Shiromani Bal-Sahit Lekhak award winner, was writing a letter to the state Education Minister alleging ill treatment at the hands of the DEO. He also alleged irregularities in the department. He died of a cardiac arrest on July 19. Various teachers unions have formed a joint action committee.

Addressing mediaperosns, Ajit Kaur, wife of Jass, alleged that Jass was being humiliated by the DEO due to which he was going through depression and was under constant pressure. She alleged that Jass was not given an appropriate place in the office and was asked to sit near the seat of the office peon.

The staff of Sarb Sikhya Abhiyan also gave in writing that Sunita Kiran was pressuring the staff to give statements in her favour.

The teachers said they would soon meet the Director General School Education and Secretary Education in this regard. They said the joint action committee would also submit representations to the local MLAs to seek their support.

Amritsar, August 3
Celebrations of the World Breast Feeding Week were launched at a function organised by the district administration at the Jallianwala Bagh Memorial Civil Hospital here today.

Civil Surgeon Dr Hardeep Singh Ghai said various activities would be held in the district to create awareness about the importance of a mother’s feed for an infant.

Dr Ghai said newborn children should be given mother’s feed immediately after birth. Terming the mother’s milk as a birth right of every child, the experts warned mothers against feeding a child with a bottle.

District Family Welfare Officer Dr Ranjit Singh Buttar said chances of infection and other medical problems increase because of bottle feeding.

Senior Medical Officer Dr Balbir Singh Dhillon said no other substance such as ‘janam gutti’ be given to the newborn. “Mother’s milk helps the child develop immunity against various diseases immediately after birth,” said Dhillon.

Child specialist Dr Naresh Chawla spoke about the correct posture and position in which a child should be administered feed. He also demonstrated a technique to breast feed twins at once.

Amritsar, August 3
A blood donation camp was organised by Pingalwara Charitable Society to mark the 20th death anniversary of its founder Bhagat Puran Singh. College students and volunteers donated 250 units of blood at the camp, said Dr Inderjit Kaur, society’s president.

She welcomed various dignitaries and lauded the role of Bhagat Puran Singh for establishing Pingalwara institution which has helped thousands of people since its inception.

She said donating blood helps save life and the volunteers have shown the way for others to donate blood.

The head of Pathology at Government Medical College, Dr Amarjit Singh, inaugurated the camp.

He lauded the role of the volunteers. Manager of the premises SS Rahi said an exhibition of artifacts crafted by the inmates besides a painting competition would be organised tomorrow. 

Amritsar, August 3
Sadar police has booked eight persons, including former sarpanch of Nangali Bhatha village, in a case of molestation and assault.

Victim’s mother Ranjit Kaur, in her statement to the police alleged that Jatinder Kumar of Dayanand Nagar on the Fatehgarh Churian road struck his shoulder against her daughter.

She said when her daughter protested the accused molested her.

She alleged when a resident of the area Harpreet Singh tried to stop the accused, the accused took him to the house of Babbu where they thrashed and injured him.

The accused include Jatinder Kumar, Babbu, Gurbachan Singh, Kashmir Singh, Shindi Doctor, Sukha, former sarpanch, Akhil and Love.

A case under Section 354, 341, 342, 323, 506, 148, 149 IPC has been registered against them.

Investigating officer Subeg Singh said no arrest has been made so far.

Amritsar, August 3
Harjit Singh Nikku, a resident of Jai Singh Chowk, Gillwali Gate, was killed on the spot after he was run over by a speeding truck at Bhagtawala area today.

The incident took place when he was returning home after buying milk from a dairy near the Bhagtanwala grain market.

The speeding truck hit the scooter driven by the victim from behind.

The body of the deceased was crushed under the tyres of the truck. The driver of the truck fled the spot leaving the truck behind.

Harjinder Kaka, brother of the deceased, said his brother used to get milk from the dairies near the grain market everyday.

He said the truck hit his scooter from behind killing him on the spot.

Sushil Kumar, SHO Gate Hakima police station said a case under Section 304-A IPC has been registered against the unidentified driver who is absconding.

He said the body has been handed over to the family.