Amritsar, July 11
In a damage-control exercise in the monsoon season, the Municipal Corporation (MC) today started the demolition of dilapidated structures located within the walled city area.

Last year in this season, a number of such structures had collapsed, leading to the loss of lives.

Out of a total of 132 structures, century-old structures, located in Chowk Passian and Cheel Mandi, were got vacated before dismantling these.

Teams of the Town Planning Department executed the demolition drive.

Officials said this exercise would be carried out in a phased manner. The occupants of these unsafe buildings were served a fortnight's notice on June 20 to vacate these buildings and move to some safer place.

An official said the deadline of this notice has passed, that's why the operation of demolishing these rickety structures was taken up today.

Earlier, the MC was hesitant to go ahead with its plans to raze these buildings due to a legal hitch, as a number of cases are lying pending in court owing to owner-tenant feuds.

Hundreds of such dilapidated buildings are there in areas like Dharam Singh market, Katra Ahluwalia Bazaar, Namak Mandi, Gali Chhajju and Guru Bazaar Pratap Bazaar, Cheel Mandi, Ghantagarh, Haveli Zamadara. Many such buildings are located adjacent to or on way to the Jallianwala Bagh and the Golden Temple, which is visited by over 1 lakh tourists daily.

Another cause of concern is that a substantial number of these rickety buildings have been put to use for commercial purposes, running various trades for many decades. Consequently, narrow lanes here would be thickly occupied all the time because these sites cater to the daily needs of residents.

These buildings not only cause disaster for their occupants, but put the lives of others, who live in the adjoining buildings, in danger.

"Whenever it rains, we get scared and prey to God to save the dilapidated building adjoining to our homes because no one knows when it would fall and damage our houses too," said the residents living close to these rickety houses.

Amritsar, July 11
Following the Punjab Government’s announcement of setting a deadline of August 25 for illegal colonies to submit their requisite documents to start the process of legalising these, the Amritsar administration has geared up to work out the modalities of the tax-realisation process.

Officially, there are over 200 illegal colonies in Amritsar, whereas the unofficial figure in this regard is almost the double. The civic authorities could not accept any cess or development charges from the colonisers/residents because of their status being "unauthorised".

Taking a liberal view towards it, the state government, in June last, had formulated a comprehensive policy to regularise unauthorised colonies and structures. This move is aimed at benefiting about 5,000 such habitats and around 2 lakh individuals plot holders/ building owners' across the state.

The policy would be applicable for a period of one year i.e. from April 1, 2013, to March 31, 2014, in the entire state. Only those unapproved colonies or the buildings constructed before the April 1, 2013, would be considered under this policy.

The policy focuses on bringing all unauthorised colonies/buildings into the planning framework and to regularise the development, which would further facilitate the smooth implementation of the master plans across the state to ensure the entire urban development in a holistic manner.

Amritsar, July 11
Even as the government is running the Mid-day Meal Scheme to achieve the ambitious target of 100 per cent literacy and reduce malnutrition among children, a majority of the government-aided schools in this border district have not introduced the scheme so far.

As per the data available with the Mid-day Meal wing in the Education Department, not more than 20 government-assisted schools adopted the scheme for their students, said Mid-Day Meal Scheme manager Santokh Singh. There are nearly 65 government-assisted schools operational in the city. Of these, 25 schools are primary and 40 are upper primary schools. Besides, students from 1,070 schools, including 865 elementary, 414 upper primary and 245 of innovative education, were benefiting from the scheme.

About 97,000 students from primary schools and nearly 60,000 from upper primary schools are benefiting from the scheme.

As per the norms, block education officers (BEOs) approach the managements of those schools which are being run in their blocks and intimate these about the scheme. A majority of these BEOs maintain that the managements of government-aided schools declined to introduce the scheme, as it diverted their focus from the main task of imparting education. These managements cite that the scheme was for those students whose parents were employed on low wages and sending children to school means not only incurring extra financial burden but also depriving them of some money which their children would have earned otherwise by doing labour.

The Central assistance under the Mid-day Meal Scheme has been hiked by about 7 per cent from July 1. Now, a student of the upper primary class was getting Rs 5 per meal, which was Rs 4.65 and a student from the primary wing was getting Rs 3.34 per meal which Rs 3.11.

It may be mentioned that the Union government had launched the scheme of the National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education, also known as Mid-Day-Meal Programme, on October 2, 1995.

Amritsar, July 11
In a bizarre development, the Amritsar rural police has registered a case regarding an accident which occurred around a year ago which claimed the life of an army man.

The police had initiated action under criminal procedure code (174 CrPC) at that time.

Balbir Singh and Tarsem Singh, both constables in the Army who were deputed at Army Cantonment, Beas, met with an accident after they were hit by a speeding car, numbering UP-07-G-5900, on June 11, 2012, being driven by an unidentified person.

Both constables, who were on a scooter, sustained serious injuries and were admitted to Millitary Hospital, Jalandhar. On June 23, Balbir Singh succumbed to his injuries. Sub-inspector Jaswant Singh initiated the action under Section 174 of the CrPC instead of registering a criminal case against the car driver.

While the deceased's family members approached the high court for the registration of a case which served a legal notice to the police department recently, the police authorities initiated a departmental inquiry against Jaswant Singh which found that the sub-inspector did not take proper action as per the facts.

Manmohan Singh, SSP, Amritsar rural police district, finding this report, ordered the Beas police to register a case and hold necessary investigations on June 15 after taking the statements of Tarsem Singh.

Harkrishan Singh, SHO, Beas police station, said the only fault of Jaswant Singh was that he should have registered a case and started investigations instead of initiating action under the CrPC.

He said at the time of the incident, it was found that it was the fault of the deceased, Balbir Singh, which led to the accident.

“Whatever was the reason behind the incident, the police officials concerned should have registered a case and commenced a probe in this connection,” said Harkrishan Singh.

A health official (right) inspects samples in Amritsar on Wednesday

Crackdown on units

• An illegal noodle factory operating under highly unhygienic conditions in Alibaksh Road area was sealed on April 4
• A unit manufacturing burgers and buns was also busted by the Health Department recently
• On February 28, an illegal sauce factory and noodle factory operating in Alibaksh road area were sealed
• The department had also sealed two masala factories in Dhab Basti Ram on May 28 while a pickle factory was also busted in Ram Bagh area the same day

Tough to trace illegal factories

• The Health Department says most of these illegal factories operate from residential areas and it really becomes difficult to trace them in highly populated areas
• The officials say that the residents should cooperate with them in supplying relevant information about such factories operating from their areas

Amritsar, July 11
After a long wait of 26 years, the residents of 10 colonies on GT Road would finally see the setting up of a park in Pratap Nagar.

The park was part of the blueprint of the Town Planning (TP) scheme which was approved in 1987.

But due to a lackadaisical approach of the Municipal Corporation and the alleged connivance of its officials with the land mafia, a plot measuring 2,200 square yards originally meant for the park, was sold off to various people.

Unauthorised ownership of the same plot has seen change of many hands. Three residential structures have already been raised on a portion of the land leaving just about 1,200 square yards of vacant land. Over a period of time, the price of this prime property has gone up manifold.

On the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Municipal Corporation constituted a four-member inquiry committee which gave verdict in favour of the park as mentioned in the original scheme, said sources.

Municipal and Town Planner (MTP) Des Raj said the report had been prepared and sent to the MC House but he declined to share the contents of the report. He said 46 people were heard during the course of public hearings.

About the fate of three houses already been constructed at the site, he said they would certainly have to be demolished.

Three other members of the committee were Senior Deputy Mayor Avtar Singh Truckawala, Chairman, Senior Town Planner and Superintendent Civil Engineer (MC).

The HC on a civil writ petition filed in 2008 had directed the Local Government in March 2011 to take a decision on park within five months after taking the opinion of the general public and various stakeholders. The then Municipal Corporation Commissioner DP Gupta had constituted a four-member inquiry committee to listen to public grievances and resolve the matter.

The MC issued a public notice through advertisements in newspapers in some dailies in December 2012 inviting objections and suggestions for setting up the approved park on the place within 30 days.

The area residents maintain that if set up the park, the park would serve as a green belt for Pratap Nagar, New Partap Nagar, Sant Avenue, Gokal Ka Bagh, Azad Nagar, New Azad Nagar, Tirath Nagar, Pritam Nagar and Amrik Singh Colony on the GT Road near Maqboolpura.

It is alleged that the kin of some officials of the Local Bodies Department had raised houses on the area meant for the park. In a letter to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate-1 on May 7, 2010, a copy of which is with The Tribune, the Municipal Town Planner said, "As per the layout plan of the TP scheme number 75, the area falling under khasra number 1984 has been shown as a park. Three dwellings have been raised on the place while about 1,200 square yards of land was lying vacant."

The Municipal Town Planner said only 1,200 square yards of open area is available at present which is in the possession of the government. He said the same plot was earlier owned by one Kulwant Rai and subsequently sold further to two persons. He said an unauthorised structure had come up on a part of the park but was later demolished.

Amritsar, July 11
The District Health Department has issued challans to 294 people in the month of June for violating the ban on smoking at public places in the city. The department has collected a total of Rs 15,000 as fine from the violators, said District Health Officer Dr Shivkaran Singh Kahlon.

Kahlon said under the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition) Act 2003, the sale of tobacco products within 100-yard periphery of educational institutions,besides sale of tobacco to minors and smoking at public places is against the law.

He said health teams were continuously keeping a vigil across the city to curb the tendency of smoking at public places. The district was declared a smoke-free area last year after which smoking at public places was prohibited.

Even as the Health Department keeps issuing challans to violators on a regular basis, a visit to various areas in the city, especially during late evening hours, would reveal that smokers have not taken the guidelines seriously. Blatant violation of rules by smokers is rampant.

The sale of gutka and other chewing tobacco products is also banned in the district. Residents said there was a need to implement the ban in true spirit so that the city could be made smoke free in a true sense.

"All the departments concerned, especially the police, should help in curbing the menace," said Satpal Singh, a resident.

Dr Kahlon said all the departments in the district were empowered to check the violations in their respective areas. He said Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal had directed all the departmental heads to work for curbing the menace.

Amritsar, July 11
Monetary disputes are on the rise in Amritsar, if cases being registered in various police stations in the district are of any indication.

The Lopoke police recently booked Ranjit Singh, Amandeep Singh and Jagbir Singh, all residents of Lopoke, for allegedly attacking and injuring Amrik Singh of the same village. A monetary dispute between the two groups is stated to be the reason behind the incident. Amrik told the police that he was stopped by the accused and beaten up with sticks. The police registered a case in this connection.

A man committed suicide as he was under pressure for returning money which he had borrowed from several persons on high interest. He committed suicide by consuming some poisonous substance after he was threatened by the accused against whom the police has registered a case on charges of abetment to suicide.

In another incidence, a few persons were booked for defrauding Maninder Singh of Basant Avenue area who lodged a complaint before the Civil Lines police. He said Rajinderpal and his son Inderpal Singh took Rs 46 lakh from him for business purpose as they suffered a huge loss. He said the accused returned only Rs 9.50 lakh in cheque while promised to give Rs 6 lakh in installments. He said the culprits did not return the remaining amount of Rs 30.50 lakh. When he demanded the money, the accused threatened to kill him, he said.

Joginder Pal of Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar in Jalandhar told the police that Pavijit Singh, Ajit Singh and his wife Bhupinder Kaur got his Rs 4.60 lakh invested in their business and promised to give the profit every month. He said the accused did not return any money in the form of profit to him while the cheques they had given got bounced.

"We often come across a number of complaints in which people even want to lodge cases against their relatives," said ADCP (Crime) HS Brar. He said people wanted to earn quick money.

Amritsar, July 11
The Health Department today organised a function at the Jallianwala Bagh Martyrs Memorial Civil Hospital to observe the World Population Day. The department officials informed the public about the contraceptive measures which could be used to prevent pregnancies.

Assistant Civil Surgeon Dr Balwinder Kakkar said the government also gave an honorarium to persons going for vasectomy and tubectomy at government health institutions. He said marriage at an early age, illiteracy and unawareness about contraceptive measures at the government health institutions was resulting in an increase in population across the country.

Deputy Medical Commissioner Dr Prabhdeep Kaur deliberated on the harmful effects of explosive growth of population and stressed at having smaller families to ensure proper physical and mental growth of children.

District Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr Sushma Sondhi said during the next fortnight vasectomy and tubectomy operations would be conducted free of cost, besides providing other services.

Senior Medical Officer, Civil Hospital, Dr Ranjit Singh Buttar said it had been observed that fewer men in comparison to women were opting for permanent contraceptive techniques. He said men should be encouraged to undergo vasectomy as tubectomy for women is little more complicated which required anesthesia. He said to popularise vasectomy over tubectomy, the governments gave Rs 1,100 as cash prize to any eligible male going for it. A woman is given Rs 250 for tubectomy. However, women from BPL category are given Rs 650, he said.

Amritsar, July 11
The Amritsar Central Jail authorities have registered a case against three persons, including an undertrial and woman, for sneaking in currency and drugs for inmates.

Two separate cases have been registered at the Cantonment police station by the jail officials.

Deputy Superintendent Jail RK Sharma said Sukhjinder Singh, a resident of Amanat Khaan had come to see the undertrial Gurbinder Singh. After the meeting hours, Gurbinder Singh was searched and Rs 50,000 were recovered from his possession. Even as Sukhjinder Singh left, a case under Section 420/120-B of the IPC and Section 42 of the Prisoners Act 1894 has been registered against the two. In another incident, a woman identified as Amarjit Kaur, a resident of Baghichi Hari Ram Gawal Mandi, was arrested on the spot when she was trying to handover 4 gm of intoxicant substances to undertrial Bhupinder Singh, whom she had come to meet in the visiting enclosure.