Amritsar, September 23
The cash-strapped Municipal Corporation (MC) has made a plan to collect the recently approved property tax to fill its coffers.

In order to collect the property tax MC Commissioner DPS Kharbanda today divided the city in eight zones and earmarked areas and deputed staff to efficiently collect the tax. A three-member team has been assigned to each zone to collect self-declaration forms with the online computer system and bank transaction arrangement to collect tax from the owners of residential and commercial properties.

He held a meeting with officials of the House Tax Department and civic body to chart out the next course of action. During the meeting they deliberated on the government directions to collect property tax from the city residents as per the new norms and issue necessary directions to them.

It is learnt that in the past, various Centre Government projects, including those falling under the Jawahar Lal Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), were stalled owing to non-availability of matching grant with the MC. Corporation officials, which aimed to collect between Rs 40 crore to Rs 50 crore in the first year of the introduction of the tax, feel that with the collection of this amount it would be in a position to fund the civic projects for providing better amenities.

Kharbanda said people who owned 50 and 100 sq yd house had to pay Rs 50 and Rs 100, respectively, per year and those having houses above 100 sq yd had to shell out anything between Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500.

He informed that the property owners could get 10 per cent rebate on the tax by depositing the same before October 30 while December 31 is the last date for depositing the tax. Delay beyond this date would attract penalty, which would keep increasing with the time. The payment of the tax after December would attract 25 per cent penalty, after March 31 the penalty would increase to 50 per cent, plus 18 per cent interest.

Meanwhile, a senior citizen, NS Gabarhia, criticised the government for levying the tax and found it unreasonable. "The entire material, like bricks, sand and cement, used during the house construction is taxed by the government. Then the property tax means that the government turns the owner of a house into a tenant in his own house. Earlier, the self-occupied house was exempted of the house tax. The plea for implementing the property tax could not be termed rationale," he added.

Detail of zones

Zone No 1 is Kesari Bagh, which covers Ward 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29 and 41. It has Ram Bagh, Bhushan Pura, Jallianwala Bagh, Lakkad Mandi, Ghanta Ghar chowk, Katra Ahluwalia, Chowk Farid, Katra Sher Singh, Town Hall, telephone exchange, Maha Singh Gate, Shera Wala Gate, truck stand, Gali Subedara, Kesri Bagh, East Mohan Nagar, Brahmbuta Market, Azad Nagar, Bagh Ramanand, Katra Baghia, Gokul ka Bagh and Golden Temple. Zone No 1-A is Sultanwind Gate, which covers Ward 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 40. It has New Pratap Nagar, right side of the Jalandhar-Amritsar road, right side of Ranjhe di Haveli, Sultanwind road, New Kapur Nagar, Gurnam Nagar, Kot Mit Singh and New Azad Nagar.

Zone number 2 is Lahori Gate, which covers Ward 48, 49, 53, 55, 56, 57 58, 60, 61 and 62. It has Pink Plaza, Gol Bagh, Durgiana Abadi, Hindustan Basti, outside Hall Gate, Lahori Gate, Guru Nanak Pura, Wariyam Singh Colony, Adarsh Nagar, 22 Nagar Phatak, Islamabad, Niwi Abadi, Kishan Kot, Mehar Pura, Anandpur Kutiya, Guru Nanak Pura Main, Jand Pir Road, Indra Colony, Haripura, Hakima Gate, Railway Crossing, M Point, Kot Khalsa, Dhapai, Chabhal road and Fatahpur.

Zone Nos 3, 3-A and 4 are Bhagtan Wala, which covers Ward 35 to 39, 41 to 44, 58 and 59. It has Jaspal Nagar, New Jaspal Nagar, Kot Atma Ram, Kot Saligram, Jodh Nagar, Namdev Colony, SUS Nagar, New SUS Nagar, outside Gilwali Gate, Gujjar Pura, Guru Gobind Singh Nagar, Guru Nanak Colony, Arjun Nagar, Ishwar Nagar, Kot Mangal Singh, Ganda Singh Colony, Uttam Nagar, Gurdev Nagar, Gali Murrabay Wali, Krishna Nagar, Nagar Nigam Colony, Kot Mahna Singh Colony, Himmat Pura and Kot Karnail Singh. Zone No 5 is Sewa Nagar, near Puttalighar, which covers Ward 3, 4 and 51 to 54. It has Guru Amardas Avenue A, B and C blocks, Palah Sahib Road, Pind Mahalla, Adarsh Nagar, Nikka Singh Colony, Sewa Nagar, Azad Nagar, Ittehad Nagar, Puttalighar Bazaar, Mohni Park, Kabir Park, New Mohni Park, Guru Arjan Dev Nagar, Chah Nihanga, left side of Court Road, Ideal Lane, Mahindra Colony, Rani ka Bagh Mata ka Mandir, Gawal Mandi, Majitha House, Sur Mandi, Ahata Allah Baksh, near gurdwara Pipli Sahib and Gali Kapura Wali.

Zone Nos 6 and 6-A are Company Bagh, which covers Ward 5 to 15, 22, 50 and 51. It has Company Bagh, Lawrence Road, Shastri Nagar, Maqbool Road, Old Jail road, Race Course road, Ranjit Avenue, Taylor road, Mall Road, Basant Avenue, Majitha Road, Green Avenue, Fatehgarh Churiyan road, Gopal Nagar, Bank Avenue, Tagore Avenue, Basant Nagar, Nehru Colony, Gokal Nagar, Vijay Nagar, Rajinder Nagar, Tondon Nagar, Sandhu Colony, Jawahar Nagar, Jagdambay Colony, Indra Colony, Diamond Avenue, Tung Bala, Aman Avenue, She-e-Punjab Avenue, Green Field, Mustafabad, Left side of Verka, Guru Nagar, Shastri Nagar, Friends Colony, Kashmir Avenue, Bhawani Nagar, Vishal Vihar, Parkash Vihar, Kirpal Colony, Gulmohar Avenue, Dhup Sarhi, Verka, Subhash Colony and Sant Nagar.

Zone No 7 is near bus stand, which covers Ward 16 to 22, 26 to 28, 31 and 32. It has Hussainpura, Tehsilpura, Ahata Number 100, Ram Bagh, City Centre, Golden Avenue, bus stand, Hyde Market, Outer Circle road, IDH market, Gill road, New Golden Avenue, left side of Ram Talai road to the GT road up to Tara Wala Pul, Mehta road, Focal Point, Maqboolpura, Rajinder Nagar Vallah, Mohkapura, Krishna Nagar, Judge Nagar, Dharampura, Shivala Colony, Sunder Nagar, Kangra Colony, Verka, Chali Khoo, Jora Phatak, Krishna Nagar, Hukam Singh road, Chowdhary Hari Singh Nagar, Dashmesh Nagar, New Dashmesh Nagar, Sun City, Rajesh Nagar and Preet Nagar.

Zone No 8 is Chheharta, which covers Ward 1, 2, 54, 62 to 65. It has Chheharta, Khand Wala, Dashmesh Avenue, Kartar Nagar, OCM Mill, Ghanupur Kale, Guru ki Wadali, Bhalla Colony, Sandhu Colony, Nimla Avenue, Naraingarh, Het Ram Colony, Sanh Sahib road, Hukam Chand Colony and New Model Town.

Besides, an inquiry office has been opened at Town Hall, which houses the MC office.

Amritsar, September 23
Residents of Ward 18 of the Municipal Corporation has threatened to initiate indefinite hunger strike outside the residence of Chief Parliamentary Secretary Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu and Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora if the problems of sewerage and water supply are not solved in their ward by October 5.

The residents had started a hunger strike on September 12 demanding that problems of sewerage and water supply be solved in their locality. However next day (September 13), Dr Sidhu and Mayor Arora had assured them of getting the problems solved within a week, alleged residents of the locality. The residents had ended the protest on the assurance of the duo.

Iqbal Singh Tung, an area resident, said, “Nothing has been done so far. Even after two weeks, the MC has not even started the work.” He said people were forced to drink water mixed with sewage.

Another resident Kashmir Singh said, “The sewerage system in the area is choked and the dirty water often overflows onto streets.” He said area residents want that the problem be solved at the earliest as the MLA and Mayor had themselves assured them.

The residents warned that if the MC failed to fulfil their demands by October 5, they would be forced to start their protest again.

Amritsar, September 23
The district Health Department has said eight confirmed cases of dengue have been reported from various hospitals in the district till date. District Epidemiologist Dr Charanjit Singh said around 22 suspected cases of dengue were reported in the district, out of which eight were confirmed positive.

The Health Department has made it mandatory for private hospitals, clinics and physicians to report any suspected dengue and malaria case to the department as and when it is reported.

The department then sends its own team to collect samples of the suspected patient and get it tested from Government Medical College, after which the confirmation is made.

Dr Charanjit Singh said isolated wards had already been set up at the Civil Hospital, Government Medical College, subdivisional hospitals at Baba Bakala and Ajnala. He said Government Medical College and the Civil Hospital were also equipped with platelet extraction machines.

The facility was provided at a subsidised rate and people must have faith in government hospitals, Dr Singh said, adding that people could also get their tests conducted free of cost from Government Medical College in case they suspected that they were suffering from dengue.

Amritsar, September 23
The police has arrested as 20 persons for allegedly involving in drug trafficking and bootlegging.

The city police nabbed Jagtar Singh, alias Jagga, of Fatehgarh Sahib, with 2 kg of poppy husk from the bus stand area.

Others who have been arrested are Jatinder Singh of Vallah (147 capsules), Harpal Singh and Sarabjit Singh of Batala (10 gm heorin), Harish Kumar of Mahan Singh Gate (5 gm heroin), Sohan Ram Pal of Islamabad (70 gm narcotic powder), Amit, alias Munna, of Anngarh (35 intoxicant injections), Amandeep Singh and Rohit Kumar of Rayya (10 gm heroin, 250 gm narcotic powder), Baldev Singh of Chhapa Ram Singh, Nikka Singh of Chaugawan village (88 capsules and 375 litres of illicit liquor), Randhir Singh of Jethuwal (37 litres) and Jagdish Singh of Maqboolpura (15 bottles).

Meanwhile, the Amritsar (Rural) police arrested Gopal Singh of Kotli Sakka and Sukhwant Singh of Hoshiarnagar with 100 and 200 intoxicant capsules, while Parmjit Singh of Tora Kola, Bunty of Jandiala, Gurpreet Singh and Manpreet Singh of Mehta and Maninder Singh of Tarsikka with 220 gm, 90 gm, 120 gm, 200 gm and 400 gms of narcotic powder, respectively.

Amritsar, September 23
The Civil Lines police claimed to have busted a gang of vehicle lifters active in the area.

The police has arrested two persons, including a former sarpanch of Mahal village, and recovered six motorcycles from their possession.

Those arrested have been identified as Nishan Singh, a resident of Hamidpura Colony, Naraingarh Chheharta, and former sarpanch Satnam Singh, who used to sell the stolen vehicles.

The police authorities revealed that during a naka at C-Block, Ranjit Avenue, they intercepted Nishan Singh, who tried to escape after seeing the police party. The police recovered 10 gm heroin from his possession, while the motorcycle he was riding on was also found to be stolen one. After interrogation, the police recovered three more motorcycles from his house.

He told the police that he used to steal vehicles from various parts of the city and later give to Satnam Singh, who used to sell the same in the market. On his tip-off. the police arrested Satnam and recovered two more motorcycles.

A case under Sections 379 and 411 of the IPC and NDPS Act has been registered against them and further investigations are being made.

Amritsar, September 23
The miscreants continue to target power transformers installed in the fields in villages. In recent instances, the offenders strike in the villages, falling under Bhindisaida police station area in Amritsar rural belt. They stole various valuable parts of the transformers, including costly copper wire in as many as five villages in less than a month, thereby causing heavy losses to the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL).

Tejinder Kumar, sub-divisional officer, Jathra house, has lodged a complaint with the police in this regard.

In a written complaint to the police, the SDO stated that the wrong doers stole the costly parts of 16 kV transformer belonging to Gurmukh Singh of Bhaggupur village, 25 kV transformer of Gram Panchayat, 10kV transformer of Toor village, 10 kV transformer installed in the agricultural fields of Arjun Singh and another transformer belonging to Lakha Singh of Bhindisaida.

The Bhindisaida police has registered a case of theft against unidentified persons in this connection.

It is pertinent to mention here that there has been a considerable rise in transformer theft cases especially in border region as the thieves can steal them without much difficulty and make fast buck by selling various parts, including copper wire, iron frame, etc. They mainly target the low capacity transformers, including 6 kV, 10 kV, 16 kV and 25 kV fitted in the far away agricultural fields.

The thieves target these transformers as these contain a huge amount of copper which is sold in the market at around Rs 300 per kg. Also, they could sell every part of the transformer, including iron frame to junk dealers and make money without much effort. Maximum of cases are reported in Amritsar followed by Tarn Taran and Gurdaspur.

While the accused are striking at their will, the power corporation as well as the Police Department is finding it difficult to take control of the problem.

A PSPCL official said it was difficult to secure every transformer as they were installed far flung in the fields. During late nights, the thieves easily entered the fields and commit the crime without coming into the notice of the villagers.

Amritsar, September 23
A mere look at over dozen complaints decided by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum in the recent history reveals that buying an insurance policy for any medical exigencies is not an easy solution as the insurance company claims while selling the policy.

Not until the insurer is ready to fight a long legal battle to let the consumer forums decide that the claim was wrongly repudiated. In over 12 separate cases pertaining to complaints regarding the denial of medical claims by insurance companies, the forum had pronounced that claims were wrongly denied.

In most of these the companies gave a reason that the patient who was insured had concealed the facts of his medical history and thus was not liable to be compensated.

However, in all these cases decided by the forum, it was observed that the company could not produce any document to prove that the insured had concealed his or her medical history.

In a case decided in August this year, the forum has directed ‘The Oriental Insurance Company’ to pay Rs 3.06 lakh to a local resident whose claim was earlier repudiated stating that the insured had concealed facts of his medical history.

In another complaint decided by the forum in same month, it ordered ICICI Lombard to pay the insurance amount to the widow of a policeman who was killed while cleaning his pistol wherein the company had took a stand that the death was not an accident but suicide. Despite the fact, that the Police Department had treated the deceased as a martyr.

Talking about this trend among companies to deny compensation to insured, Advocate Kuljit Singh said, “A large chunk of complaints filed before the forum are against insurance companies. There might be other cases where people are not educated enough to file a case.”

Not only in medical insurance claims, even in cases of theft of vehicles, the claims were denied on flimsy grounds. In another complaint against Oriental Insurance Company the claim for theft of a bike was denied on the pretext that owner had violated the terms of the policy by not taking good care of his vehicle.

In this case too, the forum had stated that it was not justified to deny the claim.

Amritsar, September 23
Harminder (Postgraduate) and Gagandeep (Graduate) won the titles of “Mr Fresher” while Sahiba (Postgraduate) and Maneesha (Graduate) were honoured with the title of “Ms Fresher” during the Freshers’ party that was hosted by the CKD Institute of Management and Technology to welcome the newcomers for the academic session 2013-14.

It was an ideal experience for the students to get involved in the college. Its motto was to strengthen the bonds among seniors and juniors and to make them acquainted with faculty and branch so that the freshers’ may feel at home after being an integral part of the institute. Nonetheless, in another round of events, Jasraj was adjudged as “Mr Handsome” and Sonia as “Ms Charming”.

The gala event commenced with lightening ceremony of the lamp by the chief guest, Sandip Rishi, chairman, Amritsar Improvement Trust and Charanjit Singh Chadha, president, Chief Khalsa Diwan Charitable Society, along with esteemed members of the Chief Khalsa Diwan. Principal of the Institute Dr HS Sandhu welcomed the graceful personalities present in the party. “The basic aim was to recognise the fresh talent of the college. The occasion also brought among them a spirit of team unity through good interaction. I was mesmerised with the quality and energy level of the students,” he said.

Students dressed in Punjabi costumes and turbans added a Punjabi grace to the party. Modeling session was conducted in which students attired in various designs walked on the ramp. An entertaining cultural programme comprising belle and salsa dance, songs and bhangra encouraged the students’ creative impulses to boost their confidence.

Chadha also welcomed new students to the college and encouraged them to work hard to fetch good results thereby adding glory to the college.

Amritsar, September 23
As long as one could remember, Punjabi culture is deeply connected and reflected by its food. So, for a chef, who has once made the city proud by putting its culture and food under spotlight, it’s an obvious choice of interest. Masterchef fame and city based chef Jyoti Arora is ready to add another feather on her chef’s hat.

Exploring the forgotten recipes and cooking techniques of the undivided Punjab, Jyoti has compiled a book of never before tried recipes from the foodies’ paradise.

After turning her Grandma’s and mother’s secret recipes into Michelin Star dishes at her stint on Masterchef, Jyoti is now taking on the traditional and ancient recipes of Punjab. “It was always on my mind. I searched out extensively for the traditional recipes of the undivided Punjab which comprises of Punjab in India and Pakistan, Haryana, and parts of Himachal Pardesh. Since, we were a region rich in food culture and cooking techniques, it makes for an interesting exploration,” says Jyoti.

Attempting to trace the culinary history and restore the recipes and simplifying them for today’s culinary trends, Jyoti has been researching for over a year. “The food earlier was considered an art form, made strictly with tedious techniques. Some recipes are tricky, and long forgotten. I have worked on simplifying them, explaining the original procedure along with modern day modifications.”

She also gives us some of the recipes she is attempting to resurrect in her book. “Kukkar Muchan, a dish which takes hours to cook and was a signature Punjabi dish is one such recipe. Another one called Meat Ka Halwa, a non-veg dessert is another one. I have got inputs from across the border, some friends in Pakistan, people sharing secret recipes passed down the generations. I want to spill all beans with my book.”

The yet-to-be-titled book is ready with its compilation and would most probably hit the shelves early next year. So how tough a task was to turn writer from a chef. “It was a tedious task. I had to try each recipe three times, just to make sure I get it the right way. These amazingly delicious recipes were made on sigdis and angithis but since we don’t have that much space and resources as well as time, simplifying them was the best way possible,” she explains.

Jyoti, who is currently doing a cookery show on Doordarshan called Zaika, is eagerly awaiting the book’s launch. “I want to give quality culinary experience to people with my cooking and understanding of food. I want to change the concept of home cooked food and this book will be a positive nudge in the direction.”

Amritsar, September 23
An NGO Mission Aagaaz organised an awareness seminar on drug abuse at Kot Khalsa locality here today. During the programme, the area residents were educated about the ill effects of various kinds of drugs as tobacco, gutka, alcohol, smack, heroin and habit-forming medicines.

Dr Purshotam Lal from Saathi organisation distributed books on drugs and urged the audience to be alert from the menace of drugs as it has spread its tentacles deep inside our society.

The NGO also announced its support for anti-drugs campaign started by former DGP Shashi Kant.

Deepak Babbar of Mission Aagaaz said the reason for easy availability of psychotropic drugs and the smuggling of sophisticated drugs from across the border is directly related with the politicians-police-drug mafia nexus and this unholy nexus needs to be razed completely in the better interest of the future generations.

He said the situation had aggravated due to the absence of political will to wipe out this evil from its root. “On one hand, the Punjab Government boasts of earning huge revenue from the sale of liquor while on the other hand its ministers speak against its use,” said Babbar.

Gurbhej Singh of Mission Aagaaz said if the government was really interested in keeping the youth of Punjab in good health it should first put a strict ban on the sale of liquor.

Amritsar, September 23
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)’s director on Health, Safety and Environment Group Dr DN Sharma has announced that India’s nuclear reactors are one of the safest in the world.

Addressing the 83rd National Workshop on Radiochemistry and Applications of Radioisotopes (NWRAR) at Khalsa College here today, he said all reactors and nuclear power plants adhere to the topmost safety measures and environment safety guidelines.

Dr Sharma, who is also a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), cited the instance of the radiation accident that took place last year at Mayapuri in Delhi and how the safety measures had worked. He said there was plan to equip 1,000 police stations with the radiation monitors in the country.

Delivering lecture on `Nuclear Emergencies and Methods of Response’ he said being a member of the National Disaster Management Authority he was aware that the Authority has data with it how and where any emergency can occur and the correct method to react. The workshop has galaxy of the nuclear scientists gathered from all over the country. The week-long workshop would continue till September 28, said Khalsa College principal Dr Daljit Singh, who honoured Dr Sharma on arriving at the college campus.

The workshop, he informed, was being organised by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) with the collaboration of college’s Physics Department and sponsored by the Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences, Mumbai. Among others prominent speakers, included Dr Ramakumar, AVR Reddy, Dr SK Aggarwal, Dr Sarbjit Singh, Dr Rajesh Pai, Dr Gursharan Singh and Dr Veena Sagar.