Amritsar, November 20
After the inordinate delay in providing basic amenities in the 211-acre Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar scheme, known as the Maal Mandi area, now the allottees and residents of the 97-acre scheme in the Ranjit Avenue area are a harried lot after seeking civic amenities in their locality.

Dr MS Sidhu, who procured two plots with a combined area of 400 square yards, said the area was not conducive for staying due to absence of basic amenities. He procured these plots about three years ago.

He said, “My family has been living in a rented accommodation in Ranjit Avenue which costs me Rs 15,000 per month." He added that the living cost for his family had gone up as he was also paying interest on the loan he took to construct the house. He lamented that he had to lay over 200-metre wire to get a temporary residential connection. However, the Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) had charged for each basic amenity in the allotment cost.

About eight houses have come up on the 97-acre scheme and the owners were forced to pay high electricity bills as they have been given temporary power connections. They are now pleading with the improvement trust to provide basic amenities.

Tarun Bansal, another resident of the area who has constructed his house, said he procured the plot in December 2011 and made entire payment in one go instead of instalments. He added that the AIT had transferred and registered the plot in his name besides approving the building plan. Following the procedure he constructed the house on 200 square yard plot. However, he was shocked to learn that the PSPCL would only give temporary connection as the AIT had not laid the power cable.

He said under temporary connection, a unit costs Rs 13 instead of Rs 6 to 7. Besides, temporary connection is not sanctioned for more than 1 kw of load so they cannot operate heater, AC and other gadgets.

He added that for the past 15 months he had been paying heavely.

He said sewerage and water supply facilities were available but streetlights and power lines were missing. This made the area vulnerable to crimes. He reasoned that since the AIT charged Rs 17,000 per square yard which translates into a total of Rs 34 lakh for the plot besides Rs 1 lakh transfer fee, Rs 3.5 lakh registeration fee and building plan approval fee Rs 15,000.

When contacted Local Body Minister Anil Joshi, he said, “I had marked an inquiry in the case of Maal Mandi scheme and instructed the AIT to expeditiously provide amenities there.”

Amritsar, November 20
A day after the Municipal Town Planning department carried the demolition drive on allegedly illegal commercial units around the Golden Temple, the hoteliers whose premises were partially demolished yesterday termed them illegal.

While addressing mediapersons today, they alleged that the MC is acting as per a 'pick and choose policy and demanded that the properties of MTP officials need to be scrutinized.

One of the affected persons, Dr Jaswinder Singh Bhullar told that MTP officials possess unaccouinted properties which they had accumulated through their illegal means. “This demanded a thorough probe. These inspectors, ATPs and MTPs demand hefty bribe from the residents. Those who do not come to their terms would have to face the consequences. Yesterday, they were with a list of 17 properties, but took action only against one or two buildings. I was the worst sufferers and their action has incurred me a loss worth lakhs without any cause”, he said.

Bhullar further said, “This was our ancestral property already located in a commercial site since 1938. What was the need to damage it? Don’t we have right to utilize the roof tops in our own manner as I was ready to bear the penalty cost or any other charges. Still they demolished it and ruined us”.

On the other hand, MC Commissioner DPS Kharbanda told that these were baseless allegations and no justification could be done to make an illegal construction authorized.

“We had followed every legal path. The violators would be served upon 72-hour notices. The action was taken only after the lapse of notice term. No pick and choose policy was ever adopted. Other violators too would face the same action”, he clarified.

Amritsar, November 20
In a first, the Municipal Corporation has installed a huge LED display near the most-visited, highest Sikh pilgrimage centre, the Golden Temple, to project Amritsar at a glance.

This 13’X 8’ foot display-information screen was installed opposite the Golden Temple near Jallianwala Bagh. It was veiled by Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi in a customary ceremony here. Others present on the occasion included CPS Inderbir Bolaria, City Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora and MC Commissioner DPS Kharbanda.

The display will provide all details of significant spots, including religious or historical, besides flashing updates on flights, bus and rail timings to tourists.

The screen will also update the visitors about any upcoming events scheduled in the holy city.

Information about tourist destinations in and around the holy city has been fed in the LED, yet the transport timings and any further changes will be monitored through computerised terminals.

The display costing about Rs 10 lakh has been sponsored by a city-based jewellery house. Elaborating further, MC Commissioner DPS Kharbanda said not a single penny had been spent by the MC, as it was a cent per cent sponsored venture.

“We have engaged a Chandigarh-based company which would operate this display screen online. Whatever will be the updates in the information, it will be conveyed to the firm concerned, which will feed the matter accordingly”, he said.

“Besides, we will also update information about VVIP visits or any religious, social events or exhibition etc. scheduled here. We would also inform about places of interest, the distance and the various transport modes to reach the destinations, etc,” he added.

This LED display screen will be monitored and fed through the computer terminal installed on the Golden Temple premises. Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora said once it was fully operational, it would be a boon for the residents especially tourists visiting from abroad or other states as they would not be fleeced by taxi and auto-rickshaw owners.

Amritsar, November 20
Though the Municipal Corporation (MC) has set a target for recovery of property tax from residents, authorities have failed to mobilise manpower and plan the task with a clear strategy to achieve the target. The last date of depositing the property tax with 10 per cent rebate is November 30.

While the MC's drive to collect the property tax has been gathering steam, it is also facing a tough time to convince the residents especially those owning commercial establishments to pay their dues within a stipulated time frame. Its drive has met with a lukewarm response as the residents apparently expect further decline in charges if constant amendments in the tax realisation criteria by the Ministry of Local Bodies is anything to go by.

The tax which was calculated according to the prevailing collectorate rate, about 15 per cent at one point of time, it was further reduced to 7.5 per cent, followed by another decline of 3 per cent.

Similarly, for commercial rental properties, the property tax was reduced to just half i.e. from 10 per cent to 5 per cent. Now, it has been viewed that it may further nose dive up to one and a half per cent.

Confirming it, the Property Tax Nodal Officer, Rajinder Sharma, said the residents had been anticipating a further decline in the tax structure, which may or may not happen.

“There is still no official confirmation about the commercial rental property tax going down further, yet rumours abound that it will be just half of the prevailing criteria,” he said. Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora endorsed that it was one of the factors that residents behind residents being a bit shy of clearing their dues, as has been done in commercial cases but still the response from the residential units could not be termed as lukewarm.

“Today, we collected around Rs 17 lakh as property tax. From the commercial angle, it was unexpectedly low. The residents should not refrain from paying this miniscule amount which, too would be used back for their welfare only. The proprietor of the property is provided with a form which is self-assessed by him only, just on the pattern income tax return is filed”.

Nonetheless, even as the MC has tried to sensitise residents about depositing their property tax, applicable in the state from April 1, 2013, yet the pace with which the tax collection is pouring in, it may not achieve recovering full recovery by the stipulated period i.e. November 30. 

Amritsar, November 20
Even as the city bus service is likely to start by mid-December, its approaching roads are in dire straits.

A resident of the area Harpinder Singh Walia said entry road from the GT road had been lying kutcha for the past one year. He recalled that after years of request the road was laid nearly two years ago. Less than a year after its laying, it was dug up to replace the faulty sewerage. Since then it has been lying broken and clouds of dust result after the passage of any vehicle. Another resident of the area Sukhjinder Singh said people avoid to come to this side as they got enveloped with dust. He said all clothes and exposed body parts were soiled and they need to be washed.

Municipal Corporation Commissioner DPS Kharbanda said he had spoken to the Improvement Trust Chairman Sandeep Rishi over the matter to construct these roads.

Rishi said the approaching road to the city bus stand and the Trust’s Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Maal Mandi scheme would get the road laid. He said tenders had been floated and the work would start soon. He said the road would be completed by December 15.

The MC has incorporated a company the Amritsar City Transport Service Ltd (ACTSL), which has been referred to as "authority” to run this service. The proposal is to introduce this service on own, operate and maintain basis. There will be a total of 150 buses to be introduced in a phased manner, 30 low-floor AC, 25 semi-low floor non-AC, 70 mini-buses standard non-AC, 29 mini-buses AC.

The MC received Rs 11.66 crore, including Rs 8.33 crore from the Centre under JNNURM programme, and Rs 3.33 crore from the state for this project. The MC has also spent over Rs 7.28 lakh on consultancy and Rs 12.57 lakh on advertisements.

Amritsar, November 20
The Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences in association with the UGC-Academic Staff College (ASC) of GNDU conducted a three-week refresher course in environmental sciences. As many as 22 teachers from various higher educational institutes across the country are participating in this course.

Prof RK Kohli, Vice-Chancellor, DAV University, Jalandhar, inaugurated the refresher course.

Kohli in his address talked on preservation of environment today. “The need of the hour is to do something concrete by one and all,” he said.

He lamented that the political parties are not realising their responsibility towards such a huge challenge.

He was of the view that a right balance has to be struck between the development and the environment to confront this uphill task. He rued that despite the abundance of mineral resources, best climatic conditions, geographical location, our country lags behind in the human index indicators among the comity of nations. Prof Renu Bhardwaj, Department of Botanical & Environmental Sciences and Course Coordinator apprised the participants with the thrust area "Strategies for sustainable development" of the course.

Earlier, Prof Jaspal Singh Sandhu, Director, Academic Staff College welcomed the chief guest. Prof Sandhu expressed the hope that the refresher course would go a long way in acquainting teachers of various disciplines with the current issues of environment. Dr Adarsh Pal Vig, Head, Department of Botanical & Environmental Sciences proposed the vote of thanks. Other present on the occasion included, Prof Sukhdev Singh, Prof GS Virk, Prof Saroj Bala, Er Bhupinder Singh, Er MS Bhatti, Dr AS Soodan and research scholars.

Amritsar, November 20
A delegation from England in collaboration with the Rotary International today visited Sri Guru Harkrishan Senior Secondary Public School as part of its visit to India to eradicate polio. They were accorded a floral welcome and students presented cultural items depicting the Indian culture and tradition. They presented a qawali to welcome the delegates and entertained the audience with a bhangra performance. The delegates were mesmerised with the performance of students.

Leader of the delegation Mike said after his interaction with students of the school, he found the Indian students more disciplined and inclined towards gaining education. He was very pleased with the value-based education system of the school. They appreciated the infrastructure and functioning of the school. They admired the discipline and extra-curricular activities being imparted in the school. — TNS

Amritsar, November 20
The Dial 181 service, a toll-free police helpline service for women, children, senior citizens and NRIs launched by the Punjab Government in August, has been proving to be a boon for city residents.

So far, the city police have received a total of 563 complaints out of which 504 complaints have been redressed.

Police authorities said that out of 563 complaints, 30 complaints were from outside the city police area which have been forwarded to the police districts concerned. Out of the remaining 533 complaints, 504 had already been disposed of and the rest were received in the past few days and would be resolved soon, said Kuldeep Kumar, in charge of the police helpline here.

Though police authorities claimed that the helpline had received a great response not only in the city but in other parts of the state also, they said they would soon step up efforts to spread awareness among the public so that they could avail themselves of the services in a better way.

Kuldeep Kumar said a majority of the complaints received related to domestic, monetary and property disputes while the Police Department was also getting a number of complaints from girls of getting obscene calls or messages from unknown mobile numbers.

“In such cases, we have traced the mobile numbers and dealt with owners sternly," he said.

However, sometimes people also complain about property and civil disputes which are pending in the court. There is hardly any role of the Police Department in these cases.

Concerned over the rise in crimes against women and girls, the Punjab Government launched the toll-free service 181 in August this year. However, later on senior citizens, children and the NRI wings were also integrated with this service. Under the scheme, the government instructed the Punjab Police to resolve the complaints in a time-barred manner.

Police authorities said any one could dial the number and register his or her complaints even without disclosing their identity. The complaints could be against drug abuse, anti-social elements in their areas, corrupt practices of government officials, delaying tactics of police officials and lawlessness, etc.

Amritsar, November 20
A man died last evening in a private hospital following a road mishap that occurred on November 17. The victim has been identified as Vijay Kumar, a resident of Sant Avenue, Meera Kot.

Anoop Kumar, son of the deceased told the police that he along with his father was returning home on their bicycles when the accused struck his motorcycle in his father, who was seriously injured in the incident.

The police have arrested the accused, Parvin Kumar of Muzaffarpura, Bihar, in this connection.

A case under Section 304-A, IPC, and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code has been registered against him.