Amritsar, November 23
Life has become a virtual hell for the shopkeepers of Jahajgarh and transport area besides the inhabitants of the adjoining residential localities.

Thanks to the heaps of sands and dust accumulated in the area following digging up of roads to lay sewerage. Dust has been affecting the health of the people while plying two-wheelers even on the GT road.

“You travel the area for at least a week and you will develop some health problem due to the huge clouds of dust that fly after heavy vehicles pass,” said Kulwinder Singh, a daily traveller.

“I cover my face with handkerchief to avoid intake of dust but it barely helps,” he added. It is excruciatingly painful to pass through the whole stretch from the Chamrang road to Ram Talai chowk on GT road, he said.

“Now you can well imagine the plight of the shopkeepers having their establishments inside the Jahajgarh area,” said Harish Dhawan, a shopkeeper.

The situation turned worse as the whole road network in the Jahajgarh area was dug up to lay sewerage pipes. However, after that the civic authorities forgot to relay the roads.

“Whenever, a truck or any vehicle passes through the area, huge dust storms are formed, polluting the environment. If the Punjab Pollution Control Department held a survey, they will find how harmful is the air-pollution level in the area,” said Dhawan.

The district administration recently made the transport area as the single selling point for sand. Due to this, a number of traders have dumped sands at the vacant places in the transport area itself. They even encroached on the slip road and the green belt area in the vicinity has turned into ‘a sand and pebble belt’ said SS Narula, a resident of Dhingra Complex, just opposite the Jahajgarh area.

“The heaps of sands and tractor-trolleys parked on the road present an ugly picture. While the authorities have failed to visualise that it is the main entry point to the holy city, it should in fact be the most beautiful part of the city and should be maintained accordingly,” he said.

Amrik Singh, a vehicle repair shop owner, said though a number of shopkeepers had converted their shops into godowns, what about shopkeepers like us who have to remain in their shops? Dust has started causing respiratory and eye problems to the inhabitants, he said.

Amritsar, November 23
Euphoria pervades in the family of Ramandeep Singh, who became the highest-priced player in Hockey India League and Maharaja Ranjit Singh Hockey (MRSH) Academy where he studied and received training.

Residents of Meeka village, about 30 km from Amritsar, were euphoric over the highest bid he earned in the auction.

His father, Raghbir Singh, a farmer by profession, said it was in August that Ramandeep was selected in the Indian national hockey team and now he was continuing with his success story.

Ramandeep’s uncle, Kashmir Singh, a PT teacher in Baba Nam Dev High School, Ghuman village, said he introduced young Ramandeep and his cousins to the game. About seven of his cousins from the village are training at the MRSH Academy, he added. Ramandeep’s elder brother, Harmandeep Singh, is also a hockey player and is employed with Indian Overseas Bank, Madras. “Before them, nobody in the family had played the game,” he quipped.

The founder of the MRSH Academy, former Olympian Balwinder Singh Shammi, said Ramandeep earned the highest bid with his robust performance as he scored his maiden goal in his debut match at the 9th Men’s Asia Cup and had scored six goals in the third Sultan of Johor Cup 2013.

A product of the MRSH Academy, Ramandeep joined it when he was studying in Class VI in 2004. Since the academy has an arrangement to offer free education at Spring Dale School, he passed out of plus two in 2010 from the school.

About his strong points, Shammi said, “Ramandeep is a forward and a reliable receiver of the ball in the shooting circle. He is very swift in scoring a goal.”

Earlier, he was playing for Jaypee Punjab Warriors in Hockey India League (HIL). Now, he has been roped in by Uttar Pradesh Wizards for the next year’s HIL.

Amritsar, November 23
Khalsa College Governing Council (KCGC) President Satyajit Singh Majithia today inaugurated a book exhibition at the ongoing 47th International Conference of Indian Association of Teacher Educators (IATE) at the Khalsa College of Education (KCE). The exhibition displays books on diverse subjects, especially training and teaching of the teachers.

The book exhibition, said KCE Principal, Dr JS Dhillon, was attracting a large number of students, teachers and delegates participating in the three-day conference on "Role of Statutory Bodies in Quality Assurance of Teacher Education: A Global Perspective". Majithia was accompanied by KCGC vice-president Charanjit Singh Chadha, honorary secretary, Rajinder Mohan Singh China, and IATE President, Prof PK Sahoo.

The dignitaries expressed concern over the declining trend in society to read books but stated that the interest in books never left any one bored in life and wisdom was concealed in the books. Majithia exhorted the intellectuals gathered here to inculcate the habit of reading among students.

Amritsar, November 23
A National Lok Adalat was organised at all the Civil, Revenue and Consumer Courts in the district today. The Lok Adalats were held according to the instructions of the National Legal Services Authority.

A total of 81,339 cases were taken up by the Civil, Revenue and Consumer Courts and the Additional Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Amritsar, and 67,091 cases were disposed of by these courts and awards worth Rs 44,75,55,617 were passed.

The National Lok Adalat in Amritsar district was inaugurated by Justice Rajive Bhalla, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court and Administrative Judge, Sessions Division, Amritsar.

In the Amritsar Sessions Division, 39 benches were constituted in District Amritsar and 18 benches were constituted in District Tarn Taran including the subdivisions, namely Ajnala, Baba Bakala and Patti.

All type of cases such as civil suits, civil appeals, criminal compoundable cases, MACT cases, cases under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, Land Acquisition cases, electricity, water and sewerage bill cases, rent cases and matrimonial cases were taken up for disposal. The pre-litigative cases of banks and telecom companies were also taken up for disposal by way of an amicable settlement.

Justice Rajive Bhalla visited the Lok Adalats at District Courts Amritsar and also guided the Presiding Officers of the Lok Adalats and assisted the parties to reach an amicable settlement.

In Tarn Taran, a total number of 8,432 cases were taken up by courts and 4,978 cases were disposed of by these courts and awards worth Rs 9,18,52,604 were passed.

HS Madaan, District and Sessions Judge-cum-Chairman, District Legal Services Authority, Amritsar and Tarn Taran stated that Lok Adalats provided effective disposal of cases and in case of an amicable settlement in the Lok Adalat, both time and money of the parties was saved. The general public should avail maximum benefits of these Lok Adalats, which are also organised on the last working Saturday of every month in all courts in Punjab, he said.

Amritsar, November 23
The Amritsar Dialogue on Green Courts and Tribunals: Challenges and Opportunities, a two-day programme was inaugurated at Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) here today. The programme was organised by Jawahar Lal Nehru Chair, Jawahar Lal Nehru University, New Delhi and Centre for Advanced Study on Courts and Tribunal, Amritsar in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank and Law Department of the university. As many as 100 environment experts from all over the world are participating.

The function was presided over by the university Vice-Chancellor Professor AS Brar and Justice Antonio H Benjamin, Supreme Court of Brazil, Brasillia and Chairman, IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law delivered the keynote video address on Skype and Dr Balakrishna Pisupati, Chairman, National Biodiversity Authority delivered the special lecture on skype at this occasion.

Professor Bharat H Desai, Chairman, CASCT and Jawahar Lal Nehru Chair, JNU, New Delhi, explained the Amritsar Dialogue Process and introduced the subject of this programme.

In his inaugural address Professor Brar expressed his reservations that the relationship between the legislature, executive and judiciary was not up to the required constitutional norms. He said the Supreme Court had given landmark judgments to establish the relationship between right to life and personal liberty. As held in many of the cases, right to life and personal liberty can only be maintained in a clean and healthy environment, he said adding that the problem of the day is that many policies and laws have been framed by the government are not implemented in letter and spirit and failure thereby degrade our environment.

He said environmental pollution is due to the development in form of industrialisation and this issue concerned not only India but the entire world.

He stressed that the need of the hour is to initiate joint ventures to tackle this problem.

In his address, Justice Antonio H Benjamin highlighted the role of judiciary in the protection of environment and he was full of admiration for the significant role played by Indian judiciary.He also mentioned about bringing up specialised courts in the matters of environment. He also appreciated the important step taken by India to have National Green Tribunal.

Dr Balakrishna elaborated the role of National Biodiversity Authority as well as State Biodiversity Boards and Local Biodiversity Boards in checking loss of biodiversity as well as engaging in benefit sharing of biological resources.

Amritsar, November 23
With the concept of not just live shows, but television performances and world tours, Idea Jalsa - Art and Artistes, a famous concert series has come to Amritsar. Durga Jasraj, actor-artiste and promoter of the initiative along with co-founder Neeraj Jaitley and Idea CEO Arul Bright came calling to announcing the tour of 14 cities commencing from Amritsar. "Every year we tour different selected cities with music concerts. This time we kick off 14-city tour with Amritsar," she informs. The concert will be held at the BSF post at Khasa and Master Saleem will perform sufi and Punjabi folk for the audiences.

"It's a musical tribute and salute to our jawans who selflessly serve the nation. The concert will have performances by Raagi Harkaran Singh and Master Saleem, who, I believe is one of the many versatile singers from the region," she says.

Born in a musical gharana, Durga confesses that she was destined to achieve something big in her life. It only became a question of what and when. "When you have a legend like Pandit Jasraj as father, V Shantaram as grandfather and so many famous names in the family, one is born with a thought process of an achiever. I had to have my own set of achievements and not just a family name," says the actor-artiste who is famous for her role in Chandrakanta and as presenter in Antakshri. So after trying her hand at versatility with acting, modelling, singing and presenting, Durga's most successful and fulfilling role came as that of a talent promoter. Through her concept of Art and Artistes, a unique platform since 2006 that has taken over 7,000 artistes and musicians on a world stage in 165 countries, reaching out to approx 21 crore fans in India alone, with over 88 genres of Indian music being performed. "If you go by the facts, it's a phenomenal success. When I started in 2006, I wanted to bring out the hidden talents, from every nook and corner of the country, struggling to get noticed. Indian music needed a platform, where the artistes, young and old, senior and amateur, could perform and excel in music. We have had various genres of Indian music- classical, carnatic, folk, sufi, qwalli and bhajans, being performed on stage since then," she shares proudly.

On a constant lookout for new talents, Durga says her concerts are a recce for finding budding artistes. "We have promoted Jalandhar-based santoor artiste Gurpreet Kaur, Chandigarh-based artiste Naval Pandit and many more. Though I belong to a musical gharana, our initiative is not about Gharanas or musical lineage. It's about anybody who wants to excel in music, through platform."

As for more commercial aspects of music, she finds it difficult to deny their importance and existence. "In my tenure as a member of Censor Board of India, I found many songs that lacked in aesthetics. But the irony is that even as a regulatory body, there were some limitations which work to our disadvantage. I raised my concerns over the anti-incumbent laws in Censor Board but I think it will take some time."

Amritsar, November 23
The Sadar police have booked 13 persons belonging to Amritsar and Gurdaspur on charges of dowry and Arms Act.

On the complaint of Simran, the police have arrested her husband Suraj Surji, parents Pardeep Suri and Geeta Suri, all residents of Majitha road in this regard.

Vavinder Mahajan, SHO Sadar police said the case was transferred from Mumbai police for investigations. He said further investigations were under progress and raids were being conducted to nab the remaining suspects.

Simran, a resident of new Mumbai, stated to the police that she was married to Suraj about a couple of years ago. She alleged that at the time of marriage her family had given dowry as per their capacity. She alleged a few months after the marriage her in-laws started harassing her and demanded more dowry. The complainant alleged that the accused used to threaten her by showing weapons and even threatened of dire consequences.

Among others who have been booked include Sunaina Makkar, her husband Mannu Makkar of Gumanpura, Saloni Verma and her husband Rajan Verma of Gurdaspur, Bittu Verma, Johny Verma, Kewal Verma, Pappu Verma (all brothers) and Bablu Verma of Gurdaspur and Sunil Chouhan of Kashmir Avenue.

the SHO said as per the statement of the girl, it was a love marriage and she had been residing with her parents in Mumbai for the past eight months.

“She had lodged a complaint there and it was later transferred here for further investigations,” said Mahajan while adding that a case under Sections 498-A, 406, 506 IPC, 3, 4 of Dowry Prohibition Act and 3/25 of Arms Act against the suspects.

Amritsar, November 23
Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi has directed the Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) staff to adopt public-friendly approach towards visiting customers.

Addressing AIT's staff during a meeting held on its premises today, Joshi said attendants must be deployed at reception counter of the office to guide and deliver applications to the branch concerned. There are various branches in the AIT, including, Engineering, Town Planning, Sales, Land Acquisition, accounts and general.

He also warned that any complaint of misbehaviour with public would be dealt sternly. He added that he was apprised of objections one after another being levelled on a document resulting in harassment of the customers. He stressed that objections must be reflected on a document at one time and repeatedly calling the customer to office would also attract departmental action.

Meanwhile, Chandigarh-based architect Renu Khanna, whose design for multipurpose Sports Complex has been selected, gave a demonstration of the ambitious project to the minister.

The proposed complex, which is being developed as a sports hub by the AIT, would be on a land measuring 16.5 acres. She described the design of the complex as a concept inspired by the dynamism of a player in motion, creating spaces and a surrounding landscaped environment with mounds sweeps into the holy city. An undulating roof sweeps up from the ground as a giant leap which the youth of Punjab takes to make sports as a part of their life and win laurels for the country.

AIT Superintendent Engineer Bharat Bhushan Sharma said the complete stadia had been designed as per Olympic norms for developing it as an international sports park.

He elaborated that the complex having Indoor multi purpose arena of 7,500 capacity, an aquatic centre of 2,500 PAX, athletic track for facilities like hockey, kabaddi, practice ground for lawn tennis, volleyball and parking for 16 buses and 2,000 cars. The total estimated cost of the entire complex would be Rs 75 crore. The athletic track would comprise 400 metres athletic track, kabaddi, long jump, short put, javelin throw, hockey, high jump and 23,000 seating capacity. Grounds for volleyball, basketball, lawn tennis and handball would also be provided.

The indoor multipurpose complex comprises 2 basketball courts, 8 badminton courts, gymnastics, 16 table tennis, judo and boxing facilities.

The complex would be built in three phases. In the first phase indoor stadium at a cost of Rs 45 crore would be raised and its tender would be floated in January.

Besides, a presentation for 3,400 seating capacity open air theater at Amrit Anand park with an investment of Rs 12 crore was also given. It would replace the present open air theater which has a seating capacity of 900 people.

Amritsar, November 23
Experts gathered at three-day 47th International Conference on Teachers’ Education by Indian Association of Teacher Educators (IATE) at Khalsa College of Education (KCE) today sought to make education more profession-oriented. They said the aim of the education was to make an individual a 'thinking human being’ with the capacity to earn honourable livelihood to live respectfully.

Vice-Chancellor, Ambedkar University, Delhi, Prof Shyam Menom emphasised on teachers’ role in shaping any nation’s destiny. "`Teaching should be clearly recognised and treated as a profession and teacher education as a professional preparation process," he said adding that new technology and expertise must be inculcated in training of the teachers.

He hailed recommendations of Justice Verma Commission on Education, stating that the intensification and extension of programmes to prepare teachers and teacher educators should be the focus. He further added that the IATE has an intense concern about the reported attempt to make MEd as an optional trajectory for preparation of teacher educators. "`IATE is of view that move is in violation of recommendations of Verma Commission," he said adding their concern had been upheld even by the Supreme Court.

Host college Principal Dr Jaswinder Singh Dhillon earlier welcomed the guest speakers. Others who took part in deliberations included Prof Vidya Aggarwal, Head, Department of Education, Allahabad University, Prof Avinash Garewal, Dean of Education, RIE, Bhopal, Prof Ramnath Kishan, Dean, Faculty of Education, Kaketya University, Warrangal, Prof DN Singh, Vice-Principal, Zakir Hussain Colege of Education, Darbhanga and Prof Rajendra Yadav, Dean, Faculty of Education, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra. The vote of thanks was proposed by Prof Anita Rastogi, General Secretary, IATE.

Amritsar, November 23
There is no let up in robbery and snatching instances in rural as well as urban areas of the district. No special efforts are being taken by the police department in this connection while the residents are being haunted by the anti-social elements.

In a recent instance, three unidentified robbers snatched ear rings of a woman in Meerakot Kalan area located on the Amritsar International Airport road here. The miscreants left their bike at the spot after it developed a snag. The incident occurred at a grocery shop where mother of the owner Harwant Singh was sitting.

This is not the sole instance. Earlier, four armed youths robbed Rs 45,000 from a paint and plywood shop at Ajnala. Before this, a youth was shot dead by three looters in Khichian village while a son of a cloth trader was also injured in the incident which occurred on November 15. In this particular instance, the police managed to nab all the three accused as the shop owner and his employees caught hold one of the culprits.

Such incidents are not being reported in the rural belt alone, the city is not free from it. A government teacher sustained injuries after she fell down in a snatching incident. Motorcycle-borne youths snatched her purse during which she fell down on road as she resisted their attempt.

The women are the soft target for these miscreants. Unidentified miscreants snatched the purse of Sawita Arora of Bank Avenue, Majitha road near Lawrence School when she was returning home on her two-wheeler earlier this month. There was Rs 35,000 cash besides mobile phone and other valuable documents in the purse.

"We don't see any special efforts from the police side to nail these criminals. Though the police officials claim day after day in media that they have initiated various steps, but the regular instances are testimonial to their failure in curbing the crime," said Mandeep Singh, a resident of Sharifpura area.