Amritsar, November 30
Development works initiated under several Improvement Trust schemes have come to a halt as the Mining Department stopped ferrying soil. Surjit Singh, General Manager, Department of Industries and Commerce, Amritsar, said two tippers carrying soil were impounded and complaints were lodged for the violation of the Mining act. He said the contractors did not have the valid environmental clearance certificate.

He said the district-level committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner to give environmental clearances had been abolished and now the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), constituted in 2006, granted the environmental clearance even for mining on less than five hectare, which was categorised as minor mining.

He categorically stated that the development work of extracting soil and levelling the same in the colonies would resume only after the submission of environment clearance and then a permit be issued.

Sources in the Improvement Trust said that the development works at Ranjit Avenue, New Amritsar, Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar were hampered after the move. Held -up work in these areas dealt a rude shock to residents and plot holders who constructed their dwellings and are now awaiting improvement in civic amenities.

Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) Environmental Engineer Rajeev Sharma, who is also a member of the SEIAA, said the Ministry of Environment had constituted the SEIAA. He added that as per the Supreme Court judgement, delivered last year, projects requiring less than 5 hectares of of mining required environment clearance.

Amritsar Improvement Trust Chairman Sandeep Rishi said the trust was not responsible for seeking environment clearance and it was contractors' job. He said these contractors needed to seek all clearances and then complete the task. He said in case of failure in completing the project, the contraxctors' security could be forfeited and the firms could be blacklisted.

Amritsar, November 30
The Municipal Corporation has been served a legal notice by the 25 employees transferred to it from the Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation in 2001. They were transferred as the MC as took over the industrial focal point.

These 25 employees, two of whom have already expired, were fighting a case against the MC for getting their pay on par with regular employees. As per the legal notice, the appellants have requested the MC to comply with the directions of High Court issued around three months ago, in which it was stated that “the petitioners be declared regular employees of the corporation and hence consequential benefits arising from such declaration be made admissible to them”.

Paramjit Singh, one of the employees said, “For four months after our induction to the MC, we were paid salary on par with regular employees. Later, the MC started treating us as daily wagers and we were paid accordingly.” He said the arrears of all the 25 employees have mounted to almost Rs 3 crores.

Another employee Sham Sunder said, “The MC had stopped paying us on the basis of an audit objection despite the fact that most of the employees were in service with the industrial corporation for more than a decade at the time of merger.” He said they had to take their children out of the schools for lack of money.

“We have already suffered much even though we are not at fault. The MC should comply with the court orders,” he said. — TNS 

Amritsar, November 30
The Civil lines police have taken several suspects in their custody for questioning in the case in which two unidentified youths decamped with cash and gold jewellery worth Rs 20 lakh from a house in Ranjit Avenue area a couple of days ago. The maid of the house has also been taken into the custody.

The police said on the description provided by the owner of the house, Lakhbir Kaur, they taken several suspects into their custody for interrogation.

They police said the preliminary probe into the incident pointed towards the involvement of an insider.

They said the unidentified robbers entered the house just few minutes after maid Kajal left the house.

The police officials claimed that they had got vital clues and expressed hope that they would nab the culprits soon.

It is pertinent to mention here that a couple of unidentified youths entered the house of an industrialist and reportedly decamped with cash and gold jewellery worth 20 lakhs.

Amritsar, November 30
The police department today initiated action under the CrPC in connection with the death of the mentally-challenged woman, who was allegedly raped by a youth in October.

She was brutally beaten up by the accused, identified as Jinder Singh, a resident of Verka. She succumbed to injuries at the Jallianwala Bagh Memorial Hospital here on the intervening night of November 28-29. A post-mortem examination of the victim was conducted after the formation of a medical board.

The police authorities said sections of the Indian Penal Code would be incorporated into the FIR after receiving the post-mortem report.

"We will take action after studying the the autopsy report," said Bikramjit Singh, SHO, Verka police station. He added the were being carried out to nab the culprits.It is pertinent to mention here that the victim's family had accused the Police Department of inaction.

Sukhi Devi, an eyewitness of the incident and sister-in-law of the 40-year-old victim, had said that on the intervening night of October 28-29, she heard some noises from her neighbour's house where the victim lived. The victim was alone at home as her daughter had gone to visit her maternal grandparents while her 15-year-old son had gone to her aunt's house.She said she saw the accused, identified as Jinder Singh, sexually abusing the woman. She alleged that he had brutally beaten her up before committing the crime as it appeared from the injury marks on her face and other body parts. She raised an alarm following which the accused fled.

Dr Balbir Singh Dhillon, SMO, Civil Hospital, said the victim had sustained several grievous injuries that might have led to her death.

Amritsar, November 30
The Municipal Corporation has collected Rs 6 crore as property tax from around 35,000 applicants in the district. Sushant Bhatia, superintendent house tax, said, “Now people can avail the benefit of 10 per cent rebate on property tax till December 10.” He said the extension of the date had benefited tax payers and MC employees.

Heavy rush was witnessed as residents thronged a camp to deposit their property tax in Amritsar on Saturday. photos: Sameer Sehgal

The MC employees are working 12-14 hours a day to meet the targets. A huge rush of people was seen at the offices designated by the MC for collecting property tax today.

Bhatia said the MC had a set a target to collect Rs 40 crore as property tax till March 31, 2014. “Even as many of the major commercial houses have deposited their property tax, the bigger chunk of the tax has been deposited by the residents,” he said.

In the coming days, the MC officials expect commercial houses to file their taxes. Bhatia said so far roadways and Verka Milk Cooperative Society were the biggest commercial houses which had paid the tax. The collection of property tax from the local residents is also taking a toll on the health of MC employees as an employee suffered a heart attack due to the work load and stress.

Amritsar, November 30
The Amritsar Dialogue, in which a group of judges, lawyers and scholars from the South Asian region met at GNDU campus here on November 23-24 to examine the global trend of Green Courts and Tribunals (GCTs), has sparked a debate on the issue.

The dialogue was organised by the Jawaharlal Nehru Chair in International Environmental Law, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and the Centre for Advanced Study on Courts and Tribunals, Amritsar, in collaboration with Asian Development Bank (Manila). According to Prof Bharat Desai from JNU, the meeting sought to consider worldwide trend in "greening" of international law that has affected existing dispute settlement forums so as to balance developmental requirements and environmental imperatives.

There are about 350 green courts and tribunals in different countries. In India, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) was established in 2010 after Parliament passed a law into this effect. He said the dialogue sought to decipher and engage in a futuristic global debate on growth despite environment-related disputes that has called for a special adjudicatory mechanism to resolve them. Still how to make them deliver effective green justice amid quest for development remains a big challenge since traditional courts lack adequate knowledge of complex environmental laws encompassing scientific and socio-economic aspects. It has triggered legitimate quest for specialised forums of GCTs that could help in development and enforcement of environmental law, provide access to green justice, work effectively to facilitate speedy environmental adjudication, foster consistency across a range of issues concerning green justice that works for larger societal good.

Prof Desai said the dialogue process aimed to examine, the idea of an International Environment Court (IEC) as well as presented a possibility for advanced collaborative research on cutting-edge issues of environmental dispute settlement with scholarly, judicial and other relevant global multilateral institutions that had a common interest.

"The dialogue has called for judicious determination of our needs and jettisoning of greed in any form since in our penchant for growth we have not realised the limits of perennial human craving for material welfare at the cost of our composite ecological heritage. Therefore, it was emphasised that we must strive for the change we want to see on this endangered planet, rededicate ourselves for the healthy future we want, widen our horizon in the larger interests of teeming millions of our compatriots in the present and the future generations as well as safeguard essential ecological processes," he added.

JNU and CASCT plan to continue this Amritsar Dialogue to provide solutions for environment-related problems in India and the world.

Amritsar, November 30
The Amritsar rural police today claimed to have arrested Gurpreet Singh Gopi, who was main accused in the double murder case that had occured in Chak Mishri Khan village during the Panchayat elections in May this year.

During the incident, a Congress worker, Gurjinder Singh, was shot dead while an Akali supporter, Balkar Singh, was also killed during the alleged cross firing.

The senior police officials at that time had claimed that the incident was outcome to personal rivalry rather than a pre-poll violence.

The police had already arrested three persons identified as Jagir Singh, Mangat Singh and Major Singh in this regard while the Lopoke police had booked over a dozen persons on the statement of Gurjinder’s son.

Among other accused, Narinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh and Nirmal Singh had been at large since then. According to reports, two persons were shot dead in a cross firing between two groups on May 17.

The deceased Congress worker, Gurjinder Singh, belonged to Master Manjit Singh group and the SAD worker, Balkar Singh, was an associate of Chak Mishri Khan village.

There was tension between two groups over a consensus to elect the village panchayat unanimously. Members of the Zila Parishad and the Block Samiti were already elected unanimously after the Congress decided not to contest the poll. The SAD leader was also wanted unanimous election to the village panchayat, but Manjit Singh had been opposing the move.

Sources said On May 17, Jagir Singh and his armed companions were camping in the house of his associate Shinder Singh in the village, moved towards Manjit Singh’s house with an intention of attack. On the way, Congress worker, Gurjinder Singh, tried to stop them and asked them to settle the dispute with “mutual understanding”. Jagir and his group were in no mood to relent and reportedly opened fire, killing Gurjinder.

Jagir Singh and his men then reached Manjit Singh’s house, where they were allegedly fired upon. However, Jagir’s supporter, Major Singh, alleged it was Manjit and his accomplices who had attacked them. Balkar Singh was shot down in the firing and died on the spot.

However, the police officials had claimed that there was a controversy between the two groups in the village over possession of land measuring over two kanals. This was the reason behind the firing and subsequent killing of two persons.

Amritsar, November 30
Even as the city police have booked three persons in firing that took place yesterday instance that took place in the posh Greenfield area located on the Majitha road, the accused are still out of the reach of the police department.

Among those booked include Mandeep Singh, alias Mannu of village, Pandori Waraich, Rawal of Mahal village and Manna, alias Lambu, in this connection. They have been charged with attempt to murder (307 IPC) and criminal trespass besides other relevant sections of Indian penal Code and Arms Act on the statement of Amit Kumar, owner of the barber shop where the firing took place.

Interestingly, Gurbaj Singh, alias Baaj, on whom the attack was made by the armed assailants, has also been absconding since the incident.

The police have been trying to locate him as he could provide vital leads about the three accused who had fired upon him.

“We are trying to contact him as he also went underground following yesterday’s firing. He was also wanted by the police regarding a criminal case registered against him,” said Vavinder Mahajan, SHO Sadar police station.

He said that the police were conducting raids continuously at suspected hideouts in order to nab the culprits who had been absconding since the incident. All the accused belonged to well-off farmer families.

It is pertinent to mention here that as per the preliminary investigations, the accused used .12 bore, .315 bore and .30 bore pistol during the attack. The police had recovered magazine of .30 bore pistol from the shop. All the weapons were licensed.

Amritsar, November 30
Chandigarh University Vice-Chancellor, Dr RS Bawa, today stressed on channelisation of youth’s power in the country as education is the tool to change fate of any country and youth must come forward to participate actively in nation building.

Dr Bawa was presiding over Awards Felicitation function at Khalsa College of Education (KCE) wherein he distributed honours to students for successful conduct of three-day 47th International Conference on Teachers’ Education. He asked the society at large to create avenues for younger generation to prosper and make contribution for development and welfare of mankind.

KCE Principal, Dr Jaswinder Singh Dhillon, felicitated Dr Bawa calling him an educationist and administrator who is considered a role model for the youth.

Anne Andersson, a lecturer at Helsinki Business College, Helsinki, Finland, was a special guest on the occasion who discussed students and teachers’ exchange programs with Dr Dhillon.

“We want a healthy association with the business school in exchange of faculty programmes and students’ interaction,” said Dr Dhillon. He said the aim of recently concluded conference in which former GNDU VC, Dr HS Soch, gave his key note address was to highlight the challenges before education to make it profession-oriented.

Others present at the function included Prof Mainder Kaur, Prof Bindu Sharma, Prof Deepika Sharma, teachers and students.

Amritsar, November 30
Seva Bharti, a social organisation, held a function to felicitate meritorious girl students learning the art of embroidery and sewing at centers run by it. The organisation is running three such centers in city.

Seva Bharti is also running four Bal Sanskar centres in city for the education of students of class IV to class VIII. The organisation is also providing free medicines to poor patients at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital here.

During the function held today, the trainees as sewing centres presented a colourful cultural programme. Sewing centre head, Lata Sharma, said, “The motive is to empower girls. They will be able to earn their livelihood and thus gaining respect in the family by becoming an earning member.”

She said that the organisation also offers the students the opportunity to interact with students of other districts and states by arranging camps for them. She said that the students of the centre are educated about moral values apart from providing them vocational skills.

JP Mahajan, president of the organisation said, “The well-to-do families must come forward to fulfill their social and moral obligation by helping less privileged families. The world can become a better place if all the people are able to fulfill their basic necessities.” — TNS

Amritsar, November 30
Two and half months after the mysterious death of a Punjab Roadways bus Ferozepur conductor, Jaskaran Singh, the Rambagh police today booked three persons for Rash and Negligence Act.

Jaskaran Singh was found dead in a bus in bus stand on September 14.

Among those booked include Gurpreet Singh of Nagoke, Tarn Taran, Sukhraj Singh of Sandhu Colony, Chheharta and Vinod Kumar of Varmani Colony, Chheharta.

A case under Section 304-A of the IPC has been registered against them in this regard after an enquiry conducted by an SHO of the Rambagh police station.

The probe revealed that the accused had given a party in the bus at local bus stand during which Jaskaran ate something which poisoned him. The accused instead of taking him to the hospital, left him alone in the bus and fled away. Next day Jaskaran was found dead.

“Had the accused taken Jaskaran to hospital or provided him first aid, he would be alive today,” said the ADCP city, Parampal Singh. At that time, the police had taken an action under criminal procedure code, he added.

The police have been trying to nab the culprits for further investigations, said the ADCP.

Amritsar, November 30
Total primary energy demand in Asia Pacific is expected to be nearly double between 2013 and 2033 declared scientists, technocrats, policy makers gathered at international seminar on the theme of “Energy for Sustainable Development in Asia Pacific” organised by an Amritsar-based Guru Arjan Dev Institute of Development Studies at Guru Nanak Dev University today.

Padma Bushan Dr Kirit Shantilal Parikh, a former member, Planning Commission, Government of India, and Chairman, Integrated Research and Action for Development (IRADe), New Delhi, inaugurated the seminar. He strongly recommended developing renewable energy and stressed to develop low cost technology.

Neelam G Tikkha Professor MMV, RTM Nagpur University, said at the juncture, the world was at a crucial stage where energy consumption has been rising dramatically.

Among the world Asia Pacific has a mix of affluent and economically weak people. Affluent people driving huge 3000cc-engine cars, to cooling rooms below 24 degrees Celsius can be noticed easily while the people cooking on firewood stoves, reading under kerosene lamps can also be found. Asia and the Pacific cover the entire gamut of energy consumption. The rapid growth has put forth a serious energy security challenge in front of the Asia Pacific region in support of its rapid economic growth.

The major question that arises is that how these energy resources can be secured, produced and consumed in a sustainable way so that socio-economic development does not compromise the carrying capacity of natural resources. Another major concern is the global climate change which is being affected day by day by the various steps taken to increase production.

Integrated Research and Action for Development (IRADe), New Delhi, Executive Director, Dr Jyoti Parikh, in her key note address, stressed for political consensus and commitment from the government. She stressed harmonisation of regulatory mechanisms, legal structure and policy framework. Enhanced public and private sector investment as generation and transmission of electricity require huge investments and a longer gestation period. There is need for development of electricity exchanges for energy trading market in the South Asian countries and Development of transparent trading system for integrating grids of the region.

Dr Manmohan Singh Gill of Guru Nanak Dev University’s Sociology department in his presidential remarks said the theme of the seminar was extremely relevant at this time. “With a looming energy crisis and climate change at the forefront, there has never been a better time for alternative energy solution to shine.”

Dr Gill said economic, environmental and energy security concerns resulting from excessive reliance on fossil fuels are forcing countries throughout the world to shift to environmentally sustainable alternatives like biofuels.

Director of the host institute and seminar coordinator, Dr Gursharan Singh Kainth, stated that the seminar was jointly sponsored by the Union Government through its Ministry of Earth Science and Department of Bio Technology of Ministry of Science and Technology.

Amritsar, November 30
Luvdale Senior School celebrated their annual day function ‘Bachpan, celebrating childhood’ here today with great zeal and enthusiasm under the able guidance of the Director, Brig GS Sandhu, and and Principal, Twinkle Sandhu.

The director welcomed the guests and the programme began with prayer and welcome song. The splendid programme witnessed different forms of dances from the traditional folk to western. Dance, drama and group songs added to the luster of the programme.

Speaking on the occasion, Director, Brig GS Sandhu, said as the theme itself suggested 'bachpan' (childhood), is the most important phase in a person's life and for the growth of a child, a right kind of environment is required. Parents were motivated to provide a stimulating environment to the child at home for their all round development.