The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	world cup kabaddi Teachers to attend matches Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 5 In an apparent bid to gather a good crowd at the World Cup Kabaddi matches at Guru Nanak Stadium here tomorrow, the District Education Department has issued written instructions to government, government-aided and PSEB-affiliated private schools to ensure participation of their teaching and non-teaching staff along with staff attendance registers at the stadium. Notably, instructions have been issued to all those schools which are situated within the Municipal Corporation limits. The order has caused anxiety and unease among teachers in general and the women staff in particular due to odd timings of the matches. As many as five matches are lined up for tomorrow. The first match is scheduled to start at 5 pm between Denmark versus England, followed by Scotland versus Canada, Argentina versus Kenya, Denmark versus Mexico (women) and Pakistan versus Sierra Leone. A woman teacher on condition of anonymity said the matches were scheduled to conclude past 11pm. “My house is located at a village over 20 km from the city,” she said, adding that the journey back home late in the night was the biggest challenge. “My husband has arranged a car from one of the relatives to ensure my safe return”. She said even then the drive back home did not ensure a safe journey. Another teacher, on condition of anonymity, said resources and energy of teachers were being directed to non-teaching work. He said classroom teaching had undergone a drastic change and teachers could no longer afford to walk into the classroom without revising the contents of syllabus in the night before. He added that already private schools had taken a lead over government schools on this count. One of the leaders of a government union said officials of the Improvement Trust had also been instructed to see the match in person at the stadium. Officials on condition anonymity said they were already under duress as the trust had undertaken a record number of projects in the city. Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat refuted that any such instruction was issued which made it compulsory for employees to remain present at the stadium during the matches. He added that voluntarily anybody could come as invitations had been extended to officials and residents of the district and their families.
	Food samples from GNDU hostels, canteens fail quality tests Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 5 At least 13 samples collected by the Health Department from hostels and canteens in Guru Nanak Dev University here have failed quality tests conducted at a food-testing laboratory at Chandigarh. The department had earlier collected 21 samples from various canteens and hostels on the campus. The District Health Officer, Dr Shivkaran Singh Kahlon, said three samples of boys’ hostel, six from the South Indian cafe, three from girls’ hostel and one from the Arts block cafe has failed on quality. Kahlon said strict action would be taken against contractors from whose canteen or mess samples have failed. “We had issued warnings to them time and again previously after we had detected unhygienic conditions prevailing at these canteens previously. As they have not mended their ways, strict action will be taken against them,” said Kahlon. During the earlier inspections on the campus, the department had found that students were being served salads on which fungus had grown. The canteen contractors on the campus are making a lot of money. They do not seem concerned about serving safe food. Kahlon said soon they would be initiating a drive to collect samples from canteens in schools and other educational places. “The health of growing children is of utmost priority for the government and if they are being served unsafe or substandard food, the entire purpose of checking food adulteration in the city has failed,” he said. The department had additionally collected 87 samples of food items from the city and its surroundings during November. However, 31 samples from a total of 87 have failed on the quality criterion. The shops and brands whose samples have failed include Reliance Fresh and Best Price. Kahlon said that seven of the 31 samples which had failed on quality had been categorised as “unsafe for human consumption” by the food-testing laboratory at Chandigarh. Another 19 have been marked of “sub-standard quality” and five as “misbranded”. Kahlon said legal and departmental action had been initiated against all shops whose samples had failed. The Health Department had collected six samples yesterday. Kahlon said they had received a fresh complaint from a local resident, Rajesh Sidana, and samples were again collected from Reliance Fresh’s store near Bhagata-wala.
	Now, pay property tax online GS Paul Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 5 The Municipal Corporation here has initiated the process to facilitate online submission of property tax. This has come as a respite for the city residents who had to queue up for hours to wait for their turn to deposit the fee. The MC today collected Rs 56.5 lakh as property tax. The civic body, too, will get relief as it was unable to spare staff for the tax collection counters set up in different parts of the city. The move was the need of the hour as the MC did not have adequate manpower to collect taxes, despite its earnest efforts to induct officials from other departments. Long queues irked the residents and it was one of the reasons for their lukewarm response to pay their taxes, observers said. The MC has bifurcated the city into eight zones and set up collection centres. It is learnt that the online property tax submission facility has been introduced in almost every centre. The MC had already prepared software which could show the prevailing collector rate of every area at the click of a mouse. This feedback would further help the residents to know the exact amount of tax applicable on their property. Meanwhile, in a clarification, MC officials stated that on commercial rental property, the rate of property tax was 10 per cent and there was no official confirmation about its decline. The MC Commissioner, DPS Kharbanda, said the online facility had been introduced to not only curtail the heavy rush of tax payers, but it would also save the residents from depositing an incorrect amount which they generally did after self assessment. “There are shortcomings still, but we have been trying our best to make the property-tax realisation an efficient process,” he said.
	Illegal Hotels MC to give hearing to proprietors GS Paul Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 5 The Municipal Corporation (MC) is all set to hold a special hearing session for the proprietors of illegal hotels/inns/guest houses located around the Golden Temple and in the walled city area. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had directed the MC to amicably resolve the issue with those who came under compoundable offence category, while suggesting measures for others. On the other hand, hoteliers say they are providing services to pilgrims at reasonable charges. After the preliminary hearing of the Amritsar MC’s side regarding measures being taken for the removal of the illegal hotels/guest houses/inns around the Golden Temple, the Punjab and Haryana High Court bench has fixed February 3 as the next date of hearing. MC Commissioner DPS Kharbanda and Senior Town Planner (STP) Hemant Batra appeared before the High Court to apprise the action being taken in this regard. Struggling to overcome lapses on its own part, as number of MC officials’ role too had come under scanner, the MC has chalked out a programme to deal with the scenario. STP Hemant Batra said these hospitality unit owners would be given a chance to put forth their view point. “In a day or two, we will be inviting them to have exact knowledge of the kind of the existing violations. Those which can be rectified will be given certification. We will ask them to remove the objectionable portion of their buildings on their own. Otherwise, we will be bound to take action against the rest of them as per law. A report would be submitted with the High Court bench on February 3,” he said. The MC would also be conducting a fresh door-to-door survey in the walled city area to identify illegal hotels/guest houses/inns which could come under the category of compoundable offence. This implied to those units, which complied with the building norms, but did not get the mandatory certification. A few alterations in addition to doling out stipulated penalty amount may qualify them to be considered under the legal frame. The other category of ‘non-compoundable’ units may face demolition. Surinder Singh, the spokesperson of affected hoteliers, said a majority of them had been paying all kind of taxes like luxury tax, conservancy tax just as their counterparts established in Civil Lines area and hence should be considered sympathetically. He said, “Moreover, keeping in view the tourists’ convenience, as these hotels/guesthouses are located in close proximity of the Golden Temple, the authorities should not be harsh while taking any action. With their location near the Golden Temple, none of them serves liquor and substantial number of them do not have a kitchen, which can pollute the environs.” The Procedure The area around the Golden Temple, being the oldest part of the city, does not come under the preview of any official scheme or land use norms. But, indeed it does come under the “Serai Act”. A licence under the Serai Act, which was enacted in the 19th century by the British, is now given by the Amritsar Police Commissionerate (APC). So far, licences, including three provisional, were given to only 147out of the 240 hotels, lodges and serais in the district. Serai Act makes a unit holder bound to have provision for adequate parking lot and a building with permissible height (not exceeding 38 foot). It is mandatory for the licence holder to obtain an NOC from the fire brigade, environment clearance from the Punjab Pollution Control Board, hygienic certificate and medical certificate for its employees.
	PITEX kicks off with colourful start Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 5 The first day of the five-day mega event of the PHD- Punjab International Trade Expo (PITEX), 2013, kicked off with a colourful start. A good rush of visitors was witnessed at over 400 stalls selling different merchandise. Articles ranging from household to kitchen wares, fabrics, dry fruit to interior decoration, were put up beautifully to attract visitors. “This time PITEX is a mix of traditional and modern products at one place,” said Usha Verma, a visitor. Speaking about the products at PITEX, Dalip Sharma, Regional Director, PHD Chamber said, “We have tried to make the product mix as varied as possible. You will find all kinds of products in this edition of PITEX.” Sharma said among the products available here were traditional stuff like handmade handicrafts, embroidery, patch work, tie and dye, block print, bead work, bamboo work, wooden crafts, leather crafts, imitation jewellery, pottery, teracota, mud and mirror work. Ultra-modern gadgets equipment were also on display at the expo. Manoj of World Book Traders, Ludhiana, said it was for the first time that his firm hired a stall here after learning about the popularity of the event from people in general and architects in particular. He said the latter (architects) formed a major group of their customers as they primarily sold interior designing books. Manoj said his firm imported all books from various countries. Minimum cost of book available was Rs 800 and maximum Rs 9,500, he added. “If we talk about textiles and dress material alone, we have a lot of variety this time. Besides local industry like members of shawl club, textile manufacturers association is also participating in the event. Industries from Gujarat, Banaras and Pakistan too have displayed their trademark textile products like zari, brocade, block prints, upara silk, pauri jaamdaani work, cotton and linen,” said RS Sachdeva, Co-Chairman, Punjab Committee. Sachdeva said the event would be formally inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal tomorrow. “On the second day, we have one seminar on “Easy, Affordable and Accessible Healthcare in Punjab” and another on “Non-Conventional Sources of Energy,” said Sachdeva.
	Health Dept buys goods at inflated prices Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 5 The Health Department officials have been reportedly purchasing goods which are not required in hospitals. Earlier, anomalies were detected in the procurement of medicines, which were bought at higher than the prevailing market price. The department had purchased 16,000 six inch glass test tubes at a cost of Rs 12.40 (per piece) even as they are available in market for Rs 4 (per piece). The astonishing fact is that hospitals do not have any requirement for so many test tubes. Around 5,000 test tubes from the slot were sent to the local Civil Hospital recently, which are still lying unused. Even the remaining test tubes are lying at stores of the District Health Department. The department had made additional purchase of 17,000 four inch size test tubes at a cost of Rs 10.90 (per piece). However, these are available in the market at the rate of Rs 3 (per piece). The department had also purchased 4,000 IV three way cannula sets for Rs 23.20 (per piece). An enquiry in the local market revealed, that these were available at Rs 17 (per piece). Earlier, it was found that Hepatitis B injections were purhased at Rs 6,770 per shot, even as they are available in the market for Rs 4,200 to Rs 4,500 per shot. Despite Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu, claims of taking strict action against guilty employees when the matter first came to light, no enquiry has been initiated as the allegations are yet to be probed. Civil Surgeon Yash Mitra, in whose tenure the said purchases were made, has retired recently. He was denied extension of service by the department.
	Strike hits work in 24 govt departments Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 5 The public work in as many as 24 state departments in the district was affected as the Punjab State Ministerial Staff Association went on a pen down strike today. The strike was initiated to get 8 per cent dues of the dearness allowance (DA), issuance of 10 per cent dearness allowance from July 1 this year and the merger of 50 per cent of DA with the basic pay. The protest will also continue on December 6. State Association President Dalbir Singh Bajwa said, “The government should also issue notification regarding the Sixth Pay Commission. It should also give children allowance to all employees as given to the IAS and the IPS since 2008.” He said the government was requested time and again to get the anomalies of the employees corrected as soon as possible, but nothing had been done so far. Association general secretary Jagdish Thakur said the state government’s ministers and senior officials had earlier admitted to fulfil all the demands, when discussed with them from time to time. He said, “The government should fulfil the same as decided by them in principle. The employees were forced to initiate this strike. The responsibility for the loss of the services is of the state government.” The impact of the pen-down-strike was felt in the Departments of Excise and Taxation, Education, PWD (BandR), Public Health, Agriculture, Horticulture, Sanitation, Irrigation, Revenue and Treasury. Earlier, the Ministerial Staff Association had held a protest in July this year. However, they had called of their stir later as the government had assured to fulfil their demands. Joginder Singh, a visitor at the Irrigation Office said, “The government must end this log-jam. Either it should warn employees against holding protest or it should give them what they want.”
	Refresher course ends at GNDU Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 5 A 21-day refresher course in commerce and management concluded at the Academic Staff College of the Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) here today. Teachers from as many 21 universities and colleges from all over the country participated in the course. GNDU Academic Affairs Dean, Prof MS Hundal, was the chief guest at the valedictory session. In his address Prof Hundal highlighted the utility of such refresher courses in order to enhance and update the knowledge in today’s fast changing world. He said, “Enrichment of knowledge is of utmost importance especially for teachers since they are a major source of dissemination to the younger generation. Change in the mindset is a must in order to enhance the knowledge.” He exhorted participants to prepare themselves academically to meet the challenges in their respective domains. Coruse coordinator for the Department of Commerce and Business Management, Dr Mandeep Kaur, conveyed her pleasure to the participants at the successful conclusion of the course. She said participants must have met their aspirations and enhanced their existing knowledge by interacting with the renowned academicians, experts etc. Dr Lakhwinder Singh Kang from the Department of Commerce and Business Management proposed a formal vote of thanks. Earlier, Academic Staff College Director, Prof Jaspal Singh Sandhu, and Course Coordinator, Dr Mandeep Kaur, formally welcomed Prof Hundal by presenting a bouquet. Prof Sandhu congratulated the participants at the successful completion of the course and asked them to incorporate the knowledge in the classroom teaching. Certificates were also distributed among participants at the conclusion of the event.