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Bhandari Bridge caves in
Saanjh begins on high note as Indian, Pakistani artists share stage
Artists Nahid Siddqui and the Nooran sisters perform at Saanjh at Springdales in Amritsar on Friday. A Tribune photograph |
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Pakistani delegates asked to explore renewable energy resources
Chief Khalsa Diwan remembers Bhai Vir Singh
New Amritsar's poor infrastructure denies quality life to residents
A prerequisite to property
tax
A Municipal Corporation team at a property tax awareness camp at Focal Point in Amritsar. A Tribune Photograph
2 booked for harassing slain ASI’s widow
Civil Surgeon takes stock of services at Jallianwala Bagh Martyrs Hospital
New Civil Surgeon Usha Bansal interacts with the patients during her visit to the Jallianwalla Bagh Memorial Civil Hospital in Amritsar. Photo: Sameer Sehgal
Vigilance Bureau nabs patwari for tampering records
Youth commits suicide
RMP held for selling banned drugs Man robbed at pistol point Holy Heart wins Derek’s Challenge
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Bhandari Bridge caves in
Amritsar, December 6 The truck fell on the railway track beneath the bridge, damaging electric supply for the railways, thereby hampering the traffic. The bridge had outlived its life and the proposal to renovate it had been hanging fire for long. According to the police, the incident occurred at around 6 am when the truck entered in the pedestrian way which is currently being used for passing two-wheelers and rickshaws in order to ease traffic on main bridge. The portion could not bear the burden of the sand-laden truck. “First the iron railing broke leading to the damage to the pedestrian way which resulted in the accident. The unidentified driver of the truck slipped away from spot,” said Government Railway Police authorities which initiated the action. A case under Sections 279, 427 and other relevant sections of the IPC has been registered against the driver of the truck. Various political leaders, senior administrative and civic officials visited the spot. Authorities had a tough time to move the truck from the track. Kashmir Singh, investigating officer from the GRP, said it was a grave mistake of the driver who entered the pedestrian path instead of the main bridge that led to the incident. That the bridge could cause fatal accidents did not concern the authorities concerned. The traffic flow on the bridge, which was built in 1955 after converting a small bridge, had increased manifold following the construction of the elevated road. The width of the bridge is 21.7 metres with a three-metre pedestrian path on each side. It is now used for two-wheelers and rickshaw- pullers. RITES company had studied the immense load being borne by the bridge and had drafted a proposal worth Rs 3 crore to upgrade it. According to RITES authorities, around 1.64 lakh vehicles pass through this bridge in 24 hours while the pollution level at this point also increased because of the vehicles stuck in frequent traffic jams. Earlier, the Municipal Corporation had contemplated to widen the bridge by at least five-six metres from both sides as the option of extending the elevated road across the railway crossing was costly as well as a time-consuming exercise. Officialspeak
DPS Kharbanda, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, said the incident occurred as the truck driver took the vehicle on the wrong side which is meant for pedestrians or two-wheelers only. The path for pedestrians has only a four-inch slab which could not bear the burden of the truck. The stretch is not meant for regular traffic, he added. He said the bridge, which was constructed in 1955, was safe even though the process for initiating extending of elevated road is underway.
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Saanjh begins on high note as Indian, Pakistani artists share stage
Amritsar, December 6 This year's celebrations are dedicated to the late Faizaan Peerzada, former COO, Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop, Lahore, who co-founded Saanjh with late Dr Shivinder Singh Sandhu and Manveen Sandhu, in 2004. The first day of the celebrations had Pakistani singer Rizwan Muazzam and Kathak artist Nahid Siddiqui performing along with the Nooran Sisters (from India), belting out soulful melodies one after the other that enthralled one and all. Minister for Information and Broadcasting Bikram Singh Majithia presided over the proceedings of the first day of Saanjh while the event also witnessed the participation of Anil Joshi, Minister for Local Bodies, Punjab, Virsa Singh Valtoha, CPS, Harmit Singh Sandhu, CPS, Inderbir Bularia, CPS, Bakshi Ram Arora, Mayor, Amritsar, and MF Farooqui, DIG, BSF, and other luminaries, including officials of the district administration, and peaceniks from India and Pakistan. Expressing her satisfaction over the overwhelming response of the peace-loving public to the Peace Festival, Dr Kirat Sandhu Cheema, Director, Punarjyot, said Saanjh was a brainchild of visionaries like her parents, the late Dr Shivinder Singh Sandhu and the late Manveen Sandhu, and the late Faizan Peerzada, former COO, Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop, Lahore, who wanted to quell the unnecessary spread of hatred in the minds of Indian and Pakistani public towards each other and to unite them by exploring shared roots. "It is indeed a proud moment for us that Saanjh has entered its 10th year. The path to peace has never been smooth, but by God's grace and because of our own resolute will, we have managed to turn hurdles into milestones. Punarjyot is committed to the cause of promoting peace in the region through initiatives like Saanjh even in the years to come," she said. This year Saanjh will also travel to Delhi to extend the effort for peace. The second leg of the festival will be held on December 8 at India Islamic Cultural Centre in Delhi.
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Pakistani delegates asked to explore renewable energy resources
Amritsar, December 6 Chamber of Commerce and Industry in association with the Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA), he said amongst all these resources, solar energy had a major share. He said, “The PHD Chamber, together with the PEDA, could provide assistance in implementing system specifications and installing solar photovoltaic systems, solar thermal power systems like parabolic trough system, power tower system and parabolic dish systems that achieve the highest efficiency for converting solar energy to electricity, and results in drastic energy bill savings up to 30 per cent. Welcoming the interest shown by Pakistan environmentalist groups and from authorities in the fields of climate change, renewable
energy, environmental protection, energy conservation and clean development mechanism, Sachdeva called on the Pakistani counterparts to explore renewable energy resources for energy production, in light of the energy crises and power shortages affecting the country. Indicating that improving energy efficiency in all sectors of the economy by adopting energy-efficient products and systems was one of the most cost-effective measures to help both India and Pakistan meet the increasing energy demand and loosen the link between economic growth and environmental degradation. Balkar Singh, senior manager, PEDA, said, “Employing methods like energy management and renewable energy resources is more than an effective means to reduce expenditure. This also helps us to contribute to our environment by reducing the effect of global warming. The act of switching off a light that is not needed is also a small contribution to conserving energy.” He said, "We look forward to exchange expertise in SPV home and street lighting systems, biogas technologies in today’s programme which can be adopted by Pakistan counterparts and vice-versa to meet the electricity deficit which has soared to over 40 per cent in present times."
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Chief Khalsa Diwan remembers Bhai Vir Singh
Amritsar, December 6 Addressing the gathering, Dr Jaspal Singh, Vice- Chancellor, Punjabi University, Patiala, said Bhai Vir Singh was a poet and scholar. He said Bhai Vir Singh was a major figure in the Sikh renaissance and in the movement for the revival and renewal of
Punjabi literary tradition, which canonised him as Bhai. A special edition of “Nirguniyara” depicting the life and compositions of Bhai Vir Singh was released in a new form on the ocassion. Afterwards, prizes were distributed among the winners of poster making, poem recitation competitions organised on the theme of the life and works of Bhai Vir Singh. Meanwhile, the tastefully decorated residence of Bhai Vir Singh, generally hailed as the father of the modern Punjabi literature, yesterday resonated with hymns of Guru Granth Sahib as people gathered at Bhai Vir Singh hall, raised at a corner of his house. Even as houses of many Punjabi writers and poets, including Bawa Balwant belonging to the city, have either disappeared or are in a dilapidated condition, the residence of Bhai Vir Singh remains intact. The palatial house, spread over five acres, preserves all belongings of the celebrity Punjabi writer in the original shape even after the passage of 48 years after his death. His memory has been meticulously kept alive through his house dating back to the British era. A green space with landscaping akin to countryside farming in the concrete commercial jungle of the posh locality on the Lawrence road offers a fresh whiff of air. The picturesque residence, surrounded by lush green spacious gardens and orchard, which should have been pilgrimage centre for the Punjabi writers, is visited by a few. Most of the city residents are not even aware about the rich heritage of the Punjabi literature housed there. Interestingly, the Lawrence road, where the house is situated, was named after Bhai Vir Singh about a decade ago. The old and unique hand pump installed by Bhai Vir Singh himself is another landmark of the house. Bhai Vir Singh himself installed the old idol of Lord Buddha in a corner of the house. The house, with rare plants and herbs, shows the rich taste and high thinking of Bhai Vir Singh and his love for the nature. A casual visitor gets astounded to find big trees, including chikoo, cheel, neem, walnut, mango, litchi, kachnar, jack fruit, rosary, frangipani, kaadi patta, simbal, berry jujube,
plum, banana and dheon in the house. Four bouquets prepared from the garden of Bhai Vir Singh’s house are taken to the Golden Temple every morning by 85-year-old Bibi Amrit Kaur, who lives in the house. The rare furnishings and personal collections of Bhai Vir Singh feature exceptional furnishings and domestic items. It would not be wrong to say that aspects of his multifarious personality are on display here. The old furniture with unique carving, including a cot and a
writing table, has been well preserved. The exhibition in the gallery of the house deals with the artifacts. A
visitor also gets a glimpse of a room, where the homoeopathy medicines used by Bhai Vir Singh, are preserved. Not to be missed are old tub and kitchen gadgets, including a
wooden juicer. Though the ancestral house of Bhai Vir Singh in Katra Gaarbha Singh in the walled city has disappeared, this new house bought from a Christian priest of a missionary school in 1925, stands as a monument of the British time. He moved into this house in 1930.
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New Amritsar's poor infrastructure denies quality life to residents
Amritsar, December 6 After lapse of over a decade, the water tank which was supposed to cater to the A-Block residents could not see the light of the day till date. Reason: the project worth over Rs 50 lakh remained hung in balance due to official rigmarole. This led to acute scarcity of water supply to the homes. When asked, officials of the Amritsar Improvement Trust and Water and Sewerage Board officials put blame on each other, but later said they would resolve the issue on priority. While the Water and Sewerage Board maintained that it had done its homework of inviting DNIT (detailed notice inviting tenders) and that the lapse was on the part of the Amritsar Improvement Trust which never cared to deliver funds for the tank. On the other hand, the Amritsar Improvement Trust authorities stated that this water tank was built in a technically wrong manner and it had to be rectified primarily by the Water and Sewerage Board. Another grave lapse is that since 2000, when this township was planned, no thought was ever spared to lay an underground sewerage system in New Amritsar. Similarly, installing the water treatment plant could never find place on the agenda of the authorities. Public parks in the localities here are in a pathetic condition. Dejected by authorities’ "indifferent" attitude, residents have taken the initiative to clean up the area falling around their houses. “We have hired labour privately to cut wild grass because civic authorities never bothered to get it cut," said a resident. Another resident, Baldev Singh, said in the absence of any outlet, sewage piles up on the ground, a perfect ground for breeding mosquitoes. The other side
The Water and Sewerage Board is running away from sharing their responsibility and lapse on their part. The weight of this water tank need to be reduced as its iron pillers were not found to be strong enough to bear its load. I invite the Water and Sewerage Board to approach us after removing this technical flaw. I promise that funds would be released intantly. Regarding the parks and construction of community centre, we are in the process of furnishing the official formalities very soon. I invite the residents to come to us with their needs, it would be well taken care of on first
instance. — Superintending Engineer Bharat Bhushan, Amritsar Improvement Trust
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A prerequisite to property
tax GS Paul Tribune News Service
Amritsar, December 6 Officials of the MC made it clear that the introduction of the property tax never meant that it would provide any immunity to house tax defaulters. The reason behind this MC’s decision was that the property tax enforced from April this year, whereas the house tax applicable for the previous period was to be paid. Officials said the property tax would be implemented from the session 2013-2014, whereas the house tax dues were lying pending for earlier period. Besides, Rs 10 crore as dead house tax arrears (may be because of properties exchanging many hands or the government departments with whom payment has to be settled through book adjustment), there is another Rs 14 crore to be recovered by this year end. In case of non payment of the house tax, action could be initiated against the defaulters under Section 137 and 138 of The Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976. His/her moveable/ immovable property could also be attached and put to auction as per rule. DPS Kharbanda said though there was a thin line between the house tax and the property tax, yet the residents should take it as their moral duty to pay their dues. “The implementation of the property tax policy does not at all earn immunity to the defaulters, who have not yet paid their house tax dues. We will go on our recovery drive as it was planned. The list of the defaulters is with us and they have to pay their dues, by all means,” he said. “These taxes will also get us eligible for various Centre government sponsored projects, including those falling under Jawahar Lal Nehru Urban Rural Mission (JNNURM) as it would be sound for us to spare matching grant. We can deliver our duties efficiently in terms of providing better road infrastructure, street lights, water and sewerage connections to the residents only when the residents share their liability of clearing their dues,” he added.
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2 booked for harassing slain ASI’s widow
Amritsar, December 6 Though the incident had occurred on November 5, the case was registered on Tuesday evening, a month after the victim filed a written complaint. Among those booked include Arjun Singh and Narinder Singh, both residents of Rampura village. Taranjit Kaur told the police that the accused, who were her husband’s cousin, destroyed the standing crop even after her repeated pleas. She alleged that the accused also entered her house and threatened her of dire consequences. She said when the Gharinda police did not take an appropriate action, she complained to Amritsar (rural police) SSP a couple of days after the occurrence of the incident. The SSP marked an enquiry to DSP Attari Sukhwinder Singh for a thorough probe. “As it was a dispute between relatives, so initially we wanted to get the matter sorted out amicably with mutual understanding. However, the accused did not relent from their activities. So, we decided to register a case against them in this regard,” said DSP Sukhwinder Singh. A case under Sections 427, 447, 452, 506, 511, 34 of the IPC has been registered against the two accused. However, no arrests have been made so far. Ravinder Pal Singh, an ASI posted at Gharinda police station, was shot dead while saving her daughter from a SAD leader, who tried to outrage her modesty, in Chheharta area on December 5 last year.
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Civil Surgeon takes stock of services at Jallianwala Bagh Martyrs Hospital
Amritsar, December 6 Dr Bansal also interacted with patients. She asked them if they were getting free medicines and other facilities as per the schemes of the state and Centre government. During her interaction with doctors, the problem of shortage of medicines was highlighted, to which Dr Bansal said, “As per a new policy, all health institutions, where more than 300 child deliveries are conducted in a month, will get Rs 10 lakh for emergency expenses for medicines and surgical items.” The Civil Surgeon asked doctors to be present on their place of duty during the working hours. She said no lenient view would be taken against employees, who were not serious about their duties. Assistant Civil Surgeon, Dr Balwinder
Kakkar, Senior Medical Officers, Dr Balbir Singh Dhillon and Dr Hardeep Singh
Ghai, besides the hospital staff, were also were also present on the occasion.
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Vigilance Bureau nabs patwari for tampering records
Amritsar, December 6 Darshan Singh was held guilty of tampering with the land records during his posting at Chattiwind and Guruwali areas for which he received hefty kickbacks. According to sources, as many as 17 cases came up during his interrogation by the bureau, wherein cuttings and over writings were done in the land records. Besides, several pages of the records too were found missing. Deputy Superintendent of Police Balbir Singh said the investigation was on as more tampering cases were expected to come to light. A case under Section 49 and 2011 of the Indian Penal Code was registered against the accused at Chattiwind by the Amritsar rural police. Later, Darshan Singh, was produced before the court which sent him to a two days police remand.
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Youth commits suicide
Amritsar, December 6 Among those booked included Chanan Singh and his two sons, Satnam Singh and Sukhwinder Singh, all residents of Sahowal village. Accused Channan Singh was grandfather of the deceased while Satnam and Sukhwinder were his paternal uncles. Kulwinder Kaur, mother of the deceased, said they had a land dispute with her father-in-law and brothers-in-law. She said perturbed over the alleged harassment at the hands of the three accused, her son committed suicide by consuming some poisonuous substance. She said he was immediately taken to hospital where the doctors declared him dead. The Ajnala police station has registered a case under Sections 306 and 34, IPC, on the statement of Kulwinder Kaur while no arrest has been made so far.
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Lahore-based Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop, began on a high note with Indian artists sharing the stage with their Pakistani counterparts in their quest for establishing peace in the region for the 10th consecutive year.
In order to deal with the house tax defaulters sternly, the Municipal Corporation (MC) has decided to accept the property tax of only those, who have already cleared their house tax dues. On the first day of collection at the Focal Point, the MC team was able to collect Rs 1.5 lakh as house tax arrears.
Civil Surgeon, Dr Usha Bansal, visited Jallianwala Bagh Martyrs Memorial Civil Hospital yesterday to take stock of services being provided to patients. During the visit, she expressed satisfaction over the state of health facilities extended. She asked the management to ensure proper hygienic conditions at all times.
