Docs’ shortage hits hospital hard
Amritsar, January 1
The shortage of specialist doctors at the Jallianwala Bagh Martyrs’ Memorial Civil Hospital is taking a toll on the health services for the general public. As few of the doctors have moved to other stations after getting promotions, the situation is very critical.

Shortage of staff, medicines take toll on Health Dept
Amritsar, January 1
Shortage of staff, regular supply of medicines, corruption free services continues to challenge the Health Department officials to better the services for the general public during the year ahead.

Amritsar, January 1
Even as the Municipal Corporation has initiated the move to de-notify the historic Ram Bagh area, summer palace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, it has turned a blind eye to the instances of burning garbage on the premises of this historic site by its own staff members. Mayor BR Arora has his camp office on the premises of the historic garden.

The practice of burning waste here is rampant. It is not only damaging the heritage structures but also polluting the environment. Residents who take a stroll here in the morning or evening hours have complaint about of this menace many a times earlier. The MC officials have flatly refused to accept the involvement of their sanitation staff in this act, in spite of the earlier media reports, where even the pictures of the offenders were published. Despite the fact that crores of rupees are being spent by the government to preserve this heritage site, garbage burning on its premises is a regular affair.

This even shows how serious the authorities are to realise the dream of Deputy CM of transforming this holy city into a heritage-look city. The norms are being openly flouted to damage the historic monument.

The inner side of the boundary walls, which were painted recently, have turned black due to smoke. The burnt leaves lying next to it testify it.

This morning, the Tribune team found a group of people setting ablaze dry leaves on the premises. On looking the lensman they fled away. The onlookers claimed that they were the MC staffers only and regularly burn the waste here.

Ironically, Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora’s new office is located on the panorama within the Bagh. He passes through this stretch daily to attend his pre-lunch session with the MC officials, but the dismal state of affairs never catches his fancy.

The residents who stroll here complained that they come to the Bagh to breathe fresh air, but inhale poisonous gases emanating from the burnt leaves and plastic waste. “The MC staff routinely burns the garbage in the Bagh, not realising the damage they cause to the environment. We have questioned them many times but they do not listen to our pleas,” said NS Gabaria, a retired railway officer.

MC Commissioner DPS Kharbanda said, “It is a serious offence. I will look into the matter and stern action will be initiated against those who burn the trash on this historic campus.” 

Amritsar, January 1
The functioning of a privately-run de-addiction centre came under scanner when a few inmates approached the police and stated that they were brutally tortured by the owner and his employees.

Gurwinder Singh, a resident of C-block Ranjit Avenue and Bhoopjit, who hails from Sultanwind area, is an acute drug addict. He came to know about the centre through internet and was admitted to the centre five months ago. Following the statement, the police have a registered a case under Sections 341, 342, 323, 506 and 34 of the IPC in this regard. No arrest has been made so far.

Gurvinder told the police that as he was fed up of his addiction and wanted to get rid of it. He and his family decided to get him admitted in a de-addiction centre. He said they learnt about the Vishwas Drug Home De-addiction and Rehabilitation Centre, which is located at Ranjit Vihar on the Loharka road, through internet. He said on December 21 at around 8.30am, the accused, including Karambir Singh, chairman and owner of the centre, abused them while alleging that they had tried to escape from the premises.

He told the police that the centre owner and his two employees, Tejwinder Singh and Ranjit Singh, thrashed them with sticks, sluggers and shoes. He and other inmates were not even allowed to meet their families who had come to see them at the centre on December 29. They were threatened of dire consequences if they tell anything to their families.

"The incident came to light when the families of the inmates again went to the centre to meet their wards. They were shocked to see injury marks on their bodies," said Varinder Kumar, investigating officer and in charge of the Gumtala police chowki.

He said the family member of the victims got them released while a couple of them approached them for lodging FIR against the centre owner and his employees. He said since the registration of the case, the accused were absconding while the centre was found to be closed. He said, "Investigations are under way whether the centre had the requisite permission or license from the Health Department or not." 

Amritsar, January 1
The shortage of specialist doctors at the Jallianwala Bagh Martyrs’ Memorial Civil Hospital is taking a toll on the health services for the general public. As few of the doctors have moved to other stations after getting promotions, the situation is very critical.

The orthopaedic department at the hospital earlier had three specialists. However, one of them, Dr Dharam Singh, had moved to Government Medical College after induction as Assistant Professor. Another doctor of the department resigned from the service and joined a private hospital. Presently, Dr Naveen Khungar, is the only one handling the fort among huge rush of patients.

In the medicine department, Dr Rajiv Mehra, has moved to Tarn Taran district after his promotion as District Health Officer and Dr Aman, was transferred to Tarsikka. Presently, Dr Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, is the only one available for the patients. The hospital has only one radiologist to manage the Ultra Sound centre. In case the doctor is on leave, the hospital is forced to close down the services. The department of surgery in the hospital, too, had three doctors earlier, but with the transfer of Dr Manjit Singh Khalsa, to medical college, only two doctors have left.

The patients and employees at the hospital demanded that in case of the doctors who have been shifted to other places, the department must make fresh appointments so that general public can be provided better services and workload on existing doctors can be reduced.

Meanwhile, hospital officials said they had informed the senior officials about the situation and they hoped that fresh appointments would be made soon. 

Amritsar, January 1
Shortage of staff, regular supply of medicines, corruption free services continues to challenge the Health Department officials to better the services for the general public during the year ahead.

Even the employees of all the cadres at the hospital are miffed with the attitude of the government towards their demands, which range from settling anomalies in their pays, promotions and to regularise the services of contractual staff.

Continuing the ambitious scheme of supplying free medicines to all the patients at government hospital would also remain a challenge as the patients during the past year continued to complain about non-availability of many of these medicines.Doctors, nurses, technicians are also short at most of the health institutions. “Doctors are overburdened with duties. They attend the OPD, emergency, court cases, VIP duties and so on,” said a doctor. The corruption at health department offices is not only a problem for the general public but also for the department employees who have to use underhand means to get their department related works done.

Another big challenge is to ensure basic health services at rural areas.

Civil Surgeon Dr Usha Bansal said ensuring better services for the general public is her foremost priority and she would leave no stone unturned to do that. She said the schemes for the poor had helped in ensuring services for them. 

Amritsar, January 1
New Year would bring to the residents some of the major projects, which include city bus service, solid waste management plant and the helium balloon rides, executed shortly. Besides this, several other projects are under way, which could promise quality life to the residents.

The first and foremost project on the MC's agenda is to run the city bus service. After a lapse of six years with countless deadlines and a trial run, the holy city would at least be gifted with its first public transport in the shape of low-floor city bus service between January 11 and 13. The Deputy CM is expected to flag off this first ever public transport for the holy city.

With the Municipal Corporation revamping the city bus service terminal at the Maal Mandi area, the project now seems to be inching towards reality. The project has been hanging fire since 2007 as it got stuck in red tapism, though the city bus service was launched in other cities like Ludhiana and Jalandhar long back.

Fresh yellow coat of paint with green stripes is being done at the bus terminal, which was earlier in a dilapidated state and a home for anti-social elements, including the drug addicts.

MC Commissioner DPS Kharbanda said, "Fresh look will be given to this bus terminal. It will be equipped with main office, boundary lines, waiting halls, ticketing counters and even rest room for drivers and staff members."

"It is a new year gift to the residents of the holy city. There is no question of any delay in the launch of the city bus service. The required fleet of buses has already been procured", he said.

The proposal is to introduce this service on the basis of own, operate and maintain. 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.

Another important project which is lying pending is the solid waste management project, in absence of which the city's garbage lifting and disposal is in dire state. The project worth around Rs 85 crore, under the JNNURM, was launched as per the Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000, by politicians, including Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, in 2006, which would have processed the holy city's garbage into eco bricks and green fuel. But it was challenged in the court by the aspirant private firms. Now, that the court has given a green signal, Kharbanda said two firms have been shortlisted for the job and everything would be finalised within the current month.

The third most awaited project is the helium balloon rides starting shortly. The helium balloon ride would enable the visitors to have bird's eye view of key edifices of Amritsar, including Golden Temple, Durgiana Temple, Ram Tirath temple and Jallianwala Bagh.

The Amritsar Municipal Corporation has already spared 2-acre plot in the Gole Bagh area, which has the closest proximity from the historic shrines.

A flight of 10 minutes would cost between Rs 50 and Rs 100, depending upon the age of the occupants.

The foremost point is that neither the MC nor the state government would have to spend a single penny on this project as it would be executed on the PPP (public-private partnership) mode. The whole operational and maintenance cost would be borne by the firm which would be hired for the project. Kharbanda, the brainchild behind this Rs 10 crore project, said, "it is expected to launch within two months."

Besides this, Commissioner said, "An amount of over Rs 500 crore is expected to come from the Centre under the JNNURM schemes to execute various civic projects this year. The three pending ramps of elevated road on the GT road too is expected to be built this year."

Amritsar, January 1
Felicitating party workers and people on the New Year, Bikram Singh Majithia, president, Youth Akali Dal, today inaugurated a new office of SAD (B), Amritsar, Urban.

Speaking on the occasion he said, a new well equipped office had been established by Upkar Singh Sandhu, president, SAD, Amritsar, Urban Wing.

He said the party envisaged to streamline its activities from the office and hold regular meetings with workers and the office-bearers to promote the policies of the party.

Crediting the party workers for victory in Delhi elections, Majithia said each consecutive victory carried along with it greater public aspirations and greater responsibility. “It is very necessary that local affairs are well coordinated at offices in district headquarters. Regular meetings in the office would bridge the communication barriers and motivate and sensitise the workers towards their responsibilities,” he said. Majithia also assured regular personal visits to the office to carry forward the agenda of the party.

He said the party had requested the Improvement Trust Amritsar, to allot a piece of land for SAD office, so that a spacious, high-tech office on the pattern of Chandigarh office be set up.

Later, answering the media query on extending rebates in electricity and water tariffs by the AAP in Delhi, and Haryana following the lead, Majithia said Punjab was far ahead of all other states on pro-people policies.

He said schemes like Atta Dal, Shagun, cashless treatment for cancer patients, scholarships for the SC/BC, free power for tubewells etc. were running successfully in Punjab. He said the 'Khula Darbar' as proposed by the AAP was also an emulation of ‘Sangat Darshan’ programme being run successfully in Punjab.

Bawa Singh Ghumanpura, Rajinder Singh Mehta, and a host of local SAD leaders and workers were present on the occasion. 

Amritsar, January 1
Occupancy in hotels, lodges and inns in the walled city shot up to over 100 per cent as lakhs of pilgrims thronged the city to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple, on the first dawn of the New Year.

Keeping in view high demand and limited availability of rooms, many hotels charged over Rs 1,500 for a room, which was normally available at Rs 500 in normal days.

The Federation of Hotels and Guest House Association of Amritsar president Surinder Singh said scores of tourists were waiting for the rooms. He said about 120 hotels were situated around the Golden Temple yet many of them were seen roaming around in in need of a room. He said doors of Gurdwara Bagh Ramanand, situated close to the holiest Sikh shrine, were also thrown opened for the tourists.

Radisson Blu General Manager Jitender Pal Sohal said his hotel received customers from various parts of the country, especially from Delhi and the Nationla Capital Region (NCR), who specially came here to pay obeisance at the Harmandar Sahib on the first dawn of the year. Situated close to Amritsar Airport, the hotel provides free shuttle service to the Golden temple.

Otherwise, the city was receiving a good turn-out of footfall from tourists from the US, UK, Canada and other European countries. “It has become annual feature that the tourists come in good numbers to the city between December 15 to January 15 as these countries experience vacations in schools and other sectors.”

Hospitality establishments outside the walled city witnessed more than average occupancy as the tourists preferred to stay in hotels, close to the Sikh shrine. 

Amritsar, January 1
The city police have arrested a youth on the charges of outraging the modesty of the women police officials.

They had allegedly passed obnoxious remarks and made vulgar gestures to two women constables of the PCR teams deputed in the Rani Ka Bagh area.

The accused were identified as Harmanpreet Singh of Basarke Bhaini and Angrej Singh of Khaparkheri. While Harmanpreet Singh was caught of spot, Angrej Singh managed to flee.

As per the details, Constable Babita Devi along with Constable Gurmeet Kaur who was the part of PCR-14 was holding a naka near a 'dargah' located in the Rani Ka Bagh area while the office of Police Commissioner and Deputy police commissioner were situated just a few meters away from the spot.

The accused were riding a bullet motorcycle and passed from near them while passing some remarks. Firstly, they ignore them but then they returned soon and made inappropriate gestures towards the two female police officials. "This time they chased him and intercepted a few meters away. In the meantime more police teams who were holding naka a few meters away came to the spot. They first beat him up and then took him to the Cantonment police station," said a police official.

Following the complaint of female police officials, a case was registered under Sections 186, 353, 354-C, 354-D of the IPC at the Cantonment police station.

Meanwhile, in yet another molestation incident, the Ajnala police have booked three persons, including an owner of a grocery shop identified as Lovemesh Seth.

The victim alleged that she used to procure grocery material from his shop. She alleged that last night when she was alone at home, the accused along with his two accomplices entered the house and started molesting her. She said when she raised her voice for help, the accused fled away. A case under Sections 354, 34 of the IPC has been registered in this regard while no arrest has been made so far. 

Amritsar, January 1
The police have registered a case of murder against three persons, including Satta Masih, a resident of the same village, nearly a week after the mysterious death of Balwinder Singh, a resident of Hetampura village falling under Lopoke police station in Amritsar Rural police district.

Kuljit Kaur, deceased’s wife alleged that on December 23, Satta Masih, had taken her husband at a secluded place and later his body was found in the village on the very next morning.

The postmortem report confirmed injury marks on his body besides it also revealed that the deceased was brutally beaten up before being murdered, said the police authorities. Following this, the police have now registered a case under Sections 302 and 34 
of the IPC.

Kuljit Kaur revealed that Satta Masih was earlier nabbed by the police for allegedly possessing drugs. Therefore, he used to suspect that it was Balwinder Singh who had informed the police and started nursing a grudge against him. 

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