The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Flyover at Kitchlew Chowk now open for commuters GS Paul Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 12 After skipping many deadlines, the much-awaited flyover at Kitchlew Chowk was opened for the public today by Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal. This was followed by laying of the foundation stone of a 66 KV sub-station at Sultanwind. This is the first flyover within the city limits measuring 900 meters. Rs 22 crore was spent on its construction. It was conceptualised in 2011 to solve traffic snarls on this busy stretch and to divert uninterrupted access to commuters bound for international airport and scores of localities established along the Ajnala road. The work was awarded to the SP Singla Company in September 2011 by the Amritsar Improvement Trust and was supposed to be completed within 15 months. It missed the earlier deadlines of February 2013, which was further extended to August 2013. The project had suffered a set back when around 30 trees came on the way as the area comes under the forest department. It was after the Amritsar Improvement Trust provided a chunk of land at New Amritsar and paid nearly Rs 3 lakh to the Forest Department that the permission was granted to uproot the trees. Nevertheless, the flyover is built on central verge of the road standing on 14 pillars. Further, each pillar rested on five piles. Besides, the 5.5-metre wide stretch too is available on both sides of the road along the flyover to serve as slip roads for the traffic beneath. The Deputy CM during its inauguration reiterated his commitment to develop Amritsar as the most beautiful and developed tourism centre of Punjab. Even as the PRTS (personal rapid transport system) would take time to execute. The City Bus Service is all set for the launch in the holy city, shortly. This too would be the first ever public transport system, which would not only solve the traffic snarls but would also give relief to the local as well as visiting tourists. In the absence of such a service, they were left on the mercy of auto-rickshaws and private taxi operators who used to charge them at their will and fancy. Responding to a query regarding the PRTS systems, the Deputy CM said due to some technical problems physical work in this regard could not take a start and the authorities concerned were working round the clock to work out a solution in this regard. "There remained some technical snags in executing the project and it may take some time to finalise the proceedings. We have several projects in the pipeline which would be public-friendly and will give a total makeover to Amritsar," he said. He said the construction of new roads, upgrade and widening of roads inside the city would be completed in coming months besides the upgrade of the transmission and distribution of power system. He said five new power stations were being installed to improve the distribution system at the cost of Rs 137 crore. He also laid the foundation stone of a 66 KV sub-station at Sultanwind. Answering a query regarding Open Darbars being presided over by Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal in New Delhi, the Deputy CM said it was the brainchild of Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal, who has been successfully organising Sangat Darshan Programmes in the state for the last two decades. The Deputy CM said subsidised power and other welfare schemes being followed by the AAP were the pet projects of Punjab CM whether it was free power to the peasantry and poverty stricken families. He said Sangat Darshan programme of Badal was also an adequate mechanism to resolve the public grievances on the spot, which was recently introduced by the AAP in national capital. Earlier, the Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal along with his wife and MP from Bathinda Harsimrat Kaur Badal paid obeisance at Golden Temple. Meanwhile, Harsimrat Badal gave a call to all Punjabis, residing within the country and abroad to celebrate Lohri for the betterment of society. Those present on the occasion included Navjot Singh Sidhu, MP Bikram Singh Majithia, Revenue Minister, Punjab, Anil Joshi, Local Bodies Minister, Inderbir Singh Bolaria, Navjot Kaur Sidhu, both the Chief Parliamentary Secretaries and other SAD-BJP leadership.
	NGO lends helping hand to HIV couple Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 12 HIV disease still carries a stigma in society. This came to light when a couple, who tested positive for the disease, narrated their ordeal that they had to face. Consequently, the couple was undergoing severe financial trouble. The man, a former addict, who claims to have developed the virus after injecting an infected syringe, said that he lost his job about nine months ago. At the same time, his wife lost her eyesight due to a reaction from a medicine given at the Anti Retro-viral Therapy (ART) Centre at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital. His wife also got the infection from him. A medical practitioner at the ART Center said, "Administration of the medicine for the treatment of the HIV caused some known side effects and blindness is one of them. However, blindness occurs in rare reactions and the female falls in that category. The family is having a tough time to earn their livelihood as the sole bread earner of the family has lost his job. He said he used to earn about Rs 5,000 per month by working at a textile factory. He claimed that their only child a three-year old son was also denied admission at their locality school after other parents objected to the presence of a child of the HIV parents. He admitted that he used to inject four to five shots, each costing Rs 15, and had been an addict for two years. He does not remember the name of contraband and call it an injection only. He claimed that he abandoned the vice practice after undergoing a test at a centre in Delhi about four years back. Akhil Bharatiya Human Rights Welfare Association today celebrated festival of Lohri with the family to infuse moments of happiness. Vaneet Sareen, member of the association, said his association would extend support to the family in shape of ration and some cash every month. They would also felicitate the admission of their child in a school.
	Man hit by speeding bus, dies Driver chased by human rights activists arrested PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 12 A man fell a victim to a speeding bus this morning. The deceased, Ravinder Singh, was returning home, when a speeding bus belonging to the Dhillon Bus Service ran him over, killing him on-the-spot. The incident took place near Randhawa Hotel on the Batala road. The driver of the bus bearing registration number (PB-19-E-8807) instead of stopping tried to flee from the spot. However, an eyewitness and a human rights activist chased the bus and intercepted it just few meters away. "I was going towards Verka side when I saw the bus had hit the motorcycle (PB02-AQ-8153). Instead of stopping by and helping the victim the driver tried to flee. That is when I took a U-turn and intercepted the bus a few meters away from the spot," said Vaneet Sareen, human rights activist. "I immediately called the city police which reached the spot and arrested the driver, identified as Jaspal Singh of Mansa. The bus was also impounded," he said Manjinder Singh, elder brother of the deceased, said: "Ravinder used to work in a private eye-care firm located on Mall Road. He is survived by his wife and two children, Arsh and Vishnu." "Ravinder was the sole bread earner of his family. The government should grant suitable compensation to the family," he said. The police have arrested the accused driver, Jaspal Singh and a case has been registered in this regard.
	Gang of robbers busted, 4 held Amritsar, January 12 The Sadar police today busted a gang of robbers and arrested four of them while one of their accomplices managed to flee from the spot. Among those arrested include Sandeep Singh of Jaspal Nagar Valla, Vinod Kumar of Kotla Basti, Mustfabad, Suraj, Arun of Avtar Avenue, Majitha road. Jhambu, a resident of Kirpal Colony, Batala road, managed to escape. A case under Sections 399, 402 of the IPC and 22, 61, 85 of the NDPS Act and 25, 54, 59 of the Arms Act has been registered against them. The police have recovered two country made pistols of .12 bore, two live cartridges, two sharp edged weapons and around 200gm of narcotic powder from their possession. Vavinder Mahajan, SHO, Sadar police station, said the police have specific information that the accused had made a five-member gang and were involved in robberies. He said the informer to the police that said that they were hiding near Panj Rattan Khaata, Batala road, and were planning to conduct loots. He said immediately a police team was dispatched to arrest them. — TNS
	Former I-T Chief Commissioner joins AAP Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 12 Former Indian Revenue Service official SJS Pall today joined the AAP. While citing the reason for joining the party he said its ideology was a reflection of the holy message contained in the Guru Granth Sahib. He was initiated into the party during a meeting held here today. While addressing the party members he said Gurbani stresses on the harmony among various communities, ensures involvement of people living in the society, answerability of people in power, uprooting corruption. He said all these objectives have been adopted by the AAP which needs to be supported. Pall, who retired as Income Tax Chief Commissioner, said the AAP was earnestly following its policies after formation of its maiden government in Delhi. He said the current dispensation at the national capital has become a laboratory of democracy and its success would be a prototype which would be emulated in other states of the country. He hoped that it would bring a peaceful revolution and subtle changes to raise living standard of the citizens of the country. He said the Gurbani espoused the ideology of “Manas Ki jaat Sabhe Ekae Pahichanbo” as per which all divisions on the basis of caste, colour, creed, religions and race were not to be followed. “Similarly, the AAP’s ideology of patriotism, affable language, no malice against any person is reflection of the Gurbani,” he said. Pall said people would continue to support the AAP as long as its leaders pursued the aforementioned ideology. A slight deviation from the path would earn the wrath of people and its fall would be a certain fact like other political parties. Among others, DS Juneja, TS Kolkatta, Narinder Walia and Ashok Talwar, chief convener of the district unit of the AAP gave their views on the subject and endorsed the ideology of the party.
	Better amritsar chaos on roads Need for planned public transport system Chaos, congestion and vulnerability! The traffic situation in the holy city doesn't present a comfortable picture. Add to that the limited means of public transport system while suffering at the hands of the one present — auto-rickshaws Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 12 As the administration is busy making up to the promised deadline of January 15 for the first-ever public transport system in Amritsar in the shape of air-conditioned low-floor spacious buses, the existing one defines the obvious problems. A popular international tourist destination and trade centre, the city had been lacking a planned public transport system. The options on the road have been the auto-rickshaws and a couple of private taxis plying in the city. Some of the busiest routes like the bus stand and railway station have become a nightmare for the commuters, thanks to the traffic mismanagement caused by the erratic public mode of transport and harassment for fare. Nightmare for commuters The fact that with a significant tourist inflow in the city and the large number of students, traders and professionals using the public transport system, the lack of it makes it a serious problem. For transportation within Amritsar city only the rickshaws, auto-rickshaws, taxis and private buses are available. But they have added to the commuting woes with the increase in traffic load on the road. The also pose safety issues with incidents of snatching becoming a headache for the tourists. The biggest nuisance on the road are the auto-rickshaws, which have been plying on the road on all possible routes. Ignoring and flouting traffic rules, these autos are a menace on the road. Since most of them run privately and are the only mode of public transport available in the city, the violations go unnoticed. Also, the fare they charge is unregulated. Most tourists travelling to the Wagah border have to depend on private taxis, which proves to be an expensive ride (charge being anything between Rs 100- Rs 150 per person). The fare and travel expenses have effected the regular commuters, who have to shell out Rs 10-Rs 20 for each stoppage, irrespective of the distance being travelled. Less breathing space on road The lack of public transport system has encouraged personal conveyance thereby increasing load on the city roads. In the absence of proper traffic management and adequate parking facilities, this has resulted in less space on the road. Commuters travelling from Batala bypass and Verka sometimes have to make two-three changes of transport. Since there are only a few auto stands in the city, one at the bus stand, another near the railway station and one at Cherhrta, all the other routes have limited accessibility. Commuters speak Though the autos are easily available in the city, they are too cumbersome as you have to travel on share basis. Without any direct stoppages in between, one has to change the mode of commuting at least twice if you travel from the city outskirts to areas like Ranjit Avenue or Cheherta Ekta Khullar, media professional who travels to work everyday through public transport One has to wait and loiter around to catch the auto-rickshaws inside the walled city. Physical stress, which occurs while catching autos from different routes, is also immense. There is also a time limit with the present public commute options, since after dark, it is not safe to travel by an auto or private taxi Jasmine Bawa, student, GNDU The routine schedule while travelling by an auto or cab differs every day, so there is no sure way to reach your destination on a particular time. The commute is chaotic as well since one has to bear the traffic jams and snarls during the travel. Also, since school or college students prefer to travel by two-wheelers due to lack of proper public transport, it increases the risk of road accidents Sahil Saini, student, DAV College
	Residents’ long wait for green park on Sultanwind Road Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 12 Though a couple of years have lapsed since the district administration announced to set up a grand park on a 4-km-long track alongside the Upper Bari Doab (UBD) Canal between Taranwala Pul on the GT and the Sultanwind road, there is no progress of work at the site. Residents of the area are fed up with the long wait. Area resident Jasdev Singh said he like many more people from the surrounding areas visited the place to enjoy a morning walk amidst fresh wind blowing through the canal and dense tree cover giving impression of a forest. He recalled it was in early 2012 that statements about setting up an environment park along the canal were circulating in the area. From then they kept hope that a park would be set up. However, the people never knew when the actual work would start. As per the specifications shared by the authorities, the park was planned in a 4-km-long stretch with a width of 150 yard. Another resident Gurmeet Singh said it was then cited that the uniqueness of the park would be its present natural contours and green ingredients of the spot would be preserved as it is. A new series of ornamental saplings and landscaping would be there to beautify the stretch. One may get a perfect view of white and golden-silver oaks, jacarandas, lagerstormias, mahoganys, amaltas, gulmohars and bauhinias (kachnar) with a green cover of majestic trees like pilkhan and Arjun. He said the stretch already offered an interesting 'jungle walk' because it already had a thick green cover. They wanted the place to be converted into a park without chopping off trees and bushes while supplementing it with ornamental, medicinal and other saplings, he added. Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS), Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu, had taken up the matter of setting up the park on the lines of Chandigarh's leisure valley concept, a nature's trail-cum-awareness park, with the Punjab Forests Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani, who approved the project. MP Navjot Singh Sidhu and CPS Dr Sidhu had also announced grant of funds from the MPLAD and discretionary funds, respectively. Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat said the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) had prepared a landscape plan under which a jogging track, beautiful landscaping apart from an environmental park would be set up at the place. As per the revised estimate the park would cost Rs 3 crore. He said the PIDB was doing all necessary paper work on its end in Chandigarh.
	DAV prof bags BARC project Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 12 Dr Ajay Sharma, a physics professor at the local DAV College was granted research projects to study the levels of radioactive elements in the environment by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai. The projects have been granted under the Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (BRNS), a Union government entity. The cost of the project is expected to be Rs 34.80 lakh. Dr Sharma got the research project to study the levels of uranium, thorium, radium, potassium in the environment, which have become harmful for society. He said radioactive elements, the radeon gas and other harmful particles and gases were increasing in the environment. Similarly, the number of cases of diseases like cancer, lung cancer and other ailments were also on the rise. He said the research would help to unearth these missing links. Sharma has been assigned the task to collect the exact data of radio-active particles. The main focus of his research would be on Jammu and Kashmir. College Principal, Dr KN Kaul, congratulated Dr Ajay Sharma for his project and anticipated that its outcome would prove beneficial for scientists in carrying out researches. He said in the past two decades various technical developments in communication and other related fields brought a sea change around the world. However, it exposed people, flaura and fauna to rays. It must be seen how it was impacting them, he added. All these kinds of research projects were very helpful from the environment point of view in the region. Dr Sharma would get a good opportunity to study rich biodiversity of the mountains in Jammu and Kashmir, said Dr Kaul, who himself came from a science background. He said granting of the coveted project to a teacher of the DAV College, once again proved that the college management was providing congenial environment for overall growth not only to students but also to its faculty.
	Consumer forum directs company to pay Rs 1,57,695 Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 12 The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed an insurance company to pay Rs 1,57,695 to a local resident stating that the amount was wrongly deducted from the medical claim of the insured. The forum said the company had to pay the amount in a period of one month failing which the complainant would be entitled to interest at the rate of 9 per cent from the date of filing of the complaint till payment was made. A litigation expense of Rs 2,000 was also been imposed on the company. Earlier, Resham Singh Ratoke and his son Harpreet Singh, residents of Ratoke village, had filed a complaint against the United India Insurance Company for paying a claim of only Rs 80,000 against the amount of Rs 2.38 lakh spent on the treatment of Harpreet Singh. Resham Singh said he being an employee of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) had bought a group insurance from the company, which covered medical expenses up to Rs 4 lakh. Three members of his family along with children up to the age of 23 years were covered under the scheme, he added. Resham said Harpreet met with an accident on July 3, 2011. A sum of Rs 2,38,739 was spent on his treatment for multiple injuries, which included head injury. He said the company paid an amount of Rs 81,044 only. The insurance company on the other hand claimed that the deductions were made as per the terms and conditions of the policy. The counsel of the insurance company said the amount spent on medicines and other medical treatment as room rent charges was deducted from the claim. He said these instructions were added later on and were conveyed to the SGPC. However, the first set of terms and conditions conveyed to the complainant did not mention any such instructions. The forum stated that according to law if there were two versions of terms and conditions, then in this case, the version which was favourable to the consumer would prevail. The forum said as such the company was bound to make full payment to the complainant.
	Master percussionist performs Minna Zutshi Punjab is a very special place for the Punjab Gharana’s noted percussionist Ustad Zakir Hussain. It’s the place where music has been honoured, loved and nurtured and the future of music has been assured here, he says, while on a visit to Bhaini Sahib. “When I come here, I’m paying homage to one of the greatest temples of art and music, which is Bhaini Sahib. It’s a matter of pride that this exists in the state where I belong to and where the music I learnt was born.” He feels that to be in Punjab is to be at home. “The energy at home keeps you going. You absorb that flow of energy.” The tabla maestro believes that music, in its organic form, is one of the most positive vibrations on the earth. He draws a parallel between music and nature: “Just as there’s something organically beautiful about a banyan tree spreading around, there’s a special beauty, power and energy in music in its organic form.” On the future of tabla in music, he says, “Musical instruments are tied with the music of the time. Those that convey the music that’s heard (by the audience) are the prevalent instruments. Be it santoor or sarod recital or khayal gayaki, tabla happens to be the (musical) instrument of choice. So long as these music forms survive, tabla will be heard.” Striking a philosophical note, the tabla maestro known for his impromptu improvisations and also for his innovative streak, says instruments have a spirit (soul) in them. The trick is to become connected with the spirit, to get the spirit accept you. Though he credits his father with being a decisive influence on his music, he says many people have shaped and guided his musical journey. “My father is my guru. He provided me the tools to express myself in the world of art. How I utilize these tools has a lot to do with my ability to interact with others of his stature.”
	700 patients examined at medical camp Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 12 The Health Department organised Ayush Camp at Sangna village near here to educate general public about the ayurvedic and homoeopathic streams of treatment. Around 700 patients were examined at the camp and given medicines free of cost. District Ayurvedic Officer, Dr Malkiat Singh, said the Health Department had three separate streams of treatment namely allopathic, ayurvedic and homeopathic. He said most of the people were aware of the allopathic stream and ignorant about the other two. District Homeopathic Officer, Dr Jugal Kishore, said the local Civil Hospital had all the three wings, but except for allopathic, the number of patients at the other two wings was very low. Dr Kishore said ayurvedic and homeopathic streams were known for correcting the root cause of problems. He said these streams were less costlier than allopathy and general public could avail benefits. He said the department had started a series of ayush camps to make the general public aware about these two methods of treatment. More such camps would be organised in coming days, he added. Dr Atamjit Singh Basra, Dr Surinder Singh Sandhu, Dr Surinder Pal Singh, Dr Sandeep Kaur, Dr Manjit Singh, Dr Kuldeep Singh Pannu, Dr Inderbir Singh and Dr Anuinder Kaur Randhawa provided their services during the camp.
	50-yr-old booked on rape charge Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 12 The Gharinda police falling under Amritsar rural police today booked Sukhdev Singh (50), a resident of Bhakna Kalan village, for allegedly raping a married women of the same village. The police have registered a case under Section 376 of the IPC against the accused following the statement of the victim. The victim, mother of two children, in her statement to the police alleged that she used to work as domestic help. She said she used to pay obeisance at a dargah, where the accused used to perform sewa and came in contact with her. She said on the evening of January 10, when she was alone, Sukhdev came to her house and took her in a room on pretext of doing some ‘black magic’. She said the accused later bolted the doors from inside, pushed her on the bed and raped her. She said Sukhdev left her and ran away from the spot when her husband came home. The police said a case had been registered against the culprit and raids were being conducted to nab the accused. A medical examination of the victim was being conducted and further investigations were under progress, added the police.
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