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High-security plates fail
Water supply pipes submerged in sewage pond, officials look the other way
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Corporate hampers, personalised gifts, dollops of happiness
Civil Surgeon’s office to check influence of touts, agents
From schools &
colleges
Postal Dept employees protest
City bus service halts for a while as staff protest
Maa Boli Divas 2014 from tomorrow
Seminar on Dr Ambedkar |
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High-security plates fail
Amritsar, February 18 The move aimed to discourage vehicle thefts failed to a large extent as the work progressed at a snail's pace. The Transport office initiated the allotment of advance HSRPs in March 2012. Under this process, the registration numbers of vehicles are also stamped on the chasis to avoid tampering. Hundreds of vehicles are stolen every year and majority of these remained untraced. This necessitated the need to incorporate sophisticated tools that could help in tracing the thieves. Two years back, Amritsar became the first city in the state to initiate the work on HSRPs. A private firm was assigned the job with centres at Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Bathinda and Amritsar. Under this new technology, registration number is embossed on a number plate made of nickel. Subsequently, the number plate will be stamped on the chasis of vehicles to lock it. Once done, a stolen vehicle can never be registered again. Around five years back, the Supreme Court (SC) had issued directives to all the states and union territories to implement the HSRP project. As per rule 51 of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules 1989, specific guidelines have been issued regarding the height, thickness and space in between each letter on number plates of vehicles. Each letter on the rear plate must be 35 mm high, 7 mm thick and there should be 5 mm distance between each letter. The letters on the front plate must be 35 mm in height, 5 mm thick and there should be equal distance between each letter. Display of registration numbers in any other font except the prescribed is punishable under the Motor Vehicles Act and the authorities can impose a fine ranging between Rs 100 and 1,000. District Transport Officer Rajat Oberoi said he had called a meeting with the officials of the firm, which was assigned this task. With the one already working, another counter will be opened to accept the applications for HSRPs at the Transport office. The firm assigned the task of allotting the HSRPs has established its workshop at Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital. For two-wheeler the fee is Rs 114.30 and for four-wheeler it is Rs 337.20. What is an HSRP?
The HSRP system, which was made mandatory in some parts of the country in 2008, will have a chromium-based hologram to prevent counterfeiting, an ingress letter 'IND' for a secure national identity, laser-etched seven-digit code to sequentially register individual vehicles, snap lock to make plates
tamper-proof, and a chip-system to track the vehicle across the country.
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Water supply pipes submerged in sewage pond, officials look the other way
Amritsar, February 18 Just adjacent to the Fire Extinguishing Office, located inside the Town Hall complex, a massive dirty pond was spotted. Ironically, the water supply pipes were submerged in this pond which was full of sewerage water. This lapse has failed to catch the attention of MC officials, despite the fact that they cross through this stretch daily to reach their office. On the other hand, the residents resented that they were compelled to drink contaminated water while exposing them to various diseases. most of the localities of walled city area which is being fed with the same obsolete British-era
water supply line. It is irony that in the absence of any scientific system to treat or check the quality of water, residents of many areas have no option other than to drink such unhealthy water. Jagdish Singh, a resident of Bagh Ramanand, said in most of the localities, it was a common practice that the water supply got mixed with the sewage because of breakages in sewerage and water supply pipes. About 80 per cent of diseases such as cholera, typhoid, diarrhoea, jaundice etc are caused by unsafe water," he said. Officials said tenders worth Rs 52 crore for revamping the water supply scheme and Rs 40 crore for existing the sewerage system had already been allotted and the work on mending snags in the local areas was under progress. MC Commissioner DPS Kharbanda admitted that there was a dire need to rehabilitate the existing sewerage and water supply scheme in the walled city areas and the job was being undertaken by a Japan-based company under the JAICA project. "It has been a planned but a time-consuming project for the whole city. Still, we are always there to plug local snags. The site which has been pointed out will be rectified on priority," he said.
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Corporate hampers, personalised gifts, dollops of happiness
Amritsar, February 14 Ask Yasmine Bains, a city-based baker, who specialises in designer cakes and candles, has been running her label from home. Her creations, weighing 20 to 30 kg and with innovative figurines, shapes and imprint have been selling like hot cakes, literally. "I have been doing this since 2005. I started in Srinagar as my husband is in the Army. I have been a part of various lifestyle exhibitions in Delhi, Mumbai and teach at various academies in Pune, Delhi and here as well," she says. Customising cakes and designer candles, she is also into designer gift trappings and fabric paints. But her passion comes out with sweet stories. "Trends have changed. People no longer want to eat sweets and usual boring gifts. Designer bakes are interesting as well as smart gift options. Also, the scope of innovation and personalised appeal is very high." Not just buyers, but many people want to learn the art as well. "Just like designer clothes, shoes or cars, even hitting options have become a status symbol and a lifestyle thing. Since I deal in over 20 kg cakes, most of my stuff is for big events like wedding, corporate parties and lifestyle shows," says thre 36-year old baker. Chocolates, even the customised ones are too attracting attention. Flavoured with strawberries, resin, wine and plum are popular with customised love messages. Into this business, for over a decade now, city based and designer gourmet expert Parvez Arora, who has his own brand Chic Chocolate, vouchers for the interesting options in cakes and bakers. His wife, Aviruchi, specialises in making customised designers cakes and delicate bakes. Cupcakes, doughnuts, fondants and other sweet delicacies like cake sorbets that are crushed and made into small chocolate wrapped balls of pudding and cookies. There are some variants in seasonal fruits and fusion. "Exotic cakes with fruits and mousse cakes are the most popular," shares Parvez. "There are some with pictures printed or messages and suger-free cakes, too, are available on order," he adds.
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Civil Surgeon’s office to check influence of touts, agents
Amritsar, February 18 The employees have been instructed not to accept the application forms if the serial number of the form is not printed on it. Earlier, as the department did not have an ample supply of application forms at its Suvidha Centre, the general public had to buy these from touts. The touts were selling photocopied forms at high prices. In some cases, it was sold for Rs 20-30 per form. As the applicant procured the form from the tout, the chances of him being lured with a promise to get the work done easily and fast were there. Sources at the Health Department said that if implemented successfully, the move can help in curbing the influence of touts. "The key to success is that the department will have to ensure ample supply of the forms. The employees will also have to be vigilant in that no form purchased from the touts is accepted at the counter," said an official at the department. The general public has often complained of the influence of touts in the office. Employees in the office, who are hand in glove with the touts, try to make the procedure cumbersome for an applicant if he or she tries to bypass the touts. Most of the people fall a prey to touts as they are illiterate and cannot fill forms on their own. So once they go to them to seek help for filling up of the form, they are lured into the trap. Even as the department has already taken a novel step, it should also set up a system to help illiterate people fill the forms. The Regional Passport Office here has already set up such a system under which a retired armed forces employee has been entrusted the task to help people fill forms. The office has fixed a nominal fee for the service and the retired employee has been provided a counter in the office itself. The District Health Officer, Dr Shivkaran Singh Kahlon, who is also the in charge for birth and death registration and registration of food business said, "The idea was implemented recently and we hope that it will be successful." He said the employees have been instructed to return all application forms rightaway if they do not have the said number printed on it.
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Farewell function for students
Amritsar, February 18 Students of Class XI hosted a farewell party for their seniors. A cultural programme that included Indian and Western dance, a skit and bhangra, enthralled everyone. The star attraction of the programme was the modelling contest. Cultural programme
A colourful cultural programme was organised to give farewell to the outgoing students of Class XII by Sri Guru Harkrishan Senior Secondary School. Five students, who brought laurels for the school, were honoured at the function. Sandeep Kaur was given the title of ‘Artist of the School’, Jasmeet Kaur got the title of ‘Voice of the School’, Sargun Kaur was honoured for her sports achievements, Bhavya Arora and Simran Kaur got the titles of ‘Best Instrumentalist’ and ‘Best Orator’, respectively. BBK DAV organises blood donation camp
BBK DAV College for Women organised a blood donation camp under the Red Cross unit of the college today. The camp was inaugurated by Improvement Trust Chairman Sandeep Rishi and college principal Dr Neelam Kamra. The camp proved to be a success as 135 persons donated blood. The donors included teachers, volunteers of NCC wing and NSS unit besides the students of various departments.
— TNS
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Postal Dept employees protest
Amritsar, February 18 District president of the association, Balbir Singh, said, “We demand that instead of direct recruitment of employees at the post offices, the government must first absorb Gram Dak Sevaks who have been working for decades.” He said even as the regular employees of the department got salary and other benefits as applicable to the Central Government employees, the GDS worked at a meagre pay with no other benefits. Leader of the association Lakhwinder Pal Singh said, “We have to distribute letters even on holidays. The government does not provide job to a family member of the GDS if he or she dies in service. There is no provision of leave for pregnant women or any sick leave.” He said that in another discriminatory move, the government had kept the GDSs out of the purview of Seventh Pay Commission. He demanded that 50 per cent of the dearness allowance be merged with their basic salary.
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City bus service halts for a while as staff protest
Amritsar, February 18 All the 40 buses were put off the road and the staff staged a dharna at the Mall Mandi bus stand. The staff alleged that they were being victimised by the company. The ones, who stood up against the management’s dictatorial attitude, were shown the door without giving any valid reason. The management had sacked most of the employees without any fault and replaced them with new staff, they said. “The top management officials never leave a chance to degrade us on petty issues. Since, we were never issued appointment letters we resisted to react on trivial things. But it was unbearable when the management started shunting the drivers and replaced them with new ones,” a worker said. When the management called up the police, the activists of the CTU Trade Union came to their rescue. The matter was resolved after some workers were nominated in the union as members.
Jarmanjit Singh, an activist of the CTU said they were made members during a meeting conducted in the presence of DSP Parampal Singh and an assurance was given by the management officials to address their problems.
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Maa Boli Divas 2014 from tomorrow
Amritsar, February 18 The event will begin with an awareness march from Virsa Vihar to SR Government College for Girls. A seven-member delegation from Pakistan led by Raja Hasan will also be a part of the celebrations. The march will see participation from government and non-government organiations and students. A liteary seminar and poetry session will also be held during the event to promote the upcoming young Punjabi poets. A play dedicated to the Gadar party and its movement, titled Gatha-e-Gadar, will be staged at Virsa Vihar, presented by Naat-Samvaad group of Arts.
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Even as the municipal corporation has been drawing flak for the poor state of civic amenities in the city, it has come to light that the sewage water is getting mixed with drinking water on its own premises.
Festivities or not, corporate hampers or personalised gifts, cakes and chocolates have always had a special place. The small round dollops of happiness seem to be everyone's
favourite. Of course with the right amount of icing, some city-based home bakers have made it big into the designer cake market.
Eating into most festive and traditional gift platters, these designer hi-end creations have many takers.
Amritsar, February 18
