Amritsar, March 14
Even as the Police Department is on its toes in view of the ensuing Lok Sabha elections, the city police have constituted a special cell, headed by ADCP Harjit Singh Brar, which will keep an eye on the nefarious activities of history-sheeters and anti-social elements, which could create problems during poll.

Jatinder Singh Aulakh, Police Commissioner, while confirming this said that the step was taken in order to conduct parliamentary elections in a peaceful manner. He said as police officials would perform their duties in view of the elections, a need was felt to keep an eye on criminal elements who were out of jails and might create problems during poll.

Besides Brar, the cell will also have a womn ACP-rank official Kanwaldeep Kaur. Inspector Arvinder Singh, who is in charge, CIA staff, has also been given the additional duty in the cell. The cell comprises of police officials who have thorough knowledge of history-sheeters of the city.

Meanwhile, the Police Department has sounded an alert in the city and regular nakas are being installed for checking vehicles and patrolling at vulnerable areas is going on. A number of meetings are being held by senior police authorities with their junior staff to convey the directions of the Election Commission and ensure their subsequent implementation.

Parampal Singh, ADCP (city), said police officials had been told to curb the rampant use of liquor and narcotics besides use of money in procuring votes. He said flying squads headed by DSP-rank officials had been constituted which would hold nakas in their designated areas and thoroughly check suspected vehicles.

He said history-sheeters, who are likely to create a law and order problem during the elections, would be apprehended and sent to jail. Besides, a special drive had been initiated to arrest the proclaimed offenders, he said.

Amritsar, March 14
With March 31, the deadline for depositing property tax on rebate, getting closer, the municipal corporation has urged its teams to collect the tax, as so far these have failed to deliver the ‘desired results’.

The lukewarm response of residents was being viewed for two key reason. One was that the deadline had been extended umpteen times by the government and the residents believed that it would be extended again. Secondly, after the announcement of general election, the residents’ hopes of getting the rider waived or extended had brightened and they showed little enthusiasm in availing themselves of the ‘freebies’, announced from time to time.

With a clear message that the deadline will not be going extended further, MC Commissioner DPS Kharbanda held meetings with his staff to find a solution for the lax approach resorted to by the residents.

Officials pointed out that the government’s repeated moves to extend the deadline for depositing the property tax with rebate (December 15, December 31 and now March 31) would actually backfired in achieving the target.

Since September, when the process of collecting property tax actually started, a grace period of around 100 days were given to the residents.

Even as the MC had identified 3 lakh units, including around 40,000 commercial ones, in Amritsar’s urban area, which comes under the ambit of paying the property tax, still there are around 2,00,000 residents (both residential and commercial) who have not bothered to pay their dues.

The MC had set up a target to collect between Rs 40-50 crore till March 2014. According to information, just around Rs 18 crore have been collected as the property tax.

The MC has been adopting various steps to make the residents pay their property tax through self-declaration, holding awareness-cum- collection programmes in various localities and even introduced the facility of depositing the tax online besides, erecting hoardings and billboards in the streets to apprise the residents about the procedure and benefits of paying taxes.

Kharbanda said every effort was being made to encourage the residents to deposit their dues on time, as there would not be any extension in the deadline or rebate on the property tax.

“On our part, we have sensitised all eight zones, under which the city has been bifurcated into. Officials of these zones have been given recovery targets and we are hopeful of making good recovery”, he said.

Amritsar, March 14
After nailing the nexus between illegal agents and insiders, the MC authorities formulate stern policy to revamp the process of issuing birth and death certificate.

To check the modus operandi, which was adopted to procure illegal certificates, authorities have repositioned its staff in the department and fixed their accountability at every level of issuing either of the certificates.

It has been learnt that a "special identification" is marked on the application form, which could indicate staff members to take "extra care" of them.

Superintendent Shushant Bhatia said this practice was noticed during a thorough probe of the nexus between illegal agents and insiders.

"We were able to unravel the process and the staff members were reshuffled so that there should be no room for corruption at any stage. Besides, at every table, the official concerned will sign the application after doing away with official formalities," he said.

Earlier, there was no system being followed about getting birth and death certificates from the MC, but now each and every certificate issued will be put on record. "We are now maintaining a special register to record the number of blank certificates being issued from the MC and the ones which were being issued to the beneficiary," told Bhatia

Every month between six to 8,000 people apply for either certificates here. Interestingly, after strictness in the Birth and Death Certification Department, there has been a noticeable decline in the submission of applications. Agreeing with it, Bhatia said that they had been receiving around 50 applications daily, whereas earlier it used to be nearly three times.

"This in itself proves that unscrupulous elements have surrendered after the new system was adopted in the department. Now, it will be mandatory for the applicants to enclose with the application his or her identification, which will be recorded," he said.

Meanwhile, no illegal agent was seen on the MC's premises at the Town Hall, which otherwise used to be the central place for them to operate -- right from filling the application for birth or death certificates to finally getting it done in as underhand dealings. It ranged from Rs 1,000 to Rs 50,000, sources told.

Amritsar, March 14
In violation of the traffic norms, automobiles were seen ferrying pilgrims to Anandpur Sahib and Dera Wadbhag Singh in Himachal Pradesh for Hola Mohalla. Automobile operators have fixed wooden planks on vehicles to double the capacity of passengers they can carry. Private bus operators are ferrying devotees on roofs of buses. Though all this is happening in front of the police, they prefer to look the other way. These scenes on the main Amrtisar-Jalandhar GT Road near Pingalwara and Verka bypass testify it. Right under the nose of the traffic police, several overloaded buses and trucks ferry devotees to Anandpur Sahib and Dera Baba Wadbagh Singh. Truck operators have fixed wooden planks to double the capacity of their trucks. Even bus operators do not hesitate to ferry passengers on roofs to maximise their profit.

A seat in the bus costs Rs 150 to a passenger while the price of a seat on the roof of the bus is Rs 100. About the police or the high- patrolling squad, one of the bus operators said,"Don't worry. It is our responsibility to take you to your destination." On the other hand, buses parked at the bus stand charge Rs 200 per person.

The motor vehicle rules prohibit any kind of modification in vehicles. The rules also prohibit carrying the load over the prescribed limit. Justifying their act, vehicles owners say, "We are carrying passengers like this for years and no mishap has ever taken place. Our drivers know about the speed to be maintained. Harpinder Singh Walia, a social activist, said the authorities were waiting for some accident to happen before taking any action. "Even animals are treated in a better way. When animals are ferried in trucks, some basic measures are taken. The authorities just do not care," Walia said.

He added that the onus also lay on passengers as they preferred to risk their lives. The administration should not allow violation of the traffic norms.

Simardeep Singh, a shopkeeper in the Bhai Ghanayya market said, "Actually, these vehicles are goods carriers."

Amritsar, March 14
Even as the drinking water samples collected by the Health Department from the railway station were found unfit for human consumption the railway authorities refused to endorse the report.

Northern Railway’s (Ferozepur Division) Divisional Railway Manager Naresh Chander Goel said the Health Department officials had no business to interfere in the working of the railways. He added that the railways had a better system in place and all technical gadgets were now available to test the quality of potable water being supplied at Amritsar railway station. Besides, he said, purification of of water had been done.

Officials of the Health Department collected samples of water being supplied to taps on platform numbers 2, 3, 4 and 5. The Micro-Biology Department of Government Medical College had conducted tests in its laboratory and found it unfit for human consumption.

A visit to the railway station brought out the fact that many taps were running dry while from others, water was guzzling out at a high speed. The water cooler on platform number one was lying closed.

A dedicated overhead water tank, with about 2.25 lakh capacity, is supplying water to the entire railway station and its nearby colony. Railway officials said over 30,000 passengers visit the railway station daily.

Amritsar, March 14
The play, "Kehar Singh Di Maut", is for those who believe that dowry deaths are about gender discrimination. The play, written by noted playwright Ajmer Aulakh, presents a different picture.

Artistes stage the play, “Kehar Singh Di Maut”, during the National Theatre Festival at Virsa Vihar in Amritsar on Friday. Photo: Vishal Kumar

The play, which was staged during the ongoing National Theatre Festival by the Sarthak Rangmanch and Social Welfare Society from Patiala, is about the tragic end of Kehar Singh, a young man who was murdered by his in-laws for dowry. " This is about a true incident that became the folk tale of Punjab, given its significance and social relevance. The story has not changed over the years, still being sung as a vaar during folk festivals. The play is about greed and rivalry." said Bhupinderjit, wife of director Lakha Lehri.

Kehar Singh, a young man and the only child of his parents, was married off but could not meet his wife. His in-laws demand dowry from him if he wants to meet his wife. This prompts him to join the Army and earn the amount demanded by his in-laws. However, his heartfelt efforts fails to please his in-laws and they kill him to satisfy their greed. " It's about the tragic murder of a young man's aspirations, dreams and trust. The social relevance of the story has not changed over the years. We can still see greed and selfishness. Dowry deaths are not just affecting the women but also the men," said Bhupinderjit. Lakha Lehri, director of the play, has over 30 years of experience in the field of theatre and has worked under his mentor Ajmer Aulakh.

The group has performed the play in Haryana and various parts of Punjab. Bhupinderjit says the response to Punjabi plays have been overwhelming so far. "The language is no barrier. The Punjabi theatre is flourishing."

The group will be perform the play, "Katha Katholi" during the the Punjabi Theatre Festival on March 20 in the city.

Amritsar, March 14
The city police nabbed three youths, allegedly involved in a couple of snatching instances, today. Those arrested are Nikku, a slum dweller, Ravi Kumar and Simranjit Singh, alias Tinku, of Navi Abadi, Karampura.

Manohar Singh, investigation officer, said Nikku hailed from Mughal Sarai, Bihar. He was also hooked to drugs. He said Nikku was arrested in connection with a robbery. Narinderpal Kaur, a resident of the city, had told the police that the accused had snatched her purse, containing Rs 8,000 in cash and a mobile phone besides several important documents.

Ravi and Simranjit were nabbed for allegedly snatching the purse of Darshan Kaur, a resident of Guru Nanak Avenue. The police said the accused were driving a red motorcycle bearing registration number PB-02-BA-4291, which led to their identification. — TNS

Amritsar, March 14
A national seminar on the topic, "Economic Reforms and Social Sector Development : Agenda for Inclusive Growth", was held at the conference hall of Guru Nanak Dev University.

The seminar was organised by the Punjab School of Economics, GNDU, and sponsored by the University Grants Commission, New Delhi. As many as 70 eminent scholars from all over India participated in the seminar.

Prof Ajaib Singh Brar, Vice-Chancellor, GNDU, presided over the seminar. Dr KN Kabra delivered the keynote address. Prof Kabra, in his keynote address, discussed the contrast between the economic and social development in India, especially after liberalisation in 1991.

He said the neo-liberal policies stood in sharp contrast to people-centric models of development. He said political, social and economic causes forced India to adopt economic reforms during the 1991 crisis.

In his presidential address, Prof AS Brar said despite huge achievements, the corruption and population were rising. He advocated the need to change the mindset of people.

He said advantages and facilities should be provided keeping in view merits and demerits of people.

He said the optimum use of technology should be encouraged for the economic growth. The society-based quality research needed to be encouraged, he added.

Prof Brar also honored Dr Kabra with a set of university publications and presented a shawl. Dr Sharanjit Dhillon, Dr Manpreet Kaur, Dr Paramjit Nanda, Dr Amarjit Singh Sethi, Dr Neena Malhotra, Dr Kuldip Kaur, and Dr Vikram Chowdhry presented their research papers during various technical sessions.

Amritsar, March 14
A delegation of the Sikh Council, United Kingdom, visited Khalsa College on Friday. They asked the students to beware of the agents who send youngsters to the UK illegally. They said a large number of youngsters, including girls, were reaching the UK illegally and were leading a miserable life.

Sikh Council general secretary Gurmail Singh addressed the students at the seminar hall of the college and showed the documentary, "Broken Dreams", depicting the poor conditions of the youth in England. He said Punjabi students go there for higher studies but due to the lack of knowledge, they get trapped in the country. "The condition of girls is more deplorable. They are being forced to live in dingy and crowded places. Gurdwara complexes are crowded with such youngsters. The youth must not give in to false promises ," said Gurmail Singh. He, along with Sikh Council chief (operations) Bibi Balvinder Kaur, said their visit was aimed at creating awareness on the issue. — TNS

Amritsar, March 14
Charoo Kapoor, city-based actor, was recently honoured at an event remembering celebrated lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi. The character actor was awarded as a part of Women's Day celebrations as well.

The event was held at ThakarSingh Art Gallery and had the artist fraternity in full atendence. The upcoming talent of the fraternity, too, were honoured like Richa Aneja of the Indian Idol Fame and Kajal Kakkad and senior artistes like Harinder Singh SoHal. Kapoor also performed on the occasion. She has acted in Punjabi films like Chardi Kala Punjab Di, RSVP, Qissa and many more. She is the daughter of classical singer Ramesh Kapoor.