Amritsar, March 31
After four persons travelling atop a truck in Tarn Taran were electrocuted yesterday, it is an eye opener for the local administration as the illegal act of ferrying passengers atop roofs of private buses and goods transport vehicles is rampant.

Considering the fact that the district too has loose electricity wires running over the roads, more of these accidents might occur if the preventive steps are not taken.

The passengers sitting atop private buses, especially during late evening hours are a common sight. Even rural people mostly use good transport vehicles as tractor-trolleys and trucks for visiting religious places on a regular basis.

With election campaign picking up pace in the district, the political parties and their workers are also using tractor trolleys and trucks to ferry people to the place of public rallies. It has also been seen that in order to ferry more people in one go, some of them are made to sit atop the roof.

Jagat Singh, a local resident, said: “The rules are being flouted openly as the police and the traffic administration is playing indifferent.” He said such illegal acts should be stopped in view of public safety.

Many of the localities in city have low overhead wires running over them which are also a cause of concern for local residents. The public also complained that the Electricity Department must initiate efforts to tighten all the loose wires.

Meanwhile, the officials of the power corporation said the process to overhaul the entire electricity supply system under the Accelerated Power Development and Reform Program (APDRP) has already been initiated. The process to remove the overhead electricity wires in some localities and replacing live naked wires with cables has also begun. 

Amritsar, March 31
Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, local industrialists are peeved with the SAD-BJP government for doing nothing for the existing industry in its recently unveiled industrial policy.

A leading industrialist, Raman Gupta, said there were 1.20 lakh registered small units along with medium and large industry, which were out of the policy purview. Industries below the fixed capital investment (FCI) of Rs 1 crore were also out of the policy.

"New industrial units with the FCI between Rs 1 to Rs 10 crore (building and machinery) are eligible for the incentive available only if these are setup in Industrial Focal Point, Industrial Estates and approved Industrial Parks,” he said.

On the other hand, the rate of a square yard of land is Rs 4,000 at the new and old focal point in the city. The government had acquired land at Rs 50 per square yard to facilitate the setting up of industry."

Gupta said it was not practically possible to establish industry in these areas after investing heavily in land. Besides, the promised facilities had not been provided at these focal points.

He said, "The new industrial policy has offered a negative list of industries, which were not eligible for incentives. These industries are distilleries, breweries, bottling, canning plants, tobacco, cigarettes and gutka manufacturing, brick kilns, cement manufacturing, vanaspati ghee mills, rice shellers (with fixed capital investment of less than Rs 10 crore), refining of petroleum products, iron and steel furnaces besides rolling mills."

He said though the government always stressed on promoting agro-based industry as the agriculture was the mainstay of the state economy, yet rice shellers were kept out of the purview of the policy.

The Punjab Industrial Facilitation Act 2005 has not been implemented in the spirit with which it was framed. Under the Act, a quarterly meeting is held at the district level. However, so far, three meetings were held in Amritsar.

Each industrialist has to contribute 1 per cent of the FCI with the Punjab State Cancer and Drug Addiction Treatment Infrastructure Fund. Thereafter an eligibility letter is issued.

Information sought under the RTI Act revealed that as many as 1,142 units lost their power connections and 2,208 units were declared defaulters in this border district during the past five years.

Industries of the state remained out of the purview of any policy for the past 7 years after 2007. The policy paralysis has cost the industry dear.

Notably, the promises of subsidy made in the Industrial Policy 2003 were not honoured.

Kamal Dalmia of Focal Point Industry Association said capital subsidy of Rs 12 crore under the Industrial Policy 2003 were still to be paid to industrial investors of the border districts.

There were about 121 claimants for the capital subsidy from Amritsar and Tarn Taran and the rest belonged to Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Ferozepur districts. He asserted that early release of funds could have helped these industrialists to compete with their counterparts in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir, who were better placed due to extension of tax holiday. He doubted the sincerity of the coalition government in promoting the industry in the state when it deliberately failed to honour its commitments made in its industrial policy over a decade ago.

Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal president Amrit Lal Jain said so far the candidates seeking mandate from the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat had not come out with any relevant and concrete plans to improve civic and economic health of its citizens and raise their standard of living. He suggested that these candidates must spell out their plan to revive the local industry.

Amritsar, March 31
Shri Durgiana Mandir Committee has passed its annual budget of Rs 15.54 crore for the fiscal 2014-15. The amount exceeds the previous fiscal budget by Rs 4.09 crore, which was Rs 11.45 crore.

The committee members apprised that there was a profit of Rs 1.10 crore during the last fiscal as the committee’s total income was Rs 10.03 crore and the expenditure Rs 9.13 crore.

The budget set a provision of Rs 2 crore for setting up a laboratory, which include MRI, CT scan, X-ray machine, with multiple tests facility.

An amount Rs 7.35 crore has been kept for the development of the temple. Gold worth Rs 1.25 crore will be used for gold plating the domes of the Lakshmi Narain temple. Another Rs 1 crore has been kept to complete the under construction Yatri Niwas (Inn) near Railway station, Gol Bagh side.

Models of Durgiana Temple will be made at the cost of Rs 15 lakh. These will be displayed at railway station and the Attari-Wagah Joint Check Post.

Another Rs 10 lakh will be used to complete the construction of Shani Temple and Rs 5 lakh for the modernisation of Bhog Bhandar, a subsidised sweatmeat shop inside Durgiana Temple complex.

An amount of Rs 20 lakh has been set aside to complete the repairs of the ancient Bada Hanuman Temple. As per the mythological belief, this was the place where Lord Hanumana was kept after he lost to Luv and Kush, sons of Bhagwan Rama and Sita.

Besides, Rs 5 crore has been earmarked for prasad (offering), Rs 30 lakh for langar, Rs 40 lakh for repair and upkeep works, Rs 10 lakh for dharam prachar, Rs 12 lakh for official work, Rs 2 lakh for distribution of potable water, Rs 5 lakh for sewing school, Rs 10 for Sanskrit college, Rs 20 lakh window ration and Rs 20 lakh for celebrating festival. 

Amritsar, March 31
After failing to get their salaries released, the employees of various state government departments staged a protest outside the District Treasury Office here today. The employees complained that the treasury was not releasing their salaries.

The employees working with various departments said that apart from salary bills, the money has not been released for electricity and water bills. As these bills were required to be submitted before the due date, the government might have to pay the fine if the bills are not paid in time.

Raising slogans against the state government, the employees demanded that the salaries should be released at the earliest.

Jagdish Thakur, general secretary, Punjab State Ministerial Staff Union said: “It gets difficult for the employee to pay day-to-day expenditures when they don’t get their salaries on time.”

He said as most of the employees had to file their income tax returns, it was even more difficult.

“People had to pay money from their own pockets even as they had not got salaries for the month,” said Tajinder Dhillon, leader of the ministerial staff, Health Department.

A protesting employee said, “Salaries are regularly delayed and the state government should take a policy decision to disburse salaries on time. “It always is an uncertainly until we finally get the money,” said the employee.

The sources in treasury said no bill was cleared after March 21 after verbal orders from the senior officials.

District Treasury Officer Aman Maini said, “The talks are going on at the higher level and hopefully we will receive instructions to clear the bills by evening.” 

Amritsar, March 31
Twelve youth, who were undergoing treatment at Swami Vivekanand De-addiction Centre, Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, were discharged.

They underwent a two-week treatment course after the initiative of the Border Security Force (BSF) which had launched a campaign against drug abuse which is rampant in the border belt of Punjab.

The BSF authorities said, "They are receiving a huge number of requests from the addicted youth and their family members from the border villages for helping in getting them de-addicted."

"This is very encouraging. I think it is 'unprecedented' that such a huge number of the victims of drug addiction is voluntarily approaching the BSF for de-addiction," said DIG, BSF, MF Farooqui.

However, the real challenge would be whether these youths would continue to abstain from the abuse or re-indulge in this act. As per the doctors ,it is a recurring disease and requires regular counselling and co-ordination from the family members.

"We will keep a regular watch and have planned regular meetings with them at least for a month so that they do not indulge in such activities again," said Farooqui. He said, "We will try to make them self-employed so that they can earn their livelihood and do not indulge in consumption of drugs in future again."

The campaign was started by the BSF last year with an aim to create a second line of defence by involving people and border residents in the campaign.

Farooqui said the campaign has gained impetus and they have received good results with the people showing their faith in the force. This has also helped in spreading information network which would further help in eradicating the problem of narcotics smuggling from across the border fence by breaking the supply chain.

He said more youngsters would be admitted to the Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in future for de-addiction and if need be, they would be sent to de-addiction centres in other parts of the state also.

Amritsar, March 31
The CIA staff today confiscated 100 gm heroin and arrested Sukhdev Lal of Lakhimpurkhiri, Uttar Pradesh, who is now residing at Harike, Tarn Taran. The culprit was arrested from Ganda Nallah in the Anngarh area, which is infamous for drug abuse.

Navjot Singh, ACP (crime), said he was arrested following specific information received by the CIA. He said the police recovered 100gm heroin worth Rs 50 lakh, besides a computer weight measuring scale and a mobile phone from the possession of Sukhdev.

A case under various sections of the NDPS Act has been registered against the accused and further investigations were under progress. 

Amritsar, March 31
The All India Prajapat Sangh today extended its support to Congress candidate from the Amritsar constituency, Capt Amarinder Singh, for the upcoming Lok Sakha polls.

Raghubir Singh Rajasansi, national president of the sangh in a press statement said various representatives of the Prajapat community had unanimously decided to support the Congress party. He said the SAD-BJP government had discriminated the backward class people. The wrong policies of the state government had helped corruption and drug abuse spread its tentacles in Punjab, he added. 

A seminar for NCC cadets (women) for imparting knowledge about the interview conducted by the Services Selection Board (SSB) was held at BBK DAV College for Women here today.

NCC Wing Commander Rajesh Nayar, Wing Commander BK Ramola and Junior Warrant Officer Yadav conducted the seminar. Jiwan Sodhi, coordinator of the seminar and NCC in charge Harsimran Kaur welcomed the guest.

Cadets were provided with the information regarding clearance of the SSB interview and other benefits of the NCC. They were also apprised about the importance of the ‘C’ certificate. NCC (air wing) cadets of the college enhanced their knowledge by interacting with seminar resource persons.

NCC Commander said cadets with ‘A’ grade in ‘C’ certificate could directly go for interview without appearing in the test.

Amritsar, March 31
Alert BSF jawans thwarted yet another smuggling bid at the Daoke border area outpost at the international border in Amritsar sector on the intervening night of March 29-30.

Though no seizure was made from the spot, the smugglers managed to escape to Pakistan after heavy exchange of fire.

BSF DIG MF Farooqui said there was specific information about the enhanced activities of Pakistan-based smugglers due to standing wheat crop on the both sides of the barbed fence. He said, “The troops are on high alert in view of this and due to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.”

The DIG said on the intervening night of March 29-30, BSF jawans observed some suspicious movement of around six smugglers in the border area of the Daoke outpost. The miscreants were trying to insert a plastic pipe apparently to smuggle narcotics or firearms. When jawans challenged them, they instead of relenting started firing at the troops, who retaliated by counter fire, said Farooqui.

BSF jawans fired around 24 rounds at the smugglers, who managed to escape taking the cover of standing crop and darkness, added the DIG. He said during search operation in the morning, the BSF found nothing from the spot.

Amritsar, March 31
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed an insurance company to pay Rs 5.80 lakh to a local resident, whose deceased husband had taken insurance from the company.

Though the deceased was covered for a sum of Rs 10 lakh under the policy, the company paid his family only Rs 4.20 lakh. As per the company sources, the deceased had concealed facts about his income at the time of purchase of the policy. The forum stated that it was company’s duty to enquire the facts before selling the policy and the deceased’s family was not at fault. The forum has also asked the company to pay Rs 2,000 as litigation expenses to the kin of the deceased. Ranjit Kaur, wife of late Kuljeet Singh, resident of Khairdinke village, had filed a complaint against Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company stating that her husband had purchased an insurance policy for a sum assured of Rs 10 lakh.

She stated that her husband died on December 11, 2011, after sustaining injuries in a road accident. She said the insurance company paid her Rs 4.20 lakh, which was less than the amount of insurance cover opted by her husband. The company in its reply stated that the deceased at the time of taking policy disclosed wrong income and succeeded in getting Rs 10 lakh insurance. As per the company guidelines he was not entitled to insurance cover of Rs 10 lakh.

The company stated that the deceased concealed this fact intentionally and with mala fide intentions, he declared wrong income and fraudulently succeeded in getting the insurance cover of Rs 10 lakh. As per the investigation report, the deceased’s wife in her statement specifically stated that he was earning Rs 7,000 per month.

The forum observed that why the company did not inquire about the income of the deceased before issuing insurance policy. It stated that now the company cannot back out from the policy and sum assured relying upon the statement allegedly given by Ranjit Kaur, which the forum has declared to be not genuine. 

Amritsar, March 31
All-India secretary of the BJP Kisan Morcha and in charge of Himachal Pradesh Sukhminderpal Singh Grewal today campaigned in favour of the party candidate Arun Jaitley in the Amritsar.

He also attended the meeting of the Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha (BJYM), youth wing of the BJP.

He said Arun Jaitley has deep family roots in the holy city and was no less than a local. He said this edge would prove decisive at the end and Jaitley would win with comfortable margin against Capt Amarinder Singh. He said entire local leadership of the BJP was behind Arun Jaitley and working like a well oiled machine to achieve the goal.

When asked about the absence of former Amritsar MP Navjot Singh Sidhu in the campaigning he said Sidhu was a star campaigner of the party and has been engaged for other works of the party. He said Sidhu had contributed profusely for the city’s development during his tenure as MP and his wishes were with Arun Jaitley. — TNS