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Jaitley envisions boom in key sectors
Civic body to pass budget on April 4
Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor demanded
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Firm deserts hospital to start diagnostic centre
Amritsar, April 2 Guru Nanak Dev Hospital associated with Government Medical College will soon be equipped with a state-of-the-art diagnostic centre to provide costly tests at affordable prices to the general public.
Customs Department moots railways, police to check smuggling jointly
SK Sawhney, Commissioner, Customs (right),
addresses mediapersons in Amritsar on Thursday. A Tribune photograph
Demand for more air links with Pak
Residents demand removal of encroachments from Putlighar
146 polling stations declared critical
Varsity MoU on inviting scholars
DAV teachers’ union elects office-bearers
DAV students excel in BSc Economics exams
GNDU to conduct test for clerks
Two booked for fraud
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Jaitley envisions boom in key sectors
Q. What is your vision for the holy city? If elected, will you have your base in the city to ensure that you are easily accessible to the people? A. I would like to see Amritsar as a city of great infrastructure, a more planned city emerging as a great tourism centre, a city which will have a lot of buoyancy in its trade. I think it is a city of wonderful people. It is the most hospitable city in India. I also regard Amritsar as the food capital of India. I think people and food will take care of themselves while for the rest the government has to help. Amritsar represents the soft power of the state as a religious, historical and trading centre. It has the huge ability to attract people. I visualise an Amritsar which is connected on all sides by large highways. The social infrastructure of Amritsar requires multiple categories of healthcare -- both public and private. The promise of establishing an AIIMS in every state has to be materialised. Amritsar with a legacy of medical colleges could be an ideal location for AIIMS. The expansion of the industrial corridor to Amritsar can add to the spurt in the economic activity of the city. This should be accompanied by creation of suburban townships. Surely, I will have both an office and a residence in Amritsar. Q. Many areas of the city are still devoid of basic amenities like clean drinking water and proper sewerage system. How do you intend to address these problems? A. I have been interacting with the councillors during my campaign and I know roads, the sewerage system and drinking water are the main areas of concern. The internal infrastructure needs to be hugely improved. There are large sections which still require connectivity for water, sewerage and proper roadways. Projects under implementation need to be monitored and expedited. The lifeline of the city i.e. Bhandari Bridge needs an overhaul. Q. What will be your road map to develop the city into a tourism hub in the true sense of the word? Successive state governments have promised it, but failed to deliver. A. Tourism will always remain the mainstay of the city's economy. A number of hotels have come up in the city. I also see an improvement in terms of flyovers and road infrastructure. However, a lot of distance is to be covered and I I think slowly but surely we should move in that direction. If the Central Government makes an endeavour to develop tourism circuits in India, Amritsar, because of its historical significance, will fit into one. Also for tourism to be strengthened, the road, the rail and the air connectivity has to be facilitated. Establishment of food streets and a food village, which opens in the late hour of the evening can add to the charm of the city. A no traffic walkway food street or food village where traditional items of Punjab are sold can be a great tourist attraction. It can reflect the personality of Amritsar. Q. Though crores of rupees have been spent on building great infrastructure at the Amritsar airport, it still doesn’t have adequate air connectivity. What steps will you initiate to address this issue? A. I am aware of the fact that the airport needs more direct flights, as indirect flights make reaching the city a costlier affair. Direct international flights are the need of the hour. A good airport needs to be better connected. Q. Once a hub of trade and industry, Amritsar now hardly has any major industry left due to government policies. How do you plan to revive the industry? A. The manufacturing sector cannot be city centric and you have to look at the manufacturing sector environment of the entire country in terms of taxation structure, interest rates, power costs, infrastructure and trade facilitation. All this has to improve in general so that the manufacturing sector improves. The main industrial activity has to be around the creation of a textile cluster, agricultural implements industry, rice mills, embroidery, jewellery, decorative items and footwear. These clusters need to be supported by the state. Q. Drug addiction among youth is rampant in Amritsar, whether it is in urban or rural areas. What are your plans to curb drug abuse and bring them into the mainstream? A.
It needs a three pronged solution: First, a huge vigilance to curb smuggling of drugs, secondly, revival of trade and industry and generation of job avenues to keep away from malpractices, thirdly, a family environment and finally de-addiction infrastructure in the state. Q. Your predecessor Navjot Singh Sidhu had vociferously taken up the matter of granting heritage status to Amritsar in Parliament. Will you also pursue it? A. Amritsar eminently qualifies for the status. It was a good point that Sidhu had raised and I will certainly take it forward. Besides, I feel the heritage sites of the city need to be preserved and strengthened. Q. The border areas present a picture of utter neglect where people have no access to basic amenities like healthcare, education, roads and drinking water. Besides, border farmers, too, have problems accessing their land. How will you deal with it? A. It has been brought to my notice that the border areas are lagging behind in terms of development while farmers in the border belt are facing problems in cultivating their land across the fence. Our previous NDA government had extended compensation to the farmers, which was discontinued by the UPA government. I will certainly look into how these issues can be addressed. Q. India-Pakistan trade plays a key role in the city’s economy. How will you address the issues of the trading community like poor rail cargo facility in Amritsar? A. Border infrastructure has improved a lot in the past year or so. I think for all issues related to the bilateral trade, we need to develop political will on both sides of the border and the rest will fall in line. The infrastructure for opening up of the border trade has been established. A last push is required to be given to the town, to the expansion of the official border trade between India and Pakistan. Arun Jaitley’s profile
* Born on December 28, 1952 *
Schooling at St Xavier’s School, New Delhi, in 1969 *
Graduated from Shri Ram College of Commerce, New Delhi, in 1973 *
Acquired Law Degree from University of Delhi, in 1977 *
Practising as a lawyer in the Supreme Court and various high courts since 1977 *
Started his political career as a student leader with the ABVP in Delhi University. *
Has been the national executive member of the BJP since 1991 *
Held key portfolios of commerce and industry, law and justice during the NDA government's regime in 1998-2004 *
Currently Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha *
Amritsar connection: Jaitley's mother belonged to Amritsar. Besides, his sister and wife were also born in Amritsar.
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Civic body to pass budget on April 4
Amritsar, April 2 MC Commissioner DPS Kharbanda said they had earlier asked for permission from the Election Commission to hold the budget session. A representation was made through the Deputy Commissioner. They had received the reply yesterday. Rubbishing allegations of the MC running away from presenting budget by Congress councillors, Kharbanda said, “Technically we could not present the budget without the permission of the Election Commission and now that we have got it, the MC has called for the budget meeting”. He said except for passing the budget, the meeting would not discuss any agenda. The MC had to give a notice to all its members to attend the budget meeting 72 hours prior to the meeting. Kharbanda said a notice had been issued. When asked about the procedure adopted to announce new projects for the city, Kharbanda said, “As per law, no new project can be announced when the code of conduct is in force”. He said all such projects would be approved in the sessions of the House later after the election process was over. He said main components of the budget would be salary and other expenditures which were used to run the daily business including services for the general public.
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Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor demanded
Amritsar, April 2 They sought commitment from the parties and candidates seeking mandate from Amritsar Lok Sabha seat. They intend to take up the issue in the poll season so as to impress upon the political parties to take forward the matter at the Centre. The Union Cabinet had approved the setting up of the AKIDC on January 20. An ambitious project, it aimed at developing an Industrial Zone spanning across seven states in the country would be a beneficial for 20 cities under these states. The project would see major expansion of Infrastructure and Industry, including industrial clusters, rail, road, port and air connectivity, in these states along the route of the corridor. Shawl Club India, an association of Woolmark Shawl Licensees in India, General Secretary Piara Lal Seth said the corridor must be extended up to Attari to facilitate uninterrupted delivery of merchandise on the route. Otherwise, the cargo have to be unloaded at Attari and then to be re-loaded at Amritsar for its further journey. He felt that it would generate plenty of jobs for the youth and opportunities for the industry in the northern region, including Punjab. Gunbir Singh, member, Confederation of Indian Industry National Council on Public Policy said they had always been lobbying for the border area to be included in the corridor. New infrastructure was required for the industry to open a new market to grow as it had witnessed a decline after reaching a saturation point in the past. He said economy of Amritsar relied on agriculture, textile, iron nails, nuts and bolts, manufacturing of printing machinery and other sectors. All these sectors would get boost once the corridor was operational. For instance, the textile sector was the second-largest employment provider after agriculture. The sector was facing acute problems from global markets, including China, and we need support from the government.
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Firm deserts hospital to start diagnostic centre
Amritsar, April 2 The hospital has started construction of a building that will house the diagnostic centre. The centre will be equipped to conduct costly diagnostic tests like MRI, CT Scan, Digital X Ray, Colour Doppler, 3-D Ultrasound and many more. The centre will be a boon for poor patients as they will no longer have to run to private centres to get these tests done at exorbitant rates. The earlier diagnostic facilities at the hospital were failing to provide service to all patients due to heavy rush at the hospital. Officials at the hospital said that rush of patients to the hospital had increased due to initiation of services like free of cost medicines for all and free delivery services for pregnant women. However, the patients had to often go to private centres in emergency to get tests done. The new diagnostic centre will help the hospital to provide all diagnostic facilities to the patients. Government Medical College Principal Dr Santokh Singh said the building would be ready soon. He said the hospital had received many machines required for the centre and these would be installed as soon as possible. The state government had plans to set up such a diagnostic centre at the local Civil Hospital, too, under the Public-Private Partnership mode. The government had engaged a private firm for the purpose and started construction of a building last year. However, even as the building was completed three months ago, the private firm engaged for the purpose has not turned up to set up the centre.
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on rail routes Tribune News Service
Amritsar, March 2 SK Sawhney, Commissioner, Customs, while stating this here today said that at present the Customs Department has initiated a "second layer" of rummaging in order to prevent smuggling of narcotics and arms through the rail route. Under this plan, two teams of customs officials check the train one by one to make it doubly sure that no contraband or arms sneaked into Indian territory. However, he said the matter also involved sister agencies like the railway police and the Police Department for questioning and investigations. Therefore, we have proposed the idea of joint rummaging to the Ministry of Finance. Pakistan-based smugglers are targeting the rail route for the smuggling of narcotics and arms. In 2013-14, the customs authorities have confiscated over 74 kg of heroin worth Rs 374 crore in the international market. Recently, the customs authorities seized 11 pistols and 22 magazines from six men in Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh. The arms were meant for the riot-affected Muzaffarnagar. Answering the media queries about the suspected involvement of traders in the illegal trade, Sawhney pointed out that the customs officials during investigations had not found any role of the business community in smuggling bids. On the installation of scanners to foil smuggling bids through trucks at the Integrated Check Post at Attari in view of the proposed 24X7 trade through the land route, Sawhney said the Land Port Authority of India was dealing with the case and aggressively taking up the case with the government. He said in view of the expected 24X7 functioning of the ICP for cross-border trader, they had urged for additional manpower and other resources. He added that the availability of banking facility on Sundays and other holidays at the ICP was also being taken up with the Finance Ministry. The Customs Commissioner said his department had also taken up the matter of setting up of extension counters of the banks at the International Airport. While highlighting the performance of the Customs Department here, Sawhney said the revenue collections from various dry ports (inland container depot) in Punjab were more than Rs 757 crore and at the ICP, Attari, it is over 119 crore of rupees. He said the department had aggregate revenue collection of Rs 867.86 crore during the last financial year after granting duty drawback of Rs 290 crore on exports.
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Demand for more air links with Pak
Amritsar, April 2 The delegation was here to understand the issues and the challenges regarding bilateral trade between India and Pakistan besides exploring the possibilities of promoting the trade between the two countries. The delegation comprised George Sibley, Minister-Counselor for Economy, Environment and Science and Technology, US embassy, New Delhi, Zachery Harkenrider, Deputy Political Counselor, US embassy, Islamabad, Stephanie Reed, Political Officer, US embassy, Islamabad, Rafaela Zuidema-Blomfield, Economic Officer, US embassy, New Delhi, Nisha Rajan, Economic Specialist, US embassy, New Delhi. They stressed that increasing flights between Islamabad and New Delhi would increase people-to-people contact. They underlined overcoming challenges like minimising various restrictions on visas, opening additional roads on border crossings and bus routes, increasing air links between the two countries as immediate and urgent measures to enhance bilateral trade. The visiting delegation opined that potential gains from increased bilateral trade between India and Pakistan were immense and developing stronger bilateral trade relations between the two countries could build trust and harmony. There is a lot of scope for the two countries to explore trade opportunities in a diversified commodity basket, which would enhance the overall trade potential within the economies. Dalip Sharma, Director, PHD chamber, stated that,"The PHD chamber has been advocating the cause of promoting India-Pakistan trade for long and has been taking up the issue with the Central Government." He added that the PHD chamber had already forwarded a list of items manufactured and produced in Punjab which were not in the negative list and which may be included in the list of 137 items allowed for import through the Attari-Wagah border. Indicating that this will give a fillip to the trade especially after the opening of the Integrated Check Post Sharma added, "The Attari-Wagah land route is a prominent import-export route between Pakistan and India and traders of both countries use land and rail route for carrying out bilateral trade. The Governments of India and Pakistan should also open up trade from the Hussainiwala border in Ferozepur district as Punjab is a land-locked state and dependent largely upon exports." Members suggested setting up of Trade visa consulate in both countries. These consulates should be from Chambers of Commerce and Industry on either side of the border and should have the authority to sanction multiple visit trade visas. Some of the trade reforms that should be brought in with the target of greater economic integration between India and Pakistan include Pakistan granting the MFN status to India, and in turn India should significantly lower tariff rates for goods of particular interest to Pakistan (such as textiles and agricultural products), facilitating of energy trade between the two countries through building gas pipelines and eventually joint energy grids, allowing trade in information technology, harmonising customs procedures and eliminating obstacles to investments. All these measures would go a long way in paving the way for a sustainable trade partnership between the two nations, the house agreed. Local trade associations stressed that both countries needed to focus on wide-ranging trade facilitation measures, which could include increasing the number of customs posts, and allowing branches of Indian and Pakistani banks to operate mutually.
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Residents demand removal of encroachments from Putlighar
Amritsar, April 2 During a visit to the area, hundreds of rehris were seen on both sides of the road. Shopkeepers also use a large portion of the road to display their goods. The devotees visiting the gurdwara said as a result of the encroachments, traffic jams were very common on the stretch. A large number of devotees visit the gurdwara to solemnise the marriages. “At least 3-4 dozen marriages of couples who do not prefer to hold large marriage parties due to economic restraints or otherwise are solemnised here on daily basis,” said Avtar Singh, a local shopkeeper. He said the local administration must free the stretch of the encroachments so that people could have an easy access to the place. Another shopkeeper Amanpreet Singh said, “The encroachments on this road are so rampant that a four wheeler takes around 20 minutes to cover the distance of 500 metres from Putli Ghar Chowk to Pipli Sahib Gurdwara.”
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146 polling stations declared critical
Amritsar, March 2 Talking to The Tribune, Ravi Bhagat, Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Electoral Officer, said that critical polling stations were those where 75 per cent of votes, out of 90 per cent votes cast during an election, went in favour of a single candidate in previous elections also hence raising suspicion of bogus voting in that particular area. He said the administration had also identified around 110 polling stations as vulnerable where it felt that the musclemen of a particular political leader or a party could either influence the voters or a community in that area to cast votes in their favour or would not allow them to use their franchise. The DC said the administration was dedicated to conducting free and fair elections and would not allow any person to break the law. He said according to the guidelines and advice of the election observers, they had decided to videograph polling at these critical and vulnerable polling booths. He said according to the need micro observers would also be deputed at these polling stations. He said the Police Department would also be directed to make adequate security arrangements for the elections. Meanwhile, around 100 women constables have arrived for security arrangements in the city in view of the coming Lok Sabha poll. Rajwinde Kaur, in charge, said the city police had around 500 women cops who had been deputed in various wings, including the traffic wing, police stations, PCR teams, etc. She said additional women force was required for which police officials had written to the Home Department. These 100 women cops were under training at Phillaur, she said.
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Varsity MoU on inviting scholars Amritsar, April 2 Prof A S Brar, Vice-Chancellor, (GND) and Prof K S Rai, Chairman of the trust, signed the MoU on behalf of the university and the trust respectively. Prof Brar said under the MoU, leading scholars would be invited for delivering lectures. Seven departments, Botanical and Environmental Science, Biotechnology, Human Genetics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Molecular Bio and Biochemistry, Microbiology and Zoology under the faculty of Life Sciences, would participate in the activity. He said such lectures would go for a long way to inspire and motivate the students of the departments. — TNS
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DAV teachers’ union elects office-bearers
Amritsar, April 2 Prof HS Walia, former State President and General Secretary, Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union, was declared elected as the president of the DAV College Amritsar Union for the 11th time. His associates bagged nine out of 12 posts. Others elected were vice president, Prof Kamaljit Rana (nominated by women staff), Secretary, Prof BB Yadav, Joint Secretary, Prof Rajneesh Popi, Finance Secretary, Prof Puneet Sharma, Staff Secretary, Prof Sanjay Sharma and Prof Vivek Aggarwal, Prof Vikas Behal, Prof Madan Mohan were elected as amalgamated fund members. Besides, Prof Sameer Kalia, Prof Harsimran Anand, Prof Vikas Bhardwaj, Prof Malkiat Singh and Prof Rajesh Kumar were elected delegates. Prof Satinder Pall, Head of the Department of Mathematics acted as Returning Officer.
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DAV students excel in BSc Economics exams
Amritsar, April 2 Stuti of semester-I has topped by scoring 82 per cent marks. Kavya secured sixth position while Drishti and Divya secured eighth and 14h positions in respectively.Dr Neelam Kamra ,principal, appreciated the hard work and dedication of the students and wished them luck for bright future.
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FROM COLLEGES Tribune News Service
Amritsar, April 2 Prof MS Hundal, Dean, Academic Affairs and Chairman of test committee, said the candidates could check the schedule of practical test on the University website www.gndu.ac.in. He advised the candidates to bring admit cards. He said no candidate would be allowed to appear for the test without the admit card. No separate roll numbers and TA/DA would be paid to the candidates. Voting right awareness An exercise to create awareness about the use of voting rights is on at Khalsa College. Apart from putting up boards with the message of using the constitutional right, a signature campaign is also on wherein the students take the pledge to cast their vote. Dr Daljit Singh, college principal, said more than 600 students had registered as first- time voters in just last one month. We had received instructions from the district electoral authorities for the drive and then we took the initiative to make it a big awareness drive. Even the authorities had appreciated and awarded our Professor Dr Sukhjit Singh who was coordinator of the drive with the appreciation letter.
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Two booked for fraud
Amritsar, april 2 Partap Singh, a resident of C-Block, Guru Amardass Avenue, had lodged a complaint with the police that Gurpreet Singh of Rajhasti village, Fazilka and Sukhbir Singh of Sarawan Bedala village, Mukatsar, took Rs 14.50 lakh from four persons - Pushpinder Singh, Kulbir Singh, Ranbir Kaur and Gagandeep Singh and promised them job in the Education Department. However, the accused neither returned the money nor provided jobs. The police have registered a case under Sections 420, 120-B of the IPC. The police said the matter was under investigation and no arrest has been made so far.
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Amritsar, April 2
In order to prevent smuggling of contraband through goods trains and the Samjhauta Express passenger train between India and Pakistan, the Customs Department has proposed joint rummaging of trains in collaboration with the railways and police authorities. The department has sent a proposal regarding this to the the Ministry of Finance for approval.
The encroachment on road leading from the Putli Ghar Chowk to Islamabad area is causing a trouble for devotees who visit historical Pipli Sahib
Gurdwara. During a visit to the area, hundreds of rehris were seen on both sides of the road. Shopkeepers also use a large portion of the road to display their goods.The devotees visiting the gurdwara said as a result of the encroachments, traffic jams were very common on the stretch.
Amritsar, April 2