Amritsar, April 16
Amritsar Vikas Manch (AVM), a local NGO, has prepared a development agenda for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, which it intends to circulate among the candidates in the poll fray.

Among the major highlights of the agenda, it is proposed that Amritsar should be made the capital of Punjab and the state government should forego its claim on Chandigarh, besides seeking better infrastructure and congenial environment in and around the city.

Being the religious, historical and political centre of the Sikhs, the AVM members said the highest Sikh shrine -- the Golden Temple- being located here, the future MP from the constituency should focus on infrastructure development and beautification.

They pointed out that the area around the Golden Temple has no regulation as many illegal hotels are coming up, which is against the heritage laws of India. Both vehicles as well as hotels cause air and noise pollution in its periphery, thus disturbing its peace and damaging its golden plates, marble and paintings.

They demanded that to save the Golden Temple from air and noise pollution, 500 meter area around the shrine should be declared a buffer zone in which no change of land use should be allowed and all hotels/guest houses in the area should be closed down.

Similarly, no vehicle should be allowed within 300 meters of the shrine so as to keep it free from air and noise pollution.

President of AVM, Kulwant Singh Ankhi, said various reports of PPCB, CPCB and IIT Delhi have recommended the government to take these steps.

“It is the only city that can boast of having an international airport, international bus stand and international railway station. Nearly one lakh tourists from all over the world visit the Golden Temple daily, besides visiting Jallianwala Bagh and the Attari Border. It is a pity that the world-famous city has very poor infrastructure facilities such as bad roads, few footpaths, footpaths encroached by shopkeepers, ill-maintained street lights and roundabouts, no storm water channel, uncontrolled vehicular traffic, haphazard parking lots along the roads, very poor sanitation and no proper sign boards for visitors’ convenience,” he said.

General secretary, Er Daljit Singh Kohli, said pedestrians are given priority in foreign countries but here in Amritsar, they have no other choice except to risk their lives while walking on roads

“Sincere efforts are needed to prepare a comprehensive plan for widening and beautification of roads, footpaths, dividers, crossings, roundabouts, streetlights, storm water channel, sign boards for visitors, sanitation, green belts along roads, open spaces and regulation of traffic by inviting national-level experts, who could conduct a detailed study of its shortcomings and offer solutions,” he said.

highlights of the agenda Setting up of a special economic zone (SEZ) in Amritsar as announced by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in 2004. Setting up of a world-class central university in Amritsar as announced by Dr Manmohan Singh in 2008. Setting up of All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Amritsar (the Medical College of Amritsar is the oldest medical college in North India). To restart Amritsar-London-Toronto flight and also to start Amritsar-Vancouver, Amritsar-Melbourne-Sydney, Amritsar-New York, Amritsar-Los Angles flights. Amritsar was declared the future IT hub of Punjab in 2009. An IT Park should be set up for this purpose. 400-500 acres of land should be acquired, which can be allotted to major IT companies such as Infosys, Wipro and Microsoft among others. For creating world-class tourism infrastructure, the Amritsar Tourism and Transport Development Corporation should be set up on the pattern of Delhi and Chandigarh. To set up a High Court branch in Amritsar. A world-class international convention centre should be set up to hold international conventions and conferences. A world-class exhibition centre, which was proposed four to five years back, should also be set up.

Amritsar, April 16
Images of common objects like brush, shuttle, bucket, camera, chappals, television and auto-rickshaw among others are the election symbols of independent candidates fighting the Lok Sabha elections in Amritsar.

Of the 23 candidates in a fray for the Amritsar Lok Sabha constituency, 19 are contesting as independent.

In a high decibel battle in which mainstream parties such as the Congress and the BJP have fielded their top guns -- former chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh and Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley -- independent candidates are striving to make people aware of their symbols.

These candidates are using novel methods to catch the attention of voters. Congress’ palm facing hand is a well known symbol among voters. Similar is the case with BJP’s Lotus symbol.

Over a brief period of time, the Aam Aadmi Party had popularised its broom, said BK Sharma, who is contesting for the third time. He campaigns door-to-door with his election symbol -- a battery torch.

Owner of two dhabas on Batala Road, Sharma said it was convenient for a candidate like him with limited economic means to bring home his point among the public. Besides, his party workers loudly remind people to press the button on “battery torch” on April 30. It would instantly connect the electorate with the candidate and his symbol, he said.

Contesting elections for the third time, Sham Lal Gandhi, padles his bicycle along with a tea kettle to popularise his election symbol among the voters.

Other independent candidates and their election symbols are Amarinder Singh of Chogawan village (brush), Arun Kumar Joshi of Gumtala village (shuttle), Dr Inderpal (kite), Surinder Kumar Khosla of Nikka Singh Colony (air conditioner), Kanwaljit Singh Sahota of Sant Avenue on GT Road (bucket), Gagandeep Kumar of Kathunangal village (camera), Bhagwant Singh of Ranian village (chappals), Mohinder Singh of Maqboolpura on Mehta Road (auto-rickshaw), Rehmat Masih of Byepass Gumtala (television) and Rattan Singh Randhawa of Harpal Avenue (ceiling fan).

Amritsar, April 16
Government hospitals in the city seem to be ill-equipped as far as fire safety measures are concerned as most of the equipment installed years ago are lying defunct.

The fire safety equipment at Jallianwala Bagh Martyrs Memorial Civil Hospital and Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, have become dysfunctional.

Even most of the city’s private hospitals are not equipped to deal with fire accidents. Except for a few fire extinguishers, which can be seen hanging on to the walls, there is nothing else to deal with fire accidents.

Guru Nanak Dev Hospital and the Civil Hospital don’t have their water hoses in a working condition and as a result they won’t be in a condition to refill water tanks of fire safety tenders.

It could be seen that water pipes attached to water source points at the Civil Hospital are also missing. The panels of fire alarms at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital are broken. Even glass panels of boards containing fire safety materials are also broken.

At these hospitals even traditional fire fighting equipments such as sand buckets are either missing or are empty.

The emergency block of Guru Nanak Dev Hospital is the only place that is equipped with fire extinguishers. All other places in the institute lack such equipment.

Hospitals being a storage place for a large number of chemicals and other combustible substances, which are used in laboratories and surgeries, are always at a risk of a fire accident.

As per law, all buildings are required to follow the fire safety measures listed in the chapter four of the National Buildings Code. Smoke detectors, fire alarms, water hydrants, water sprinklers, wide approach roads and mock drills after regular intervals are a few things that hospitals must arrange for.

However, the local administration has turned a blind eye to the guidelines.

Amritsar, April 16
Even as the Municipal Corporation had embarked on a vigorous campaign to realise the house tax dues by resorting to measures such as 'name and shame' drive, the recovery process has been derailed apparently in view of the Lok Sabha elections.

Now, the defaulters, who had made the payment during the drive, feel cheated wondering why the MC has now gone lax in recovering the dues.

The MC was to recover Rs 20 crore from around 10,000 house tax defaulters. Till date, it has realised only Rs 6.7 crore and the collection process has been stopped.

MC Commissioner DPS Kharbanda said the defaulters should not think that they could get an exemption from clearing their dues under any circumstances. “The house tax dues were calculated till March 31 and they must be realised without failure, he said.

The MC had initiated a ‘name and shame’ drive by beating drums in the localities of house tax defaulters and this exercise had yielded good results, but sources said the government had directed the authorities not to be so harsh in collecting taxes.

Earlier, there was an assumption that the implementation of property tax wef April 1, 2013, would qualify the house tax defaulters for immunity from paying their dues.

Besides government institutions, several private units, which included a school on Albert Road has to pay around Rs 6.5 lakh; another school on Verka Bypass owes Rs 22 lakh; a hotel in Ranjit Avenue has to pay nearly Rs 26 lakh; a palace on Batala Road -- Rs 16.91 lakh and a renowned cloth showroom on Lawrence Road — Rs 4.3 lakh.

Similarly, there are several big houses, hotels, government offices, marriage palaces, commercial units running under the Improvement Trust and several privately run schools are on the hit list of the MC on account of house tax dues recovery.

The MC Commissioner had written to the Improvement Trust chairman that several commercial units running in Dharam Singh market owe Rs 31 lakh, but there was no progress in that regard.

Sources in the MC said various offices of the BSNL running in Ranjit Avenue, Albert Road, Bhagtanwala and Chamrang Road have yet to pay around Rs 24 lakh; the Office of Women and Child Development — Rs 4 lakh; Office of Forest Division — Rs 5 lakh.

Amritsar, April 16
They might be contesting for different reasons -- some of them are namesakes of prominent candidates, others want to make a statement and some of them are publicity hungry, but all the independent candidates are facing common problems of getting volunteers and donations.

Of the total 23 candidates, 12 are independents and many others come from unrecognised parties that people even don’t know about.

Volunteers constitute a big chunk of supporters of any candidate managing door-to-door visits and other campaigning activities. However, except for AAP, BJP, BSP and the Congress, all others seem lacking on this front.

The common voter, who doesn’t recognise or seems familiar with names of most of the candidates, is focussing on the candidates from bigger and well-recognised parties.

Ramesh Kumar, a college student, said, “Except for candidates from AAP, BJP and the Congress, most of the people are not familiar with any other name.”

An interaction with a bunch of students brought out that a few of them also knew the candidate from BSP Pardeep Walia and an independent candidate Sham Lal Gandhi.

A few independent candidates admitted that they were facing it difficult to reach out to the electorate. An independent candidate, Bhagwant Singh, said, “It is true that most of the people in the city don’t know my name. I am not a big celebrity. But where ever I go people take me seriously.”

He said that as an independent candidate he does not have much resources and party cadre to support him.

Lack of resources and manpower has restricted campaigning of these candidates to pockets surrounding their residences.

Another independent candidate Surinder Kumar said, “We are campaigning with the help of friends and relatives. The resources are a big shortage and that is the reason why big political parties always steal the show.”

He said the Election Commission should help poor candidates to campaign so that people can know all the candidates.

The most common and popular mode of campaigning for these independent candidates is the door-to-door visits. Sham Lal Gandhi, another candidate said, “The door-to-door campaign is the most effective and economical mode for a candidate with almost no resources.”

Amritsar, April 16
Indo-Foreign Chamber of Commerce has alleged that a section of traders are exploiting the barter trade agreement between India and Pakistan through the Jammu and Kashmir border to get duty-free items such as dry fruit, which is adversely hitting their business.

Indo-Foreign Chamber of Commerce president BK Bajaj, in a memorandum submitted to the leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley, who is contesting from the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat, said governments of India and Pakistan permitted duty-free trade of 21 items, including dry fruit between the states of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir in 2008.

Unfortunately, this agreement between the two countries has taken the shape of legalised smuggling.

He alleged that “a large quantity of American almonds is being smuggled into India via these routes.” He said despite taking the matter with the Union government at different levels, nothing was done in this regard.

Bajaj said the illegal trade practice was killing the rightful trade as the traders from Jammu and Kashmir were selling the products at very low prices.

Amritsar, April 16
Former Punjab Chief Minister and Congress candidate Capt Amarinder Singh today said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had always exploited the sentiments of Punjabis for personal gains. He said it was his personal greed that led to the downfall in the economy and development of the state while personal fortunes of Badals went on multiplying.

Addressing a series of public rallies in Attari Assembly segment here today, Amarinder urged the people to ask Badal what was his contribution to Punjab. "From day one he has practised the politics of deceit, fraud, betrayal and backstabbed all those who supported and stood by him," said Amarinder, while pointing out, how he let down senior party colleagues and leaders. "He just can't look beyond his own family," said the former CM. He asked the farmers to compare Badal's regime with his own between 2002 and 2007 and decide for themselves who was better for them. "When was it that you got regular free power for eight hours for your tubewells and when was it that your crops were lifted within 24 hours? How much they suffered under the Akalis when they did not get even two-hour power supply and how they waited in mandis to sell their crops," he asked.

The former Chief Minister also warned Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia by asking him to desist from his arm-twisting and intimidating tactics. He said the time is not that far when the law would catch up with him and he would have to account for all his sins of omission and commission. "Enough is enough," he said while referring to Majithia. Amarinder expressed concern over the spread of drug addiction particularly in the border belt. He said drug trafficking was also patronised by the Akalis.

While appealing the people to vote for him, he said, "Take your decision carefully and think who can be with you and who can understand your problems. Someone, who has lived among you, or someone who has been parachuted from Delhi just for the elections." Those present on the occasion included Tarsem Singh DC, Gurjeet Aujla and others.

Amritsar, April 16
The recent incident in which goods were stolen from the kitchen of the Employees State Insurance (ESI) Hospital on the Majitha road shows that government health institutions are an easy prey for unscrupulous elements.

Not long ago, sanitary fittings were stolen from the residence of a medical superintendent of the same hospital. Earlier, theft of computers from the ESI Hospital was reported.

Thefts of equipment have also been reported from Guru Nanak Dev Hospital associated with Government Medical Hospital on a regular basis. In November last year, thieves decamped with parts of oxygen system worth Rs 6 lakh from the ENT Hospital.

The thieves struck twice in a week at the ENT Hospital and managed to steal costly equipment. The police later registered an FIR on a complaint lodged by the hospital authorities.

Guru Nanak Dev Hospital had earlier reported theft of copper from solar systems installed on Bebe Nanki System. Incidents of theft of sanitary equipment have often been reported from Jallianwala Bagh Martys Memorial Civil Hospital.

An official at the ESI Hospital said, “The government health institutions are an easy target for thieves as entry to these places is unrestricted. Moreover, government hospitals do not have enough security personnel to guard buildings at night.

For instance, Civil Hospital has only eight security personnel to guard its premises round the clock. These guards work in shifts to manage the security. Guru Nanak Dev Hospital too has signed a contract with a security agency to provide 36 security personnel, but the vast area of the premises needs more manpower.”

The hospital has added many more buildings and facilities on its premises. The hospital authorities have recently asked the government to allow it to deploy at least 70 guards.

Amritsar, April 16
Continuing with its drive against drug abuse and rehabilitation of youths, the Border Security Force (BSF) today organised a programme at Khasa. Various banks and government departments participated in the event.

The main objective of the programme was to provide self-employment opportunities to the drug abuse victims’ so that they could be rehabilitated properly.

MF Farooqui, Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Amritsar sector, said the BSF in its drive against rampant drug abuse in the border areas had helped as many as 90 youths belonging to various villages located at the border in shedding drug problem. He said more and more youths and their family members were seeking help of the force for their treatment which was successful in returning the youngsters to the mainstream.

“Among the proper rehabilitation plans of these youths, the BSF is trying to provide them opportunities of self employment. We have engaged various government departments, including fisheries so that they can choose the area of their interest,” said the DIG. “For the financial help, we are roping in various nationalised banks for providing easy loans with less interest rates,” he added.

Recently, the BSF honoured various youths, who underwent de-addiction treatment of the force. These youths have become an inspiration for others, who are still hooked to drugs and leading a life of misery.

Amritsar, April 16
The static surveillance teams today confiscated around Rs 18 lakh from a local resident identified as Jaswant Singh alias Raju of the Moon Avenue area. The sum was to be used to woo the voters of the area as per the authorities. Jaswant was travelling by a city bus, when he was intercepted by the static surveillance team during a checking operation, near the Court Chowk.

Ravi Bhagat, Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer said they were investigating about the source and purpose of the money, seized from Jaswant. “The amount has been deposited with the district Treasury Office,” he added. Bhagat said the deputy commissioner of the Income Tax Department, who had been informed about the seizure, would investigate the purpose of the money.

Meanwhile, the District Excise and Taxation Department today seized a huge quantity of liquor during raids at various villages. The department seized 1.50 lakh ml of illicit liquor from Manga Singh of Teda village falling in the Ajnala area. The seized liquor was to be used during polls to woo the voters. The teams also raided Chak Mishri Khan village and recovered 1.12 lakh ml of illicit liquor from the possession of Ranjit Singh. As much as 12,200 kg of lahan, which would found abandoned in Ugar Aulakh village, was later destroyed. The department team also recovered 720 kg lahan from Billu of Ugar Aulakh village. All the accused have been booked under the Excise Act.

Amritsar, April 16
Despite tall claims by the Government of Punjab regarding timely release of funds for welfare schemes, around 1.5 lakh beneficiaries of this border district have not received pension for the past two years.

Already, various government departments, including schools, colleges and aided schools and colleges, besides others are complaining of delay in disbursal of salary.

Various categories of pensioners, including old age, widows, dependent children of windows, disabled persons and others are hit by the delay.

These schemes are handled by the Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development. Each beneficiary under these categories gets monthly sum of Rs 250.

A disabled pensioner on the condition of anonymity, as he feared that it would earn him the wrath of officials, said, “The meager sum of Rs 250 as monthly pension is a pittance, yet the government delays it on regular basis.” He added that even the small amount was of much importance to persons like him, who did not have any other permanent source of income. He urged the government to increase the pension keeping in view the high inflation.

BJP leader Lakshmi Kanta Chawla, who has been taking up the issues of social welfare pensioners, said these beneficiaries had been raising the issue of meager pension since long. The old-age pension was last raised from Rs 200 to Rs 250 per month in 2006.

She wondered that MLAs managed to get an impressive hike in their salaries and perks, but the same passion was missing when it came to beneficiaries of social security schemes.

Recently, the government has relaxed certain conditions. Earlier, only those senior citizens having less than one acre of land and whose sons were unemployed were eligible for old-age pension. Now, senior citizens with two acres of fertile land or four acres of barren land and whose sons were working are also eligible.

For the last couple of months, the Social Welfare Department has not received funds for disbursing old-age and widow pension to the beneficiaries in the Amritsar district. The beneficiaries lamented that despite the paltry amount under the scheme, their pension was being delayed. When contacted, District Social Security Officer Narinderjit Singh Pannu said the budget for January was sanctioned about a fortnight ago and the pension for February was received some days ago. He added that after completing paper work, the entire bill was forwarded to the Treasury Office.

Amritsar, April 16
Despite the passing of six months, the Health Department has failed to initiate an enquiry into the accusations of purchase of medicines at higher rates than available in the market.

The matter came to light when the District Health Department purchased medicines at three times higher than the market price in November last year.

The department purchased hepatitis B injections at Rs 6,770 per shot. These were available in the market for a price between Rs 4,200 to 4,500 per injection.

Injections for anti-D, a problem among pregnant women, were purchased at the Rs 3,200 per shot, where as these were available at Rs 2,300 per injection in the market. As many as 127 kits for inserting copper T (intrauterine device) were purchased by the department at Rs 4,990 per kit, whereas their market cost was around Rs 1,800.

The department had also purchased ‘mucus suckers’ used on newly-born children at a price of Rs 26.60, the high-end varieties of which were available in the local market for Rs 9 per piece.

Sources in the department stated that no enquiry had yet been initiated into the matter. Civil surgeon Yash Mitra, during whose tenure purchases were made, retired more than two months ago. Civil Surgeon Usha Bansal did not answer phone calls when contacted to know about why action was not initiated into the matter.

Amritsar, April 16
Two murders in the last couple of days have rocked the city while mystery shrouds the death of a rickshaw puller, whose body was found near a park, located just few metres away from Gate Hakima police station here. In another case, a resident was beaten to death by several persons in Putlighar area.

In the first incident, a rickshaw puller identified as Kuldeep Singh, a resident of Fateh Singh Colony on the Jhabal road, was found dead near a park. He reportedly died of excessive bleeding.

The police have registered a murder case under Sections 302, 34 of the IPC against unidentified persons on the statement of Nishan Singh, brother of the deceased.

Nishan stated that his brother, who used to ply a rickshaw, went missing on April 14. He said family members started looking for him when Kuldeep did not return home but they failed to locate him. Yesterday, the police informed the family of the deceased that his body had been found near a park. Nishan alleged that his brother had sustained serious head injury, which claimed his life.

Nirmal Singh, SHO of Gate Hakima police station, said the deceased was bleeding from nose and mouth while there were no injury marks on his body as per the report of the post mortem examination. The SHO said his viscera sample was being sent for a chemical examination to ascertain the real cause of his death.

In the second incident, the cantonment police have booked three persons, including an owner of the readymade garments factory, for allegedly beating a youth to death. The assailants suspected that the deceased, identified as Harpreet Singh, had stolen an iron gutter cover.

Among those booked, include Danesh Kumar of Azad Nagar, Mahesh Kumar of Putlighar and Vivek Nayyar, owner of the factory. No arrests have been made so far. A case under Sections 302, 34 of the IPC has been registered against the culprits.

Jaspal Singh, father of the victim told the police that the accused alleged that Harpeet Singh along with one Sattu had stolen the gutter cover from his factory. He said the culprits entered his house started beating his son, who sustained serious injuries. The victim was rushed to the hospital where he died.

The police said further investigations were under progress and raids were being conducted to nab the culprits.