The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Over 15-year-old vehicles inside Hall Gate Admn's order goes for a toss GS Paul Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 12 With a view to discourage air pollution around the Golden Temple, even as the district administration has issued orders about restricting over 15-year-old vehicles inside the Hall Gate, and a notice has also been put up at its entrance, there is hardly any compliance with the order to speak of. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recently declared Amritsar as the most polluted city in Punjab in terms of air pollution. The situation has worsened with the plying of rickety, commercial vehicles especially auto rickshaws, which mostly ply unauthorisedly. Thanks to poor monitoring, a majority of these vehicle owners don't bother to get their vehicles checked for pollution. These auto-rickshaws move around the Golden Temple and the Jallianwala Bagh to attract tourists. To maximise their profits, a section of them resort to using kerosene as fuel, which adds to environmental pollution in the city. Many a time, the Herculean task of managing the auto-rickshaw menace was initiated by the local traffic police, the municipal corporation, but it yielded little results,courtesy political patronage or lack of will on the part of the administration. In the past, the district administration had tried to turn the area around the Golden Temple into a no-vehicle zone by proposing to introduce battery-operated vehicles to ferry pilgrims, but it had to backtrack following strong protests by local residents and traders. Scientists working with the state Pollution Control Board claim that vehicles older than 15 years emit higher levels of respiratory suspended particulate matter, whose level is already high in Amritsar than the national permissible level. These vehicles also emit higher volumes of nitrogen oxide, another air pollutant identified as carcinogenic (cancer-causing agents), by the WHO in its report. Environmentalists have also condemned the government for its laxity on the issue. PS Bhatti, president of Pollution Control Committee said, "The order issued by the district authorities was a mere formality. The authorities does not seem to have taken any sincere step to ensure its implementation. In fact, all environmental laws are being blatantly flouted," he said. NS Gabarhia, former Deputy Station Superintendent, Railways, said, "The autos are a big threat to the already polluted air of the holy city. The government has failed to implement its own decisions due to its vote-bank politics." Ravi Bhagat, Deputy Commissioner, said, "The DTO and the Police Commissioner are liable to ensure compliance of the administation's orders. I will ask them how many challans were issued to the violators in this context."
	Garbage collection dismal affair in city GS Paul Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 12 With a private firm pulling out of the garbage-collection contract for over a year, the Amritsar Municipal Corporation's (AMC) inefficiency in lifting refuse has irked residents. Though the AMC has hired private trolleys for the purpose, it is still ill-equipped to handle the crisis. Since the carriage of these trolleys are sans any lid over it, a number of trolleys engaged in the work lift less garbage and drop more on the way to the dump yard in the city. Consequently, trolleys overflowing with garbage and mounds of refuse can be found lying unattended in various parts of the city. Despite repeated reports appearing in media about the problem, the civic authorities are reluctant to wake up from its deep slumber. To ameliorate the condition of garbage disposal in Amritsar, the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2012 had directed the Amritsar municipal commissioner to take effective steps within six weeks to ensure proper collection of garbage dumped on city road sides. The then Commissioner Dharam Pal Gupta who was directed to make arrangements for door-to-door collection of garbage and its disposal as per the Municipal Solid Waste Disposal norms within a fortnight, but it could not be followed up. The officials maintained that until unless a solid waste management plant is installed here, the problem of garbage lifting and disposing it could not be resolved in professional manner. The issue was raised in the court by former MP Navjot Sidhu and his wife CPS Dr Navjot Sidhu. Even as the court has given green signal to install the garbage processing plant, but the work allotment process has been stalled due to election code of conduct in force till May 16 due to General Elections. Till then, the garbage collection system goes to dogs. According to an estimate, over 1,200 tonnes of garbage must be lying in various localities of the city, if their average daily pick of about 280-300 tonnes of refuse is anything to go by. The key areas like Queens road, Customs Chowk, Majitha road, the Batala road, were some of the areas where garbage bins were spilling over with trash. This piled-up filth has put the residents to tremendous inconvenience. At the Nehru Shopping complex on the Lawrence road, the huge garbage mounds can anytime be spotted just at its entrance. Another pathetic situation was found adjacent to the boundary walls of St Mary's School and Sacred Heart School, where garbage bins cry for attention. Even as the matter of garbage lifting was always discussed in the MC house meeting and the issue find prominent place on political parties -- agenda during election time, but till date no concrete decision could be made about hiring the new professional firm or settling the issues with the Antony Waste firm. "The authorities should immediately break the impasse between them and the garbage collecting firm; otherwise it would become very difficult to breathe here, especially for those whose homes fall near these garbage dumps," said Naresh Johar, a resident.
	Free education for poor students RTE Act being violated by unaided, non-minority private schools Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 12 While the Supreme Court has ruled that unaided, non-minority private schools were bound to offer free education to poor students in the six-14 age group under the Right to Education (RTE) Act by allotting a minimum of 25 per cent of the seats to children from weaker sections, yet the rules are not being implemented properly in these schools in the city. Criticising the failure to get the Act implemented, many parents stated that there was no transparency in the working of these schools. They said the schools were reluctant to provide education to the children as per the provisions of the RTE Act. Even as the Right to Education (RTE) Act was implemented in the schools across the district from the previous academic session, parents belonging to the economically weaker sections are not being properly informed about the facility in reputed public schools here. Even no display board has been installed outside these schools to educate visitors. District Education Officer (Elementary) Jugraj Singh said his office had received applications from 774 private schools seeking recognition under the RTE Act. He said the process of scrutinising these applications and granting these institutes affiliation was hampered due to enforcement of the model code of conduct. However, it is now underdway. Once it is completed, his department would be in a position to implement the Act and keep a tab over it as well. There are 1,024 private schools in the district affiliated to various education boards, including the Punjab School Education Board, Central Board of School Education (CBSE) and Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE). As per the Act, all these schools are to seek affiliation under the RTE. Earlier, the public schools affiliated to the CBSE and ICSE expressed reservation for getting affiliation under the Act. However, Section 18 of chapter four of the RTE Act states that besides government and local bodies schools, all other schools have to register themselves under the Act. The Act ensures free text books, writing material and uniforms, apart from free education to poor children. Children with disabilities were also entitled to get free special learning and support material. The RTE Act The RTE Act was passed by Parliament in 2009, guaranteeing free and compulsory education to children between six to 14 years of age. The law came into effect from April 1, 2010, across all states barring J&K.
	Exclusive Pak fashion labels stay away from local markets Neha Saini Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 12 While exhibitors and retailers at the five-day Pakistan Show have had a mixed outing with the last-day slash of prices, the buyers have had a good fill. The ever-popular Pakistani suits being the focus of business and cultural exchange this time as well, the buyers are craving for more and retailers across the border share the sentiment. Despite this, any attempts at venturing into the Amritsar market exclusively by Pakistani labels have not been successful. Shireen's, a flagship designer Pakistani suits store owned by Pakistani designer and Member of Assembly Shireen Ahmed Khan shut shop in just over a year. Umrao's, another designer store at Alpha One, had opened with an exclusive range of Pakistani designer labels but has turned multi-brand now. Most designers from across the border get their collections only through exhibitions. "The reason for the absence of a flagship store here is that already a lot of established retailers in Amritsar are ordering our stuff and selling them on wholesale prices. It reduces the profit margins for Pakistani retailers or manufacturers. Exhibitions have limited collection and work out fine with buyers as most of the designers get their best stuff," said Humaira, one of the exhibitors at The Pakistan Show from Multan. Another Multan-based designer of popular digital print suits in lawn cotton and silk, Asad, at the show said, "The market in Amritsar is already crowded with Pakistani wear. Also, a flagship store would need permits, employees, sales team and added expenditures, while four exhibitions in a year makes enough loyal clientele for successful retailing, cutting down on expenses. The reason we mostly explore Delhi, Chandigarh markets, which are untapped." Also, most of them agree that opening borders would really help boost the business in this regard. Mini, owner of MM Collections, an exclusive Pakistani designer suits store at Ranjit Avenue, too, believes that the product has unexplored potential. Putting up her collection at The Pakistani Show, Mini has expanded on her client list.
	Five-day Pakistan trade show concludes Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 12 A five-day Pakistani trade expo, an exhibition to sell merchandise of the neighbouring country, concluded here today. People from the two nations expressed their love and affection for each other on the occasion. “The aim of forging better people to people relations, culminating into B2B trade relations between the two nations through these expos seems fulfilled satisfactorily,” said Dalip Sharma, director, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, adding that, “you can see the nationals of both the countries mingling with each other, sharing the common rich cultural heritage, language, besides dresses. Visitors in large numbers are thronging the Pakistani stalls and buying products.” The cultural programmes during the five-day event, including performances by noted Pak Sufi singers Arif Lohar and Malkoo, did strike a chord with people asking for more, said Sharma. More than 60,000 people visited the exhibition during the five days, which shows the overall response to the fair was satisfactory. The Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry called on the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry to organise such events in Pakistan as well, where people from India could visit Pakistan and a people to people bond could be established on their side as well. This will not only boost trade and commerce, but also make people on their side more and more receptive to their Indian counterparts and create a conducive environment for acceptance of each other. Exhibitors and officials from Pakistan were optimistic that the new governments, both in India and Pakistan, will be able to plan and organise things for better bilateral trade environment. They seemed visibly happy with the response their products received from the local populace. Khrsheed Barlas, CEO, Pak World Trade and Expo Centre, said, “Next time, there shall be more additions to products and variety. Credit goes to exhibitions and expos as these will help build confidence in the long run. Bilateral trade is perhaps the only such thing, which can pave the way to a peaceful and harmonious co-existence of the allies.” Another trader, Shahnaaz, from Lahore, said, “The five-day event is like a bridge between the two Punjabs. During our stay here, we failed to realise even once that we are in India. The culture, food, language, and even accent are so similar that we did not even once feel out of place.” Today being the last day of the expo, people thronged the Trillium Mall since early morning. Sharma appreciated and thanked the city residents for making the maiden expo successful. “The potential gains from the increased bilateral co- operation between India and Pakistan are immense. Relaxed issuing of visas, rupee trade and lesser complications in customs procedures may well enhance the scope for the trade,” added Sharma. He said the two sides had been making efforts to strengthen the economic relations between the two countries. Remarking that better relations were a win-win situation for the traders and governments of both the nations, Sharma said, “The informal trade between India and Pakistan via third countries like the United Arab Emirates (mainly Dubai), Singapore and Hong Kong is estimated at $10 billion. Moreover, the legalised trade will reduce costs and increase government revenue.” India has developed high competitiveness in the service sector. Other areas with potential for cooperation between the two nations in the near future can be petroleum products, iron and steel, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, automobiles, heavy industries and electricity.
	Nurses remember Florence Nightingale Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 12 The nursing association organised a function at the Government Medical College (GMC) here today to celebrate the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the founder of the modern nursing. The function was presided over by the GMC principal, Dr Santokh Singh. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Santokh said, “Nursing is a noble profession. Nurses should continue to serve humanity with zeal.” Raj Bedi Anand, president of the Nursing Association, said the reason behind the naming of most hospitals as nursing homes indicated the service rendered by nurses. She said in the government and private hospitals, nurses played more important role in curing a patient. She encouraged the nursing community to keep up the good work despite hardships. Government College of Nursing also organised a function to celebrate the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale. College principal Kamaljit Kaur said a poster making competition was held on the occasion. College students also presented a cultural programme to celebrate the occasion. Dr Kamaljit educated students about the role of nurses in the modern day medical field. A seminar was organised at Khalsa College of Nursing in which the experts highlighted the challenges confronting the service-oriented nursing profession. They said nursing was a noble profession and with the help of the new innovations and technology the same could be further made patient-oriented for better health and care. Dr Kawaljit Kaur Gill and Dr Balwinder Singh read papers and emphasised on how the pressure had been building on nurses as professionals and how should they cope with it. They said in the coming days, there would be more challenges as the demand for the better health and patient care was rising.
	Better amritsar school transport-II Execution of transport rules tardy, say residents Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 12 Occurrences of accidents involving the school transport and non-adherence to norms wreak havoc with lives, many a time of youngsters. There are enough rules governing the school transport, yet their implementation has been tardy. The city residents have their own take on the issue: Rash driving “My two high school children have been using transport since they were admitted to kindergarten. A sense of fear always lurks whether they have reached the school or returned home safe and sound. Over the years, it has become a routine to add a word of caution to the bus driver to be slow and patient. Yet we (parents) come to know of chilling account of rash school bus driving from children. Now, we are planning to give them gearless vehicles as one of them will pass high school.” Gurpreet Kaur Walia, parent Display contact numbers “Overspeeding and overcrowding are the two visible violations on city roads. It is learnt that these vehicles, including buses, mini-buses, auto-rickshaws and vans, are supposed to display contact numbers of drivers outside these vehicles. However, rarely these numbers have been noticed outside these vehicles. Besides, these vehicles are supposed to carry a certain colour arrangement. On the other hand, school buses can be sighted in the city in different color schemes.” Rajan, businessman Keep schools in loop “With opening of the schools on the city outskirts and a fad among parents to send their wards to these spacious schools have thrown open a challenge before the parents and grandparents to manage their transportation. During my school days, transportation was out of question as children were sent to the nearest school. Our family is living inside the walled city, near Jallianwala Bagh. So we have hired a school bus to ferry children. Apart from implementing norms, the authorities must keep the management of private and public schools in the loop. These managements are in the habit of washing their hands off at at the time of any misadventure.” Satnam Singh, resident Control hike in transport charges “A lot of attention is being paid to the implementation of norms on the school transportation, which is certainly a good sign. However, we have omitted to take note of amazingly high speed in hiking school transport charges. At a fraction of hike in diesel prices school transport operators go all out to raise charges per student, which is sometimes highly unjustified. Authorities must look into it.” Kulwant Singh, retired principal Right to Education Act “The Education Department is getting all norms implemented from recognised and aided schools. Now, with the implementation of the Right to Education Act, it will be more appropriate to rein in all schools irrespective of their affiliation to any education board.” Jugraj Singh, District Education Officer
	disappearance of convict Accused policeman to be involved in investigations PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 12 A day after Lakshmi Kanta Chawla, senior BJP leader, wrote a letter to Chief Minister (CM) Parkash Singh Badal and the Director General of Police (DGP) regarding the mysterious disappearance of Bikramjit, a murder convict, from Guru Nanak Dev Hospital (GNDH), the city police have decided to involve the accused Inspector Naurang Singh in the investigations. Bikramjit was allegedly kidnapped by a police team from the hospital premises. In the letter written to the CM and the DGP, Chawla had pointed out that the arrested policemen had named Naurang Singh for kidnapping and beating up Bikramjit. “His role has come under scanner as he was the head of the Counter Intelligence police party, which kidnapped Bikramjit from the GNDH, where he was admitted for the treatment of some orthopaedic problem,” said a police official on the condition of anonymity. “Though his involvement in the kidnapping is yet to be ascertained, he will be involved in the police investigations. Till now, he has not appeared before the Special Investigating Team (SIT) formed by the city police for cracking the case,” he added. Naurang Singh is currently posted in the Counter Intelligence wing in Ludhiana, the official said. Meanwhile, even after the lapse of five days, the police have failed to trace the abducted youth, who has been convicted in the murder case of Akali leader Gurdial Singh Dhillon in Algon Kothi area in Tarn Taran in 2002. The police have arrested two policemen, Amandeep and Lakhwinder Singh in this connection while an ASI Gulshanbir has surrendered before the court. The family members of Bikramjit expressed their apprehensions that he might have been killed by the accused policemen. They lodged a complaint with the city police alleging the involvement of certain people with whom they had an old enmity. Police officials said investigations were on in the case.
	Fateh Academy triumph in Gatka Tournament Amritsar, May 12 Hosts International Fateh Academy lifted the overall trophy in the state-level Gatka Tournament held on its campus recently for both boys and girls in the under-14 and under-17 age -groups. As many as 300 players from different schools of the state competed in the tournament. Anandpur Sahib Khalsa Academy, Kapurthala and Senior Secondary School, Punjabi University, Patiala, were joint runners-up and Shaheed Balwinder Singh Malahpur, Ludhiana, stood third. In Shashtar demo competition, Sri Hargobind Sahib Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Amritsar, was the winner. In single Soti contest for girls (under-14), Gul Mehra of IFH Academy was declared the winner and Harman Singh of Senior Secondary School, Punjabi University, won the contest in boy’s category. In single Soti contest for girls (under-17), Jagdeep Kaur of Nankana Sahib Public Senior Secondary School was victorious and Amritpal Singh of Sri Anandpur Sahib Academy, Kapurthala, won the contest in boys’ category. Similarly, in Fari Soti event for girls (under-17), Sharanpreet Kaur of Nishan Academy Aulakh was declared winner and Buta Singh of Senior Secondary School, Punjabi University, won in the boys’ category. In Fari Soti for girls (under-14) category, Mandeep Kaur of Government Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana, won the contest and Simarbir Singh of Sri Anandpur Sahib Khalsa Academy was declared the winner in boy’s category. — TNS
	6 students secure merit positions Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 12 Running under the spiritual guidance of Baba Sewa Singh Kar Sewa Wale, as many as six students of Baba Gurmukh Singh Uttam Singh Senior Secondary School secured merit positions in the 10 plus two class under the Punjab School Education Board. Among six merit holders are Khushdaman Kaur (science) has got the 15th rank in Punjab with 95.11 per cent marks. Simranjeet Kaur (science) got the 19th rank with 94.22 per cent marks. In the commerce group, Jasbir Kaur secured the19th rank with 94.22 per cent marks. Geetika secured the 21st rank with 93.78 per cent marks. Boys also performed well. Sahil Sharma (science) secured the 22nd rank with 93.56 per cent. Harshdeep Singh (science) secured the 23rd rank with 93.33 per cent marks. A total of 106 students appeared in the exam. As many as 74 of them were of science group and 32 students were of the commerce group.
	GNDU organises workshop on stitching, tailoring technology Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 12 A special workshop on advance technologies in stitching and tailoring was organised by the Department of Lifelong Learning of Guru Nanak Dev University here today. Suresh Viyas, regional manager, Nick Puri, senior sales officer, Munish, executive officer from Usha International Ltd were the guest speakers on the occasion. They shared details about the advancement of technology in sewing machine with the students and the staff to update their knowledge. Prof Gurpreet Kaur, director of the department, presided over the function. Tejpal Kaur, programme assistant, introduced students about the aims and objectives of the workshop. Paramjeet Kaur, Gursharan Kaur, Deepika, Devika Kumari, Rubina Sayal, Nidhi Sharma and Ramanjit Kaur also attended the workshop. New sewing machine models were displayed and demonstration of each model was also given.
	Chain snatched from tourist Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 12 Snatching instances continue unabated in the city. A tourist was robbed of a gold chain by unidentified motorcycle-borne youths in Queen’s Road area here today. Freddy Vasuna, a resident of Puna, said he along with his wife Gurpreet Kaur and children had come to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple. He said they were returning to their hotel located on Queen’s Road when the incident took place. As soon as they alighted from the auto-rickshaw, the motorcycle- borne youths snatched gold chain from his wife, said Vasuna. Though he tried to chase them, they managed to flee away. Vasuna said they had lodged a complaint with the Civil Lines Police in this regard.