Amritsar, July 12
Frequent and unscheduled power cuts amidst scorching heat coupled with an erratic power supply have made the lives of the city residents nightmarish.

Besides, industrialists are having a tough time as the PSPCL has stopped power supply to them for 12 hours between 8 pm and 8 am due to which the manufacturing cost has shot up as they are forced to use generators to run their units.

Intermittent, unscheduled cuts totalling up to three hours to five hours a day in the residential areas have become a routine. It prompted the people to remind the leaders of the ruling dispensation of their oft-repeated remarks that surplus power will be sold to the neighbouring Pakistan. A vigilant city resident, Prem Sagar, said that it would be better if leaders do their homework before making such statements. Power outages were imposed any time in the day, once in the afternoon, another in the evening and a third one in the night, varying from area to area. He said it had become difficult for the people to cope with the scorching heat.

Since the residents have not been used to any power cuts for the past nearly two years, it has become difficult for them especially with the mercury soaring up to over 40°Celsius and fans alone not giving any respite. Further, voltage fluctuation owing to rampant use of ACs in every household has also become common.

“Power outages should rather be imposed in a scheduled manner so that we can plan household chores accordingly. At times, I am in the midst of washing clothes or using the blender in the kitchen when the power goes off. There is no option but to keep the work suspended for an hour or so,” said Neelam Seth, a housewife.

“Power cuts are abhorred the most at night as getting sleep in the night during power cuts proves difficult. Although we do have inverters, but irregular power supply does not let them charge to their capacity. Besides, fans don’t solve any purpose amidst scorching heat,” she remarked.

Senior citizen BL Prinja, who had gone to the district court for some work, returned home disappointed, as no public work could be carried out in the office. He said first it took him two days to decide to go to the court in view of the scorching heat. However, eventually when he went over there, he had to undergo a one-hour long arduous wait as there was no power.

The Focal Point Industries Association (FPIA) and the Bal Kalan Industrial Welfare Association (BKIWA) have flayed the decision of the PSPCL to impose the peak load hours for industrial units up to 12 hours.

The FPIA president, Kamal Dalmia, said large-scale industries having over 99 KW power connections yesterday received notices from the PSPCL intimating 12-hour power cut daily. He described the decision as “anti-industry”. He said the industries in Amritsar like the rest of the state were already paying over Rs 7 per unit, which was among the highest power tariffs in the country. Now, they would have to run their units on diesel-run generators which would increase the input cost on power by three times since a unit of power by generator costs over Rs 21.

He said its impact on their businesses would be cascading as their input cost would ultimately increase the overall manufacturing cost. Already the competition in the domestic market was so intense that a marginal increase in the price of finished goods meant losing out business to competitors from other states.

The BKIWA president, Sundeep Khosla, said that like other states, the Punjab Government must also procure power from the national grid to meet the demand and supply gap. He said the large-scale industries were being charged the highest power tariff by the PSPCL. It meant that the government earned higher revenue from large-scale consumers and still this category was being victimised, he claimed.“It also means that the PowerCorp is foregoing income from the high-paying consumers,” he said.

Labourers and artisans, especially daily wagers working in textile units, are the worst sufferers as their working days have been curtailed. A weaver said his income depended upon how much he weaved. Prolonged power cuts mean decline in production and less availability of work.

Amritsar, July 12
Pending the outcome of a tiff between the Municipal Corporation and the Mini Bus Operator Workers Union with regard to the plying of city bus service buses on outer city routes, the service has been temporarily stopped.

The mini bus operators demand that the city bus service on outer city routes should be permanently stopped, but the residents of these areas want the service to continue keeping in view the larger interest of the general public.

The passengers said the city bus service buses charged less fare as compared to private mini buses. “Hundreds of people from villages around the city come for menial jobs every morning. These people cannot afford to stay in the city due high living costs so they prefer accommodation in outer areas,” said Balram, a passenger standing at Khasa bus stand.

Other passengers at Khasa said before the service was temporarily suspended one could board four city buses, waiting for their turn, in the early morning. “For the past few days, the passengers are at the mercy of private bus operators or auto-rickshaws, which charge much more,” said Beera Singh, another commuter. The passengers demanded that the administration should not bow to the mini bus operators lobby.

Meanwhile a meeting of the Mini Bus Operator Workers Union with the Municipal Corporation officials scheduled for today could not be held. Union Secretary Baldev Singh Babbu said, “The officials had postponed the meeting till Monday citing busy schedule.”

He said the Municipal Corporation had agreed to suspend the service to outer areas till the outcome of the meeting, but buses were seen plying on many of these routes. He maintained that city buses should ply in the periphery of the city and should not ferry passengers from outer areas.

“Some of the routes they are covering go up to 20 to 22 km. This way the mini buses will go out of business and thousands of workers will be rendered jobless,” said the under secretary.

Amritsar, July 12
Even as the police have registered a case against several jail inmates in connection with the alleged possession of forbidden material during a massive raid conducted at the Amritsar Central Jail here yesterday, it has once again brought forth the deplorable security arrangements in the high-security jail that also houses foreign nationals, Pakistani and Bangladeshi citizens.

The seizure of as many as 19 mobile phones from inside the jail has raised many an eyebrow besides pointing a finger towards the alleged connivance of the jail staff in pushing in the contraband and mobile phones.

The seizure of mobile phones and narcotic substances from jail inmates is a routine affair. A day before yesterday, the jail staff confiscated contraband from a jail inmate and from a visitor who came to meet an inmate.

Earlier, too, similar raids were conducted on the jail premises by the city police. But, ironically, no measures were taken by the government and the authorities concerned to plug the loopholes. This despite the fact that the Amritsar Central Jail is one of the high-security jails having foreign nationals. The jail also houses notorious smugglers and criminals who are a threat to national security.

The Counter-Intelligence Wing of the Punjab Police has repeatedly urged the higher-ups to install jammers in the jail as anti-national elements were continuing their illegal trade of drug smuggling from across the border fence even from the jail premises with the help of mobile phones. Over 300 notorious smugglers were lodged in the high-security jail at present.

A policeman, deputed in the jail, however, blamed shortage of staff and lack of modern infrastructure, including scanners, to check any misadventure of jail inmates for sneaking in any narcotic material and mobile phones inside the jail premises.

Amritsar, July 12
Congress councillor Gurinder Rishi has criticised the government for its plans to regularise illegal hotels guest houses and inns by amending building bylaws. In a press note issued today, Rishi said that these hotels were termed “illegal” by the high court.

He said that the proposed move to amend building bylaws to benefit hotel owners had revealed the vote- bank politics of the ruling alliance. He said that any such move to benefit illegal hotel owners would be contempt of court. Rishi said that he would file a contempt of court case against the municipal corporation in this regard. He said that regularising illegal hotels would be against the high court orders and the MC should refrain from it. — TNS

Amritsar, July 12
A married woman lodged a complaint with the Islamabad police in which she alleged that her brother-in-law, identified as Vijay Kumar, tried to rape her. The incident occurred on July 10 when she was alone.

Though the police was yet to arrest the culprit, the incident has highlighted the problem of safety of women in society.

Repeated instances of rape, sexual assault, domestic violence and snatchings have forced the authorities to ponder over the problem. While in a majority of rape cases, it was the known persons and even close relatives who were involved in the crime, a recent surge in snatching instances has left women concerned over their security.

The Punjab Police launched Woman Armed Special Protection Squad (WASPS) several months ago to ensure that women feel secure and free in society and prompt action was taken against the offenders. But till now, it has helped little to instil a sense of security among women. Only yesterday a woman identified as Archana, a resident of Rajasthan, fell a victim to snatchers who took away her earrings. She was commuting by a rickshaw. Unidentified motorcycle-borne youths fled from the scene while the police completed the formalities by lodging an FIR.

“It is correct that the Police Department is initiating various steps to ensure security for women in the city, but all these steps are proving a futile exercise as instances like snatchings are continuing unabated in the city,” said Monica Sen, a local resident.

“There is a need for an efficient security system and special training especially to the women cops. At the time of such incidents, they are found wanting as they do not know what should be done to arrest the culprit and soothe the victim who feels traumatised,” said a government teacher, Jasbir Kaur.

Amritsar, July 12
Advocate Vaneet Mahajan has filed yet another complaint before the Police Commissioner for registering an FIR against BJP councillor Prabhjit Rataul. He alleged that the accused shared his photograph on a social networking site without his consent.

Rataul is in judicial custody at present on charges of allegedly perpetrating a murderous attack on Mahajan, his younger brother, Avnish Mahajan, and an employee, Avtar Singh. He is considered a close confidant of Cabinet Minister Anil Joshi who was dragged into the court by Mahajan and his colleague, Sandeep Gorsi, in a dual-vote controversy. The two advocates had also filed two separate defamation cases against the Minister.

In the complaint submitted to the Police Commissioner, Jatinder Singh Aulakh, Mahajan alleged that by sharing his family photographs without his consent, Rataul was not only violating the Information Technology Act, but also harassing him mentally. He urged the Police Commissioner to lodge an FIR against Rataul under the Act.

Aulakh admitted that he had received a complaint in this connection and added that he had marked an inquiry into the matter.

Amritsar, July 12
A delegation of the Punjab Civil and Medical Services Specialist Doctors’ Association met Civil Surgeon Rajiv Bhalla here today for demanding better conditions at workplace.

The specialist doctors’ apprised the Civil Surgeon about the problems faced by them at health centres and in turn assured of all help for bettering the medical services for the general public.

District president of the association, Dr Khusbinder Singh, said doctors faced many day to day problems at health centres. He demanded that the department should look into these problems so that they could work in a congenial atmosphere.

State president of the association, Dr Kashmir Singh Sohal, said the Civil Surgeon was apprised about problems faced by the specialists due to their deployment on emergency duties. He said the state government had earlier issued a letter to Civil Surgeons regarding non-deployment of specialist doctors on emergency duties, but they were

still deployed on emergency duties, which should be stopped. Dr Sohal said the doctors also faced problems due to shortage of para-medical staff and medicines.

Dr Hardeep Singh Ghai, Dr Balwinder Kakkar, Dr Om Parkash, Dr Renu Bhatia were also part of the delegation, which met the Civil Surgeon.

Amritsar, July 12
The Chheharta police have booked three persons, including a former Army man, in a theft case. The ex-serviceman was booked for negligence, which led to the theft of his licensed weapon, used by two other culprits in a murder.

Among those booked include Gurdip Singh and Bittu Nihang of Ghanupur Kale and the ex-serviceman, identified as Manjeet Singh of Baba Darshan Singh Avenue. A case under Sections 380, 34 of the IPC and 29/54/59 of the Arms Act has been registered at the Chheharta police station against the accused in this regard.

Sukhwinder Kaur, a resident of Ghanupur Kale, stated to police that Gurdip and Bittu Nihang used the stolen pistol of Manjeet Singh for killing her husband, Harjinder Singh, last year.

Amritsar, July 12
The Jallianwala Bagh Martyrs Memorial Civil Hospital here was conferred the best performance award by the state’s Health Minister at a function organised to celebrate the World Population Day in Moga yesterday.

The award was given for conducting 1,889 sterilisation operations, the maximum number of surgeries, in the state. Senior Medical Officer, Dr Hardeep Singh Ghai, said the hospital had conducted a highest number of sterilisation surgeries as part of its programme to encourage permanent contraceptive measures.

Dr Jaswinder Kaur was given the best performance award for conducting 313 PP-IUCD surgeries. Sub Divisional Hospital, Baba Bakala, was given the best performance award in the district for conducting 594 sterlisation surgeries. The awards were conferred by Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jiani. — TNS

Amritsar, July 12
Local Body Minister Anil Joshi handed over a cheque of Rs 1 lakh to office bearers of the Bhai Ghanaiya Ji Mission Society here today. Addressing members of the mission, Joshi said no service was equivalent to serving the humanity. In this sphere Bhai Ghanaiya Ji Mission Society had carved out a niche for itself, added the minister.

He said the mission was always at the forefront to provide free of cost medicines to the people, besides providing the facility of free medical tests. Chairman of the Bhai Ghanaiya Ji Mission Society Kuljit Singh, Darsharn Singh and Jasbeer Singh Sethi were among those present on the occasion.

Amritsar, July 12
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) is contemplating to reuse rain water and water discharged from ablution, langar (community kitchen) in gurdwaras, educational institutions, hospitals and other buildings, managed by it, to recharge underground water table.

This was stated by SGPC Chief Avtar Singh Makkar while reacting to a query posed in light of a communiqué written to him by a GS Bedi, a city resident, to recycle the water.

Makkar said the Shiromani Committee had already installed a water treatment plant in the Golden Temple complex. He said there were around 500 gurdwaras, including 80 gurdwaras, which come under Section 85 and over 400 gurdwaras, which come under Section 87, as their annual income was less than Rs 35 lakh. These historic gurdwaras were spread across Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. The SGPC, a premiere Sikh organisation, passed an annual budget of Rs 905 crore for the 2014-15 fiscal. An amount of Rs 560.51 crore was allocated in the budget for managing gurdwara affairs of the shrines falling under Section 85. Rain water and water gained from other sources in gurdwaras could be pumped into the water table, said Makkar.

The SGPC chief commented that it was good proposal and was required to be studied by experts for implementation.

Meanwhile, Bedi said he came up with the recycling idea after taking a cue from Gurbani and quoted a hymn from it, “Pawan Guru Pani Pita Mata Dharat Mahat”. He maintained that it was high time to implement the same.

Bedi has designed a methodology for recycling the water. He has also written to the SGPC to recycle the water in gurdwaras used for cleaning feet at the entrance of the shrines, washing utensils and other purposes. He proposed that this water could be channelised underground to help improve the water table.

He said, “For ablution tiny water bodies are set up at the entrance of each gurdwaras where people wash their feet. For this purpose a tap of minimum ½ inch is installed at the entrance, which flows 20 hours a day. This water goes to drain. One ½ inch tap at a normal speed discharges 12 litres of water in a minute. It means that 14,400 litres of water is discharged in 20 hours. In a year about 52.56 lakh litres of water is released.”

It was an approximate calculation of one tap, which if multiplied with all gurdwaras would mean that gallons of water could be saved and utilised for other purposes, added Bedi.