Amritsar, August 13
The Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu, found three illegal manufacturing units of packaged drinking water operating in the city during a raid conducted today.

She found the factories functioning without licences, working amid most unhygienic conditions with untrained staff. She said that these factories were running in the name of Pal Food Products, Mohan Kold Drinks and SS Enterprises and were packing water and soft drinks under the brand name of Aqua Shine, Aqua Gold, Lemoni, Limc and Finda.

She elaborated that during the inspection, she did not find a mandatory bacteriological testing lab, tags reflecting market price and the products did not even mention the manufacturing and the expiry dates. Besides, bottles were being washed with dirty water and brush. These bottles were being filled manually and unhygienically, she alleged. She said ammonia bottles, colouring agents and concentrates were also found at these factories.

To her surprise, soft drinks were being labelled under self-made brands. She claimed that all rules regarding bottling material, ingredients used for soft drinks, labelling, etc were being openly flouted.

Sidhu said all material was scrutinised and samples were collected by the staff under the guidance of the Civil Surgeon. Marketing of these products had been stopped until laboratory testing reports were examined.

She said all civil surgeons and district health officers in Punjab would be directed to check all such centres and seal them until they got proper ISI certification and approved licences from the BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards).

The Chief Parliamentary Secretary said that there were 47 manufacturing units of packaged drinking water in Punjab registered with the BIS having the ISI mark, as this registration was mandatory in the case of packaged drinking water units.

In these units, there are chemical and microbiological laboratories for regular testing of water. These plants pay licence fee and sales tax and indoor-outdoor testing charges. However, she claimed, that over 100 such plants were working in the state as non-ISI plants, which was a violation of the law, as the ISI mark was mandatory in the case of packaged drinking water and most of these plants didn’t have VAT registration and also there were no parameters to check the quality of water, as they didn’t have any laboratories.

She stated that some of these plants mention “cooking water” and “kitchen water” on labels and also write “serve chilled” to confuse the people and the government. Because of these non-ISI plants, registered plants were suffering losses due to poor sales and high investment to maintain quality. Strict action against such plants was required so that the industry could be saved and more revenue could be generated in the form of sales tax, she said.

Amritsar, August 13
Even as the Health Department took action against three illegal drug de-addiction centres in the past one and a half month, advertisements featuring in some vernacular papers point out the existence of many other such centres.

Advertisements claiming “guaranteed” de-addiction feature almost every day in vernacular newspapers. In one such advertisement, a person claims to make youngsters shun the habit without admitting them for a single day. He charges Rs 4,500 for the medicine.

As per another advertisement, a person can shun drugs if a certain medicine is mixed in his food without even telling the patient.

The family members of drug addicts make efforts to get their children de-addicted by getting them admitted to these centres. However, their money and efforts are wasted as the 15-day course fails to yield desired results.

Most of these advertisements mention a phone number, instead of an address to avoid getting caught by the authorities.

BR Preenja of Senior Citizens Welfare Forum said, “The government should take action against illegal centre owners who are exploiting poor parents.”

None of three illegal drug de-addiction centres — New Hope, Ujala and Rebirth — had permission from the government to run the facility. None had any doctor or paramedical worker to administer medication to addicts.

Assistant Civil Surgeon Dr Balwinder Kakkar said they immediately took action after getting information about the illegal de-addiction centre.

“These centres were being run from remote areas, which are hard to detect otherwise,” said Dr Kakkar, adding that the public also has a responsibility to inform the department about these centres so that action can be taken against them.

Amritsar, August 13
Instances of a gang robbing elderly people of their belongings continue unabated as two more incidents have come to light. The police, however, have failed to make any arrest in this regard.

In the latest incident, a Pathankot-based couple, identified as Vijay Kumar and his wife, Poonam, were looted by the gang, involving two women. The couple had come to the city for visiting their ailing mother.

According to information, the accused managed to take away a bag containing some cash while they threw the couple from their car. However, they could not snatch the gold jewellery of the victim as Vijay resisted their attempt.

The unidentified members of the gang came in a white car. The couple were returning home and were going to hire a rickshaw for the railway station when the accused approached them and offered a lift, stating that they were also going to the railway station. They later took them towards the Yaseen road from the Albert road and tried to rob them. Vijay resisted their attempt. The accused threw them on the road and fled with a bag containing some cash.

Earlier, too, similar instances were reported in the city in which elderly women were robbed of their gold jewellery on the pretext of providing them a lift. A similar incident occurred a few days ago in which an elderly woman was robbed of her gold bangles in a similar fashion.

Police Commissioner Jatinder Singh Aualkh said that a special investigation team had been deputed to crack the cases and arrest the culprits. He said the accused would be arrested soon.

Amritsar, August 13
A brawl that occurred outside a bar in the Ranjit Avenue area a few days ago has woken up the city police to take measures to discourage serving of liquor in the late night hours, which often leads to such instances.

The city police have directed all hotel and restaurant owners to stop serving liquor and close down the bars by 11 pm. However, the closing time is somewhat relaxed on weekdays — Friday and Saturday — by an hour, that is till 12 am.

Confirming this, Police Commissioner Jatinder Singh Aulakh said though the law regarding serving of liquor till 12 am exists under the Excise Act, but it had been observed that the law is being flouted by a majority of hotel and restaurant owners, which sometimes creates a law and order problem.

He said that police officials had been directed to hold meetings with hotel, bar and restaurant managing authorities in their respective areas and instruct them to strictly follow the norms; otherwise appropriate action will be initiated against them, according to law.

Balkar Singh, ACP (North), held a meeting with the hotel, restaurant and bar owners falling in the Civil Lines area where a majority of hotels exist. Incidentally, the brawl that ultimately led to the suspension of three policemen, including an SHO-rank official, also occurred in Ranjit Avenue that falls under the Civil Lines area.

Meanwhile, a departmental enquiry has been initiated in the case in which the then SHO, Civil Lines police station, Vavinder Mahajan, the duty officer, ASI Kulwant Singh, and head constable Dilbagh Singh were suspended for allegedly thrashing several youths, including the son of an ADCP-rank official. Mahajan while claiming that he had only performed his duty to prevent the situation from going worse has met the Police Commissioner in this regard.

Aulakh said that a departmental enquiry had been marked to ADCP (special) HS Brar and appropriate action would be taken after the probe was completed. He said the enquiry official would also look into the whole incident, which led to the situation besides investigating the role of the police officials.

Amritsar, August 13
The city police have been put on high alert in view of the proposed visit of Union Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and Independence Day celebrations.

Police stations have been provided with additional forces. Surprise checks are being carried out and nakas are being laid at various chowks and important places to prevent any untoward incident.

Police teams conduct search operations in Amritsar on Wednesday. Photos: RK Soni

While the Defence Minister will arrive on August 18, the Chief of Army Staff is likely to visit on August 17, said a senior police official.

Dog squads have been pressed into service to search places such as the railway station and the bus stand.

Senior police officials, including assistant commissioners of police (ACP), have been directed to personally supervise various nakas being laid in the area of their jurisdiction.

Police teams are also searching hotels, sarais, restaurants and dhabas to check for unscrupulous elements.

Police Commissioner Jatinder Singh Aualkh said the checking and nakas would continue till the Janamashtami festival. He said the city police was alert and committed to provide safety and security to its residents.

Amritsar, August 13
Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Gulzar Singh Ranike would unfurl the national flag during the Independence Day celebrations at Guru Nanak Stadium, said Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat after the full dress rehearsal today.

Bhagat said the march past would include contingents of the Punjab Police, homeguards and NCC cadets. The police band and scouts of six local schools will also present their show.

Bhagat said a colourful cultural programme, including main events such as gidda and bhangra, would be presented by students of various schools.

The Red Cross Society will give away tricycles and sewing machines to the needy.

The deputy commissioner expressed satisfaction over the arrangements of the function. — TNS

Amritsar, August 13
Myriad reasons like poverty, illiteracy, minimum exposure, drug and alcohol addiction, greed, ego and crumbling of the joint family system are behind the rising matrimonial discord instances in the city.

Community Police Resource Centre (CPRC) secretary Surjit Sharma said these were some of the major reasons ruining matrimonial relations.

He said that 1,498 complaints from women were received at five Saanjh Kendars, being run under the CPRC across the city, adding that the disturbing fact was that the number of complaints was increasing every year.

Attempts by the CPRC to resolve conjugal disputes amicably through counseling were being seen as yeoman service to society. Sharma added that the number of matrimonial disputes had risen manifold. The CRPC’s objective was to use counseling to resolve differences out of court.

He stressed that family members in general and parents, in particular, must not feel shy in cross-checking the salary, the qualification, the age and the medical of prospective grooms and brides before finalising the alliances.

He felt that verification of medical history was compulsory. Citing a case he handled, he said that a woman ran from pillar to post, as her in-laws rejected her after her husband and daughter died of AIDS. She was HIV positive and had been pleading with her in-laws to get her only son examined.

Sharma said the breakdown of the joint family system was due to matrimonial disputes. In one of the cases, a fatherless girl was married to an addict without checking the claims of the groom. A mother of two, she is now seeking divorce.

The rules and regulations of our society are such, which do not allow anyone to flout these. In fact, everyone should arguably abide by the norms of society. But there are elements who hinder the growth of those who are a part of society.

Amritsar, August 13
In view of the fact that the city bus service has been reeling under losses for the past sometime, the authorities have slashed the prices of tickets in an apparent attempt to deal with the competition posed by auto-rickshaws.

It seems that taking the “volume” theory into account, the company has rolled back its move of abolishing the least fare ticket slot comprising Rs 2 and Rs 5, the least fare of non-AC and AC buses.

Tentatively, the tickets will cost according to the original contract terms. For the non-AC buses, the fare is Rs 2 (up to 5 km), Rs 5 (5-10 km) and Rs 10 (more than 10 km). The fare for AC buses is Rs 5 (up to 5 km), Rs 10 (5-10 km) and Rs 15 (more than 10 km).

Manager of the Karnataka-based bus operating firm Parveen Kumar confirmed that the tickets rates had even been reduced as compared to the rates fixed in the original contract.

From the bus stand to Daburji, a passenger will have to pay Rs 8 instead of earlier ticket price of Rs 10; from the bus stand to India gate, Rs 10 will be charged instead of earlier Rs 15; from the bus stand to Meerankot, the fare now is Rs 7 instead of Rs 10; from the bus stand to Nangli, Rs 5 will be charged instead of Rs 10; and from the bus stand to Pandori, the new fare will be Rs 5 instead of Rs 7.

“Our occupancy was being hit by auto-rickshaws. Earlier, we had planned to back out of the service, but after working on various bottlenecks, we zeroed in on the idea of slashing the ticket price. It is applicable with immediate effect and the response has been good,” he said.

A total of 112 low-floor AC, non-AC, midi- and mini-buses were proposed to be introduced in Amritsar under the JNNURM scheme, as the first public transport system for Amritsar.

At present, only 40 buses are being run on different routes while another lot of 20 buses is yet to hit the roads. The company was reluctant to operate them due to the high costs involved.

Company officials claim that it has been bearing a loss of around Rs 50,000 every day.

Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora, who is also the director of Amritsar City Transport Service Ltd, said that modalities were being worked out to put the remaining lot of buses on the roads.

Amritsar, August 13
With the night sanitation contract of the private firm, engaged for keeping the surroundings of the Golden Temple clean, coming to an end, the Municipal Corporation and many volunteers have joined hands to do the service.

The MC has engaged additional staff and has doubled the sanitation infrastructure to lift garbage.

Besides, Baba Kulwant Singh Ajnala Wale with his teams, an NRI couple -Amrik Singh Sadana and Bibi Harbans Kaur Sadana- in collaboration with the Golden Temple management and Sant Baba Kashmir Singh Burewale along with his volunteers have joined hands with the MC in its mission to keep the streets and surroundings of the shrine clean.

They have started the sanitation campaign from Guru Arjan Dev Niwas to Ghanta Ghar and covered areas such as Gurudwara Saragarhi, Sheranwala Gate, Ghee Mandi and Jallianwala Bagh Road.

A team of six safai karamcharis has been deputed for the purpose. They will be provided with a special garbage lifting vehicle.

Sant Baba Kashmir Singh said the team would be deputed to regularly clean the areas and lift garbage on the streets leading to the Golden Temple. All expenses of the special sanitation drive would be borne by the Sadana family.

Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora said the contract for night sanitation with the Chandigarh-based firm had come to an end on August 2 and it would be renewed soon.

“We have sent a proposal to the government after passing it in the house meeting held in July. As soon as we get the green signal, the tendering process to invite firms for the night sanitation drive around the Golden Temple will start,” he said.

“Meanwhile, we have continued with the sanitation exercise. We have deputed around 50 safai karamcharis, who will clean up the streets leading to the Golden Temple, between 2 pm and 10 pm. They have been provided with additional machinery, including eight garbage lifting tractor trailers,” he said.

Amritsar, August 12
To promote a healthy art culture in the city, city-based artist and art critic Brijesh Jolly will be organising ‘Kala Mela’ in association with Alpha One. The shopping mall complex has become an open art space for city artists and a vehicle to popularise live art.

Amritsar, August 13
Doctors had to sweat it out at the orthopaedic operating theatre of Guru Nanak Dev Hospital as the air-conditioning facility went out of order once again today. Even the water supply to the operating theatre was inoperative during the early morning hours today.

The operating theatre of the Ortho Department where the air-conditioning system broke down in Amritsar on Wednesday. Photo: RK Soni

Doctors at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital have to manage at the operating theatre without air conditioners many times as snags develop frequently due to the old air-conditioning systems.

Earlier, the ACs at the ortho operating theatre had developed a snag, which was rectified in June.

“The ACs had some fault earlier, but they failed to start today,” complained a doctor. Doctors have to wear gowns during surgeries, which makes heat more unbearable for them.

Operating theatres are designed as enclosed spaces without any window so as to avoid infections to the patients. Doctors said surgeons drenched in sweat could be a cause of infection for patients.

“The weather is very humid these days. Recovery of patients becomes difficult if they are infected due to sweat,” said another doctor.

The ortho operation theatre is not the only place which is facing the problem of frequent snags in the air-conditioning system.

Earlier, the ACs at the Surgery Department’s operating theatre too went out of order.

“During a procedure, the doctor has to wear a lead gown, which is one cm thick. Anybody can well imagine the condition of the doctor in that state if the AC is not working,” complained another doctor.

An official at the college, on condition of anonymity, said, “Water was unavailable for a few hours as the water pump was being repaired. AC plants need replacement but it could be done only if there are enough funds.”

Amritsar, August 13
The All India Services Pre-examination Training Centre of Guru Nanak Dev University organised a seminar on ‘How to Crack UPSC Examinations’ at Guru Nanak Bhawan Auditorium.

As many as 300 students and faculty members participated in the seminar, which was organised in association with Shive Illuminate Private Limited, New Delhi. It was presided over by Vice Chancellor Prof AS Brar.

Gaurav Krishna Bansal, director, IRTS, North Central Zone Cultural Centre (NCZCC), Allahabad, Puneet Gumber, director, Shive Illuminate Private Limited and Dr Kumud Ranjan from Delhi University delivered lectures on the occasion.

Prof Daljit Singh Arora, director of the centre, welcomed the chief guest and other participants. Prof Brar advocated that all-round knowledge was must to compete in competitive examinations.

“Corruption has emerged as one of the biggest problems for society. Civil servants need to tackle the menace of corruption urgently,” he said.

Bansal said success was nothing but time management.

He said NCZCC is an autonomous body under the Union Ministry of Culture and it is devoted towards the preservation, promotion, dissemination and documentation of Indian arts and culture, primarily folk and tribal.

“The canvas of our activities is large and encompasses all facets of our culture from songs and dances to painting, handicrafts, sculpture and literature,” he said.

Dr Rajan highlighted the difference between textbook-oriented study and understanding of a subject.

Puneet said generally every examination touches some basic elements such as general knowledge, reasoning, general awareness and mathematical questions.

“It’s effective planning, knowledge about fundamentals, proper training, setting of goal and positive approach, which are must for civil services aspirants,” he said.

Amritsar, August 13
Coca-Cola India today launched Maaza Milky Delite — a new innovation by the beverage brand.

The product was launched by Rajneet Kohli, director, franchise bottling operations, Coca-Cola India and Gurdeep Singh Kandhari, director, Wave Beverages Private Limited – authorised franchise bottler of the Coca-Cola Company in Punjab. — TNS