Amritsar, September 29
Acting tough against the defaulters, the Municipal Corporation is all set to embark on a sealing drive against commercial units besides penalising residential units from November 1.

Today also, the property-tax collection windows were found to be abandoned. This lukewarm response was ascribed to the repeated extension of the deadline by the Local Bodies Ministry.

The Secretary, Local Bodies Department, had already sent a notice to the Municipal Commissioner to sensitise the residents about depositing their property tax dues before the deadline of September 30.

The notice specifically pointed out that that beyond the stipulated date, penalty or interest should be charged under the Municipal Corporation Act from the defaulters.

As per official information, around 90 per cent of commercial units proprietors have paid up their dues whereas the main defaulters are the residential unit owners. Officials told that many units located in humble areas did not pay their dues despite repeated reminders.

The MC has identified around 2.6 lakh units which have the liability to pay property tax. Around 50 per cent of the residents are yet to pay up their dues.

The authorities have failed to collect the targeted amount of last year’s property tax dues i.e. for the period 2013-2014, whereas the current year’s dues for 2014-2015, notification of which was released a couple of days ago in the new format, is going to start soon.

A total of Rs 24 crore has been recovered by the MC on account of property tax. The MC has failed to recover the entire dues despite the deadline being extended on more than one occasion.

Now, the MC has prepared the defaulters’ list and action may be initiated soon.

The commercial units may face sealing of their premises where as the residential unit owners may have to bear 50 per cent as penalty alongwith 18 per cent rate of interest, to be calculated from the date of April 1.

MC Commissioner Pardeep Sabharwal told that an action plan has been chalked out against the defaulters. “Now, we would not refrain from sealing the properties or imposing penalty on the defaulters. It was a total misconception of the residents that the date would again be extended. We have got clear-cut directions from the Local Bodies ministry to initiate action as per municipal norms,” he said.

Amritsar, September 29
The cost of Durgiana Temple Beautification Project, which was kept at Rs 36 crore when the scheme was notified in 2007, rose Rs 75 crore following delays due to various reasons. A final design for the beautification of 3.03 acres of land around Durgiana Temple envisages about 70 per cent of it to remain open. A sizeable portion of the open area will be under the greenbelt. The rest of the land has seen raising of a multi-storeyed commercial complex.

An auditorium, an open-air theatre, a double-storeyed parking lot to accommodate about 400 cars and 150 two-wheelers, a well-equipped information centre and new ‘jodda ghar’ for the convenience of the tourists will also be built.

Later on, battery-operated vehicles might be included as part of the planning to carry handicapped and elderly visitors to the temple.

The Improvement Trust, the Deputy Director, Local Government, with the active assistance of the police and other departments acquired the land from the possession of shopkeepers, deras, tenants and owners of these plots following various land acquisition drives.

After an arduous campaign, the trust managed to shift 48 owners and tenants of shops near the temple complex to the multi-storeyed commercial complex. The state government came up with the ambitious scheme with a view to add attractions for tourists in the city.

About Rs 28 crore were kept for land acquisition, but the cost shot up to nearly Rs 35 crore, and Rs 22 crore were kept in reserve for raising infrastructure, but the cost escalated to Rs 40 crore.

As per the norms, the owners of the residential area were paid at the rate of Rs 18,000 per sq yard and the commercial space went for about Rs 60,000 per sq yard.

Amritsar, September 29
Around 160 patients were given medicines free of cost at the Department of Cardiology of Government Medical College here on World Heart Day today.

The patients were given medicines that will be sufficient for a month, said Professor and Head, Department of Cardiology, Dr Adarsh Kumar.

Dr Adarsh Kumar also shared tips with the patients about keeping heart problems at bay.

He said that a sedentary life style, smoking, intake of alcohol, physical inactivity are the basic causes of heart problems.

He said Punjabis due to their gastronomic habits were at a greater risk of contracting heart problems. “We have not changed our food habits, which were fit for a hardworking person three to four decades ago. Now since life has become easy and the work culture has deteriorated, more and more people are suffering from heart ailments,” he said.

Amritsar, September 29
An investigation into the sale of fake medicines of a multinational brand in the local market by the drug wing of the Health Department has revealed that these were supplied by a firm based in Agra.

The drug wing had earlier sealed the shop of a retailer operating from the Tarn Taran road for supplying these fake medicines to at least three shops in the city.

On a request by a retailer to inspect the shop premises, the team found more than a dozen strips of the medicine. The department has sent the samples of the seized medicines for testing.

Sources in the department revealed that though the medicines were seized from the shop, the shop owners had refused to sign the statement given to the team officials.

Further investigation will require an inspection of PP Pharma, an Agra-based firm whose name was revealed by owner of the shop on the Tarn Taran road, Raman Kumar.

The shop owners have also supplied the bank account number of an Agra-based bank and the telephone numbers on which they used to get the medicine.

Officials of the Health Department here stated that as the matter concerned another state, they had sent a report to the state officials for action.

Earlier a multinational medicine manufacturing company had approached the local Health Department on September 26, stating that the counterfeit of a medicine manufactured by them was being sold in the city.

Later, a health team had recovered the counterfeit medicines from three shops in city. The medicines seized from all these shops were sent for testing. It was revealed that fake medicines weresupplied by a firm based in Agra.

Amritsar, September 29
Though the police have detected a couple of illegal stores hoarding firecrackers in various areas of the city, traders involved in the business term it as a “tip of the iceberg”.

Ahead of Dasehra and Diwali, a section of the traders are resorting to illegal hoarding of firecrackers. Besides, illegal units are manufacturing firecrackers from their makeshift workshops.

An illegal store of firecrackers was raided in the Tehsilpura area recently. Traders, on condition of anonymity, said high profit lured people to this business. Some of the traders procured illegally manufactured crackers, which came cheap as such units did not pay any kind of tax.

As per rules, the Deputy Commissioner’s office issues licences to store firecrackers. Since the manufacturing of firecrackers falls under the explosives category, it is directly looked after by the Union Governemnt’s Explosive Department, which has its office in Chandigarh.

There have been mishaps in the past which have claimed human lives. We talk to the authorities about the action being initiated against these units and traders.

With festive season gearing up as Dasehra is round the corner, the sale of crackers is steadily going up in the market.

Even as the bulk of the demand for crackers is procured from states in south India, many unscrupulous elements work under cover to produce these.

These illegal firecracker manufacturing units, using crude methods, do not follow any safety norms, leading to tragedies like a blast in an illegal firecracker unit in 2009 and two teenagers losing their lives in the blast. Notably, the illegal unit had been run by an SPO. Similarly, another accidental blast had taken place at an unauthorised unit in the Chheharta area a some years ago.

Activist of the “Bachpan Bachao Andolan” Deepak Kumar stated that the matter of concern was also that a majority of these units employ children and women as labourers to curtail investment cost and pocket maximum profit.

In order to escape the long arm of the law, these units work surreptitiously and do not observe safety norms, which many a time cost dear to employees. Since the festive season of Diwali is fast approaching, illegal fire cracker units have reportedly got active in the city.

In the distant past, several incidents of explosions at these factories, especially located in the Anngarh area, have taken place, but the authorities have failed to stop the proliferation of such units. Known for bootlegging and drug addiction, Anngarh is also known as “mini-Sivakasi” of the district due to a large number of illegal firework and cracker units having surfaced there from time to time.

Many more illegal units mushroom around the festival season of Diwali in other parts of the city also. What makes it tough for the police is the fact that several residents have migrated to other parts of the city to avoid being caught. They, thereby, take the skills of this life-threatening occupation along with them.

An illegal factory in Chheharta area of the city had caught fire some years ago. A police inquiry later revealed that the family had migrated from Anngarh.

Amritsar, September 29
Navratras are no longer just about devotion. They are as much about food, festivities and dandiya. While the latter doesn’t quite find space to fit in, the food and festivities are on a high.

To spice up fasting during the Navratras, special menu and recipes are on offer by city hotels and restaurants that give the traditional thali a twist. While the specifics include kuttu or singhara flour, potatoes and milk delicacies, the ‘satvik’ menu gets a makeover with all major restaurants coming up with tempting options. “Our special menu comprises of traditional and global flavours like sabudana potato tikki, aijwaini arbi, pumpkin sabzi and coconut laddoos and sabudana kheer. We also have started a buffet for navratras for a variety of recipes,” says Krishan Chauhan, F&B manager, Country Inn. Served with special sabudana papad and sweet flavoured lassi, the fasting will definitely turn into feasting.

Some joints have also come up with slight innovations like Café OZ, which had special recipes like pumpkin and potato pancakes with chilli orange reduction, tomato and peanut salad, banana dumplings, broccoli chimmichuri, roasted pumpkin soup and many more. The specials inside the busy bylanes of the walled city include ‘kuttu poori’ served with ‘aloo dahiwale’, paneer makhani, aaloo sabudana tikki, carrot kofta with yogart curry, the umpteen chaats and chutneys add flavours unmatched.

Of course, there are special offers for those with a sweet tooth, like ‘parsi malai kulfi’, kesar elaichi lassi and ‘makhane ki kheer’ found inside the famous corners of walled city. The Jain food thali at Bombay Chaat joint with its colourful fill of panner bhurji, salad raita and sabudana kheer is a staple Navratra food. While Navratras means gorging on loads of fruits and greens, it is an absolutely perfect time to loose the extra kilos, that is if you are not tempted.

Amritsar, September 29
One of the reasons for the faulty planning of public utility services is the lack of public participation. The city residents believe that the authorities concerned should take public opinion into account before planning any new project. Another section of the public says accountability of officials under whose supervision the project is executed should be affixed. They should be held responsible in case of any lapse.

Amritsar, September 29
Students of Chintpurni Medical College announced to continue their strike at the Government Medical College here against the government till they were shifted to other medical institutions in the state.

The students said Vice-Chancellor of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) had sent a letter to the state government for shifting students to other colleges on August 28.

They alleged that the state government was not taking any action as the chairman of the college was a Swaran Salaria, senior BJP leader, as shown by the college website.

The students alleged that as the state’s Medical Education and Research Minister also belonged to the BJP, so the government was not shifting students to other colleges as recommended by the VC of the BFUHS.

President of the GMC Medical Students Association, Navpreet Aulakh, said local medical students were supporting the protesting students. He said the protest also enjoyed support of the Indian Medical Students Association.

The students demanded that the MCI, which had earlier de-recognised Chintpurni Medical College, should give a written assurance that their degrees would be valid and given on time. 

Amritsar, September 29
A Four-day Zonal Youth Festival of government colleges, constituent colleges and associate institutes, affiliated with Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), was inaugurated at Dashmesh Auditorium here today.

As many as 400 student-artistes are participating in 34 items of music, theatre, dance, literary and fine arts. The festival will conclude on Thursday.

Dr Amandeep Kaur, MD, Amandeep Hospital, inaugurated the festival by lighting a candle.

Dr RK Mahajan, Dean, College Development Council, was the guest of honour. Dr Jagjit Kaur, director, Youth Welfare Department, welcomed the chief guest and student artistes. She gave details of the activities to be undertaken during the Youth Festival.

Dr Amandeep Kaur said these festivals provided a platform to youth to explore our rich cultural heritage. She also expressed her concern over the pollution of music due to western influence.

Dr Mahajan exhorted students to participate in these festivals for their overall personality development.

Meanwhile, Dr Jagjit Kaur also presented mementos to Dr Amandeep Kaur and Dr Mahajan.

The festival started with bhangra followed by group shabad/bhajan, group song (Indian), fancy dress, mime, vaar, kawishri and fine arts. Competitions will be held for skit, one act play, folk song, geet/gazal, classical instrument (percussion) and classical vocal on Tuesday.

Competitions for one act play, mimicry, elocution, poetical symposium, debate, rangoli and phulkari will be organised on Wednesday.

On Thursday, the last day of the festival, quiz, giddha and group dance competitions will be organised, followed by a prize distribution function.

Amritsar, September 29
Punjab State Rural Games for girls (under-16) were declared open by Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat at Guru Nanak Stadium here today.

He took salute from 2,400 participants who marched in colorful track suits provided by the Sports Department. Later, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Inderbir Singh Bolaria joined the proceedings and gave away prizes to winners.

Director, Sports, Punjab, Tajinder Singh Dhaliwal, welcomed guests and others present on the occasion. Assistant Director, Sports, Rupinder Singh, encouraged the participants to show their best.

Navjeet Kaur, Arpandeep Kaur (athletics), Muskan Vij and Anita Sachdeva carried the games torch. Arpandeep Kaur (athletics) took oath on behalf of the participants. A cultural programme was also held on the occasion, which included a gymnastics show.

Results

Gurpreet Kaur of Sangrur clinched gold, Anamika of Hoshiarpur won silver and Rupinder Kaur of Tarn Taran got bronze in 800m race. In high jump Navjot Kaur of Sangrur bagged gold, Parmjit Kaur won silver and Harmandeep Kaur of Patiala got bronze. In 100m finals Nikita of Muktsar Sahib clinched gold, Harsimranjit Kaur of Tarn Taran won silver and Khusdeep Kaur of Bathinda got bronze. In shotput Arpandeep Kaur of Amritsar won gold, Paramjit Kaur of Patiala won silver and Kanwarveer Kaur of Amritsar got bronze.

In the pre-quarter finals of basketball Moga defeated Ropar 26-23, Amritsar ousted Patiala 39-19 and Mansa beat Hoshiarpur 39-14.

Mukatsar Sahib ousted Kapurthala 8-6, Fazilka defeated Fatehgarh Sahib 17-14 and Sangur ousted Mohali in the pre-quarter final matches of handball.

In the pre-quarter final matches of volleyball Amritsar outclassed Hoshiarpur 3-0, Faridkot defeated Bathinda 3-0 and reached the quarter finals.

In football pre-quarter finals Faridkot ousted Moga 4-1, Amritsar outplayed Muktsar Sahib 3-0 and Tarn Taran defeated Ropar 1-0.

In kabaddi SBS Nagar defeated Fatehgarh Sahib 41-25, Tarn Taran ousted Kapurthala 23-3, Hoshiarpur defeated Faridkot 64-35 and Mansa beat Fazilka 48-30.

Amritsar, September 29
The Tarsikka police have booked Jagjit Singh, a resident of Shahpur Khurd village, for allegedly trying to rape a 19-year-old girl.

The victim’s mother in her statement to the Amritsar rural police alleged that her daughter was alone at home when the accused gained entry in the house by jumping over the wall. She alleged that the accused tried to rape her daughter. She said her daughter raised an alarm following which she immediately reached the spot. Investigating officer Tarsem Singh said a case under Sections 376, 511, 452 and 506 of the IPC has been registered against the accused, who is on the run. —TNS