Lack of vigil, maintenance make elevated road risky
Amritsar, October 22
Yesterday’s fatal accident has once again brought to light the rather negligent attitude of the administration as well as the police authorities towards maintaining proper vigil and improving the dilapidated condition of the elevated road that is built on the Amritsar-Jalandhar GT Road.

Medical college students to observe black Diwali
Amritsar, October 22
Away from their homes, students of Chintpurni Medical College are all set to observe ‘Black Diwali’, as the state government is yet to pay heed to their demand for shifting them to other colleges.

Amritsar, October 22
The inauguration of the Golden Temple Entrance Plaza by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has generated mixed response from the pilgrims. Some pilgrims have hailed the facility while others felt that it should have a green belt and sheds to facilitate the visitors in summers.

Pilgrims said the plaza had imparted a beautiful look to the entrance but it would have been better if it had been beautified with plants. They also complained about the problem of garbage dumped near the plaza.

Huge piles of garbage were seen on the streets leading to the entrance plaza through Katra Ahluwalia.

While talking to Amritsar Tribune, Dr Amrik Singh, a visitor from Dera Baba Nanak said, “The facility with underground parking will be a boon for the visitors. It has imparted a better look to the entrance.”

The previous entry to the Golden Temple was congested and ever since the work on plaza had begun, it had turned narrower.

Another visitor Baljinder Singh said, “The project was delayed for long. It is good that it has been inaugurated.”

He said the need for a spacious entrance was being felt for long due to a huge rush of pilgrims. The plaza would be able to provide a spacious place for the huge rush of pilgrims, he added.

A few pilgrims also criticised the planners for overlooking the need for sheds and trees for shade. Surjit Singh, another pilgrim, said the marbled floor of the plaza should be covered with sheds or fibre sheets to provide comfort to the pilgrims during the summer season.

“As pilgrims are usually bare feet, the hot marble during summers will not be comfortable for them,” he said, adding that it would be better if some shade is provided.

Retried sub inspector Gurcharan Singh said people were happy with the change. “The pilgrims are delighted to see the spacious entrance,” he said, adding that the surroundings of the plaza should also be managed better.

He said people could see garbage scattered on the roads leading to the Golden Temple, which is not a good thing.

Amritsar, October 22
The city police have been facing a precarious situation as the CCTV footage they have managed to get in several incidents of robbery and snatching has proved to be of any help.

Though the Police Department is instructing shop owners, commercial establishments, including banks, to install CCTV cameras so that they could get some clues related to crimes committed over there, these cameras are hardly serving any purpose due to the poor quality of video which they provide.

In a recent incident, two motorcycle-borne youths snatched a chain from a woman who had gone to leave her niece to a tuition centre in the Kullu Da Akhara area coming under the Division C police station.

Miscreants seem to have no fear of law as they openly came inside the tuition centre to snatch her chain. The police, however, managed to get the CCTV footage from the neighbouring residential complex in which two youths were captured while they were fleeing from the spot.

However, the police failed to make any breakthrough in the case so far. Thanks to the blurred video footage that proved to be hardly of any help for the police.

In a similar incident that occurred a couple of days ago, a dry fruit trader was robbed of Rs 1.50 lakh in the posh Rani Ka Bagh area. In this incident also, the police managed to get the CCTV footage of the culprits involved in the crime. But the footage failed to solve the purpose.

A similar incident was reported last month outside the residence of city Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora. He himself lodged a complaint with the police commissioner and handed him over the CCTV footage of the culprits escaping away after committing the crime.

However, the police have failed to achieve any breakthrough in the incident so far.

City residents have pointed out that the Police Department had repeatedly instructed the commercial establishments to install CCTV cameras but due its own shoddy investigations or call it lackadaisical approach, the miscreants go scot free.

“What the residents should do now. Trusting the police for maintaining the law and order has become big question,” said Sanjay Sharma, a city resident.

Police Commissioner Jatinder Singh Aulakh said the CCTV footage was usually of poor quality and smudged. Therefore it had become very difficult to identify the culprits and even read the number plates of their bikes, he added.

“As far as the number of snatching and robberies are concerned, it has come down since I assumed the charge. However, the police officials are on their toes to identify and arrest the miscreants involved in these incidents,” he said.

Amritsar, October 22
Yesterday’s fatal accident has once again brought to light the rather negligent attitude of the administration as well as the police authorities towards maintaining proper vigil and improving the dilapidated condition of the elevated road that is built on the Amritsar-Jalandhar GT Road.

An auto-rickshaw negotiates a turn while coming from the wrong side on the elevated road in Amritsar. photo: vishal kumar

MC safai karamchari Raj Kumar was crushed to death by a speeding car and in the absence of any police vigil, the culprit was able to run away from the spot. Had there been CCTV cameras, he could have been traced.

Secondly, in the absence of any check, commuters normally take the wrong turns to shorten their distance, risking their own lives and those of others.

The elevated road has always been in the news for its potholes and worn out condition. This appears to be the primary cause of the accidents, as the fast moving vehicles tend to get out of control here.

It is an irony that the state government had spent around Rs 230 crore on the construction of this 3.5-km stretch, but due to lack of maintenance, it has become a risky patch for travellers.

In March, the incident, which had claimed the lives of two motorcycle-borne persons and left a couple of people injured when a speeding car knocked them down from behind, made the police as well as the administration swung into action.

Special barricades were placed in between the vulnerable points, special warning boards of speed limit were placed and extra police personnel were deputed over the whole stretch. But, this exercise could not last longer than two-three months and things came to naught after that.

At present, when the whole police force has been deputed at key locations and flag march is being conducted in the wake of festive season, the whole elevated road is still kept unmanned.

Barricades are no longer there, speed limit boards have been damaged and the stretch has become risky. It has become quite slippery with sand, pebbles and even brick-like concrete broken slabs have been lying abandoned by the roadside.

Residents said even the lights on the elevated road were defunct, due to which many snatching incidents have occurred. Some miscreants also create disturbance while youths on motorbikes display stunts after getting drunk during evenings.

The risky affair is also attributed to the faulty design because the drains remain choked due to want of cleanliness. Even as MC officials claimed that they had got the road repaired from time to time, the ground realities speak otherwise and accidents continue to take place on the elevated road.

Perched on 17.2-metre wide single pier, the elevated road was constructed in 2010-11 to benefit tourists and pilgrims visiting important places in the city, including the Golden Temple, the Durgiana Temple, Jallianwala Bagh and the Wagha Border. Yet, far from serving its purpose of easing traffic snarls, the road has proved to be a death track with commuters losing their lives in accidents.

Amritsar, October 22
Away from their homes, students of Chintpurni Medical College are all set to observe ‘Black Diwali’, as the state government is yet to pay heed to their demand for shifting them to other colleges.

The students said they would not go to their home to celebrate Diwali but would light candles near the home of Research and Medical Education Minister Anil Joshi. The students accused the minister of not fulfilling his promise to shift them to other colleges.

The students stated that they were given an assurance by Joshi and even the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal of finding a solution to their problem. The students had started their protest outside the Government Medical College here 26 days ago. They had been observing a chain hunger strike for the past 14 days but have failed to move the government.

The students alleged that the government was shying away from taking the decision, as the college belongs to Swaran Salaria, a known BJP leader.

They said they would not take the examinations as there was no point in completing the degree from a de-recognised college.

The students action committee, in a press release, stated that the Punjab and Haryana High Court in its orders dated September 16, 2014 had stated that the government has to send a proposal to shift the students to other colleges or take over the college within 8 weeks of the passing of the judgement.

The students said they had no hope from the politicians and were now waiting for the High Court’s next hearing after lapse of 8 weeks time.

Amritsar, October 22
At New Amritsar’s makeshift crackers’ market this Diwali, there is an exclusive stall which has displayed an array of products made by inmates of the Amritsar Central jail.

This noble initiative was jointly conceptualised by Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat and Amritsar jail Superintendent RK Sharma.

Sharma said that products that had been put on display for sale, included soft toys, assorted candles, embroidered ladies suits and undergarments for kids, bed sheets, carpets, woollen clothes, daris, and white sheets.

“The revenue earned from this collection will directly go to the account of the Prisoners’ Welfare Fund. The amount collected under this head is ploughed back for the benefit of prisoners only,” he said.

The Amritsar Jail in association with various government and non-government organisations launched a number of projects for empowerment of women prisoners.

The Home Science wing of the local Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in collaboration with India Vision Foundation has started a vocational training programme for women inmates.

KVK is a joint venture of ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) and Punjab Agricultural University.

Around 35 women inmates have been undergoing special vocational training programmes being taught by two teachers, Bharti and Heena. Both have been associated with the India Vision Foundation.

Under the scheme, the female inmates are taught how to weave, make toys, tie and dye, fabric painting, pot painting, dress designing, stitching and making embroidery items.

Similarly, for the male inmates, various training programmes are being conducted in the jail. Government Polytechnic, Amritsar, runs skill development courses.

Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat said the examination was conducted on the jail premises itself and the successful ones are issued degrees and certificates. 

Amritsar, October 22
A day before Diwali, firecracker traders who were allotted makeshift kiosks at New Amritsar area has been grappling with low sales. The administration has provided around 70 stalls to the traders, located in Jahajgarh area.

Inflation and awareness among the general public against bursting of crackers are some of the reasons attributed to low sales.

The shopkeepers at New Amritsar blamed the district administration for the mess. They complained that the administration, allotted them the space very late, and then it took several days for making kiosks at the designated shops.

Alleging nepotism,they alleged that 30 shopkeepers who were fighting a legal battle for setting up shops, were allotted kiosks at the very end of the market, while 20 new dealers were given shops on front side of the kiosks meant for selling the crakers.

During a visit to the market, The Tribune team found that majority of shops were presenting a deserted look and shopkeepers were seen standing outside their shops waiting for the customers.

Harinder Singh, one of the shopkeepers who has been fighting a legal case, said he was allotted shop No 38. Only a few customers have come to the market so far, and that too at the front shops. Customers do not prefer to visit the shops located at the end of the market.

Des Raj, another shopkeeper, said it took around a week for constructing a kiosk at the designated place and added that the poor response of the customers had left the shopkeepers high and dry.

“Every shopkeeper here has spent around Rs 80,000 to Rs 1 lakh for setting up the shop.The Amritsar Improvement Trust took Rs 28,000 for allotting a kiosk. Then we spend Rs 30,000 on the contruction of one kiosk. Now we fear we would not even earn our input cost ,” said the shopkeepers.

Only one day has left for Diwali and there is no customer. Usually we sell out our stocks a couple of days ahead of the festival and have to order for more. But this time, it has become difficult to sell what we have.

“There is no proper safety arrangements at the place. The market is located in a residential area. People burst crackers in the evening. There is a general fear among the shopkeepers that in case a firecracker fell on the open kiosk it would lead to loss to traders, said another trader while talking to Amritsar Tribune.

Amritsar, October 22
A talent hunt programme on creative skills ‘Kala-e-Noor’ was held at the Guru Nanak Dev University here today. The programme was organised by the Department of Life Long Learning of the University.

As many as 100 students participated in the event.

Prof Anish Dua, Professor-In-charge Public Relations, was the chief guest on the occasion.

Neetu, Director of Educational Consultancy and a corporate trainer, was the judge of the event.

Dr Gurpreet Kaur, director of the department, welcomed the guests.

Prof Dua appealed the students to be driven with positive spirit and encouraged them to enhance their skills.

The programme concluded with prize distribution.

Tejpal Kaur, programme assistant, Paramjit Kaur, Devika Kumari, Rubina Syal, Gursharan Kaur, Satnam Singh and Mahima Sharma were the guiding force for the students.

Amritsar, October 22
The process of the renewal of arms licences, mostly applied during May to August, has been completed. The district administration has asked the applicants to collect the licences on any working day at the earliest.

It has been learnt that till October 17, as many as 245 arms’ licences were renewed.

Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat said the applicants were also intimated through SMS. “They can get their renewed licences from the Suvidha Centre, Amritsar. A list of the holders has also been displayed at the centre, through which they can easily confirm and get their licences back after furnishing their details,” he said.

If anyone finds any difficulty, he or she can submit a complaint with the office of the Assistant Commissioner (General) or Assistant Commissioner (Grievances).

“No leniency can be tolerated at the Suvidha Centres. We will take action against employees who show negligence in performing their duties,” he said.

Amritsar, October 22
Two unidentified persons have been booked for firing gun shots at an LPG gas canter driver leaving him seriously injured. The accused sped away from the spot.

The incident occurred near Bhorsi Brahmna village that comes under Khilchian police station in the rural belt.

According to information, the unidentified culprits had demanded a gas cylinder from the victim after intercepting the canter bearing number HR-05-A-1977 that was on its way. The victim refused to accede to their demand.

Parveen Kumar, a resident of Rayya, told the police that he worked in Sindh Gas agency at Gunowal village. He said he along with his helper Rajvinder Singh had been going to deliver LPG cylinders at Bhorsi Rajputa village.

He said two youths with shorn hair intercepted the canter and demanded an LPG cylinder from him. He denied giving them the cylinder, he added.

Parveen said before he could understand anything, the accused took out a country-made pistol and shot at him hitting his right arm. After this, the accused fled the scene.

The Khilchian police have registered a case under Sections 307 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code and 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act against the unidentified persons.

The police authorities said investigation was in progress.

Amritsar, October 22
The UGC-NET eligibility test will be held on December 28, as per a notification issued by the University Grants Commission, New Delhi (UGC), on its website www.ugcnetonline.in.

Dr TS Banipal, Director of Research, Guru Nanak Dev University, said, “ The last date for applying online and generating bank challan to furnish the fee, is November 15. The details are available on the UGC website.”

“The candidates can submit the printout of online application forms, bank challan, attendance slip and category certificate (if any) in the Office of Director of Research, Physics Block, by November 25.