Amritsar, November 10
After protests by residents of several colonies around the Bhagtanwala against the dumping of garbage in their area, now it was the turn of the Chabaal residents, especially students and the faculty of Chief Khalsa Diwan Nursing College, who staged a protest as the Municipal Corporation (MC) started dumping garbage near the college.

On the MC records, the dumping site adjoining the nursing college was left abandoned after a site in Bhagtanwala was chosen for the dumping of waste. After the residents of Bhagtanwala restricted the entry of MC vehicles to their locality, the dumpyard near the was utilised for the purpose.

The college staff, along with the residents of the nearby localities, submitted a memorandum to the Mayor against the MC move.

SAD takes swipe at BJP
Several SAD leaders, including CPS Inderbir Bolaria and SAD urban district chief Upkar Singh Sandhu, lashed out at its alliance partner BJP, especially Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora, for being unable to resolve the issue at Bhagtanwala. They said it was the moral duty of the MC to redress the grievances of the Bhagtanwala residents but as they had failed to do so, they would take up the matter with the Punjab Government. On the other hand, Mayor Arora said, “It was me who took up the Bhagtanwala issue with the Deputy CM during his recent visit to the city. Bolaria and other SAD leaders were then present. The Deputy CM had directed the department concerned to release Rs 5 crore for the construction of a boundary wall around the dumpyard and to increase the green cover.”

Volunteers of an NGO carry out a cleanliness drive at the Ranjit Avenue market in Amritsar on Monday. A Tribune photograph

Amritsar, November 10
The eco-warriors in the city have taken up the fight against pollution and waste disposal. Several NGO’s are adopting residential as well as public places in the city.

The Voice of Amritsar carried out its campaign of clean Amritsar in the A-block market of Ranjit Avenue on Sunday afternoon. All executive members of the VOA participated in the campaign and cleaned the footpath and corridors of the market. The NGO is actively supporting the dustbin campaign. The volunteers placed dustbins at several public places to discourage littering.

“The campaign is one of the many which the VOA carries out from time to time to make the people aware of their responsibility towards the city. Its important to realise that people can change their surroundings, their cities and eventually the country,” said Seenu Arora , president of the VOA.

Resolving to carry the Sawachh Bharat Campaign to its logical conclusion, the NGO will increase the green cover outside the railway station where garbage is being dumped by small kiosks. The NGO has also resolved to continue its awareness campaigns across the social fabric of Amritsar and engage more people, especially youth in its campaigns.

Working on a similar concept, the Dilbir Foundation, another NGO, has several plans. The DF has taken the responsibility of maintaining Kichlew Chowk, one of the busiest areas in the city.

“The psychedelic disco lighting of Hall Gate mars the legacy of our city and it is the need of the hour to respect this legacy. New developments must be in sync with the rich tradition of Amritsar,” said Gunbir, president of the NGO. They have also initiated the Artists for Amritsar’s Transformation (AFAT) programme. “The Mayor too supports our endevour and we are willing to take up many more sites and roundabouts in the city,” said Gunbir.

Earlier in the year, volunteers made efforts to clean Nehru Shopping Complex at Lawrance Road and Rattan Singh Chowk, which are one of the dirtiest areas in the city. The impact has been phenomenal with more people joining them everyday.

Amritsar, November 10
Two persons were killed in separate road accidents in the past 24 hours. The deceased were identified as Satish Kumar of Tilak Nagar and Kulwinder Singh of Mehta.

Satish Kumar was accompanied by Ravinder Kumar when their car was hit by a tractor-trailer near Rayya on the National Highway-I. Ravinder Kumar of Guru Nanak Colony said Satish was immediately rushed to a private hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The Beas police have registered a case under Sections 304-A, 337 and 338 of the Indian Penal Code against the unidentified driver of the tractor-trailer and the investigation into the case is on.

Meanwhile, Kulwinder Singh (22), a resident of Mehta, was killed when a speedy truck collided with his car near Chougawan village. He was accompanied by his father Kewal Singh and a relative.

Kewal Singh stated to the police that they were returning to their native place from Amritsar when a speedy truck hit their car. The victims were rushed to the hospital where Kulwinder died.

The unknown driver of the truck managed to escape from the spot, leaving the truck behind.

A case under Sections 304-A, 279, 427, 337 and 338 of the Indian Penal Code has been registered in this connection and the investigation is on. 

Amritsar, November 10
The Mata Kaushalya Kalyan Yojana, a scheme initiated by the state government to promote institutional deliveries, is facing tough times due to the paucity of funds for the past four months.

The pregnant women, opting for delivery at government health institutions in the state, are paid Rs 1,000 as award under the scheme. Due to the paucity of funds, the beneficiaries are not being paid the money.

Around 1,000 deliveries take place in government hospitals every month, of which almost half are conducted by the Jallianwala Bagh Martyrs Memorial Civil Hospital.

The hospital staff said, “The beneficiaries think that the hospital employees are trying to pocket the money. The government should provide funds as soon as possible.” The government health institutions had faced the similar problem last December.

Apart from the Mata Kaushalyaa Kalyan Yojna, every pregnant woman belonging to the BPL (below poverty line) family is awarded Rs 600 under the Janani Suraksha Yojna by the Central Government. Meanwhile, a senior official of the department said funds would be provided within next a few days. He said, “ Whenever funds are available, the money will be distributed among the beneficiaries.”

Amritsar, November 10
Alleging illegal sale of judicial and non-judicial stamp papers by vendors at exorbitant rates, the Rights, an NGO, today submitted a memorandum to District and Sessions Judge Gurbir Singh and urged him to direct the district administration to take an appropriate action against the vendors.

Aman Prashar, an advocate and the chairman of the organisation, along with Bar Association president Parminder Sethi and others, alleged that there was rampant sale of judicial and non-judicial stamp papers at higher rates by the vendors.

He said the vendors were charging 20 to 30 per cent higher rates despite the fact that they were getting their due commission as prescribed by the state government for selling the same. “As per our findings, hundreds of petitioners spend Rs 50,000 more than the actual cost every day,” Prashar said.

He urged the District and Session Judge to take a suo motto notice of their memorandum and issue necessary directions to the Deputy Commissioner in this regard. He also requested to open a window near the Bar Office, suvidha centre or at any other place in the tehsil complex for the sale of judicial and non-judicial stamp papers on control rates. 

Amritsar, November 10
Members of the Private College Non-Teaching Employees’ Union today staged a protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office in support of their demands.

District unit president Ramesh Thakur said they were forced to adopt the path of agitation as the state government did not honour its promises. He said a meeting of the representatives of the union was held with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in Chandigarh on September 24.

He claimed that in the meeting, the CM had promised to give arrears from January 1, 2006 to July 31, 2010, implement revised grade from January 1, 2011, house rent allowance and medical allowance. He resented that not a single notification was issued in this regard so far.

Their other demands included immediate lifting of recruitment ban in private-aided colleges, release of arrears from January 1, 2006, gratuity and pension for the employees on pay parity, starting of leave encashment, implementation of 4-9-14 step up increment and introduction of CCA allowance and rural allowance.

Amritsar, November 10
Arvinder Soni, a goldsmith and a resident of Uttar Pradesh, has gone missing under mysterious circumstances. His family filed a complaint with the Sultanwind police, suspecting that the owners of the shop where he worked, may have killed him. Parvesh Chopra, SHO, said though the investigations was underway, no case had been registered so far. He said call details of the victim’s mobile phone were being scrutinised.

In a complaint to the police, Raghubir Dyal Soni, brother of Arvind, stated that they worked at a shop, located near Tahli Wala Chowk, which is famous for gold jewellery, especially nose pins. He said the last month his brother came to the city with pure gold and gave it to the the jeweller who called him on October 29. He said his brother Arvinder visited the shop that day but did not return home. He said he talked to his brother on October 29 evening last time. He suspected that the jeweller had killed him and grabbed all the gold. The jeweller, however, refuted the charges while adding that Arvinder left the shop after taking the gold. 

Amritsar, November 10
City residents are inconvenienced and even annoyed by persistent noise pollution but they are being forced to live with it.

Blaring pressure horns being used by heavy vehicles and motorbikes, diesel run generator sets operating without canopies, DJs and public address systems are the major sources of noise pollution in the city.

Officialspeak
The matter of using generators without canopies for residential and commercial purposes is with the National Green Tribunal. Moreover, its use is so rampant that it is difficult to implement the norms. The PPCB office here has a machine to check noise pollution. Officials carry out checking and issue challans to the violators whenever it is required.
— Kuldeep Singh, senior executive engineer, Punjab Pollution Control Board

Amritsar, November 10
The Punjab Rural Education Promotion Council (PREPC) felicitated distinguished teachers with Dr Gian Boparai Memorial Award at a state-level function held at Guru Ramdaas Senior Secondary School today.

The award carries a cash prize of Rs 5,100, a memento and a citation. The awardees were Sunita Sharma (Hoshiarpur), Simrat Kaur (Gurdaspur), Ajay Kumar (Muktsar), Balbir Singh (Fatehgarh Sahib), Ranjit Singh Azaad (Sangrur), Vinay Sharma (Fazilka), Pardeep Singh (Fazilka) and Tripta Rani (Ludhiana).

Dr SS Pawaar, secretary general of the Council, was conferred with the lifetime achievement award.

The function was chaired by Vice Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, Dr Ajaib Singh Brar. Dr Brar elaborated on the contribution of Guru Nanak Dev University in setting up regional centres of education for the rural populace.

Dr RPS Boparai, former medical superintendent and Head of Orthopaedics of Guru Nanak Dev Hospital/Government Medical College and Sri Guru Ramdas Hospital Research and Medical Institute and former president of the council, congratulated the awardees on their brilliant performance and lauded the role of council in the last 20 years in organising hundreds of seminars, declamation contests, summer camps and various other educational activities, besides award ceremonies for meritorious students and dedicated teachers.

Former Vice Chancellor of Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana, Dr Manjit Singh Kang, the present president of the council, elaborated on the future role of the council for the cause of rural education.

The general secretary of the council, Amarjit Singh, thanked the invitees. The function concluded with a skit against drug addiction played by students of Laalpur International School and directed by Sakattar Singh.

Amritsar, November 10
A sub-centre of the community policing resource centre (CPRC) set up by the city police at Brij Bhushan Mehra Chowk at the Mall Road-Batala Road intersection was inaugurated here today.

ADCP (Traffic) Dhurman Nimble, besides district community policing officer, BS Randhawa, were present on the occasion.

The sub-centre was opened following the directions of the Punjab Government to boost police-public coordination.

Prabodh Chander Bali, a noted social and RTI activist, who is instrumental in opening of the sub-centre, said the sub-centre would provide all the services provided by the CPRCs established by the Punjab Government. The services notified under the RTS Act are provided by Police Department at a fixed fee.

Amritsar, November 10
As many as 41 students from various schools of the city, in the age group of 7-12 years, participated in 10th North India SIP Abacus, Mental Arithmetic and Brain Gym Competition held in Noida on November 9, 2014.

In the contest, 1,372 students from Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh, UP, Rajasthan and Delhi participated to show their mathematical abilities. City students bagged 17 trophies in various levels, including three championship trophies.

Gurpej Singh and Harsimran Kaur of Sri Guru Harkrishan Senior Secondary School bagged the champion trophies in level seven and level two respectively.

Kajol of Spring Dale School bagged the champion trophy in level one.

Moreover, 14 students from Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School, Manav Public and Model Studies got the runners up trophies in their respective levels.

These students solved 120 multiplications mentally within three minutes. Gurdeep Kaur, area head of SIP Academy, India, prepared the students to compete in arithmetic competitions.

Running her own academy, Brawny Brains in the city, she is preparing more than 500 students for national mathematic competitions.

The selected students will participate in 11th National Contest of SIP Abacus in Bangalore on November 23, 2014, where more than 5,000 students will participate from across the country.

Amritsar, November 10
BBK DAV College for Women has won both powerlifting and weightlifting inter-college championship trophies held at DAV Complex here recently.

In the powerliftting championship, BBK DAV College for Women defeated HMV College Jalandhar, BD Arya Girls College Jalandhar and GNDU Campus.

Navjot, Poonam, Manpreet, Zeba and Pooja of the college won gold medals in 47kg, 57kg, 63kg, 84kg and +84 kg weight categories, respectively.

In the weightlifting championship, BBK DAV College for Women defeated HMV College Jalandhar, RG College Phagwara, SD College Dinanagar and BD Arya College, Jalandhar.

Manpreet Kaur, Navjot, Manpreet and Manpreet Kaur, of the college won gold medals in 58kg, 48kg, 63kg and +75 kg weight categories, respectively.

Eight players of the college — Poonam, Manpreet, Zeba, Pooja, Manpreet, Navjot, Karamjeet and Manpreet have been selected for the All-India Inter-varsity Powerlifting and Weightlifting Championship to be held at PTU in December.

Powerlifter Poonam of the college created a record in 165 kg squat and also won a silver medal in a senior national championship held in Mangalore. Pooja won a silver and Zeba won a bronze medal in senior national championship.

College principal Dr Neelam Kamra congratulated the winners for bringing laurels to the college and appreciated the efforts of the staff.

Amritsar, November 10
The Department of Bachelor of Fashion and Textile Designing and the Postgraduate Department of Fashion Designing and Merchandising organised a one-day UGC sponsored national seminar on “Fashion design and textile technology – A progression route towards higher education”, at BBK DAV College for Women here recently.

The aim of the seminar was to highlight the need to amalgamate visual forms with technology and enhance curriculum to meet the needs of the changing trends in the fashion industry.

Dr Tarundeep Kaur, Deputy Commissioner (Income Tax Department), Amritsar, who was the chief guest on the occasion, emphasised on women empowerment through various academic and non-academic channels.

Poonam Rampal, head, Department of Fashion Designing and Rita Kant, Assistant Professor, Institute of Fashion Technology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, delivered the key note address. 

Amritsar, November 10
With the help of the Environment and Social Welfare Society, an eye check-up camp was organised on the premises of the Amritsar Central Jail. Besides, jail staff members carried out a cleanliness drive in the jail under the Swachh Bharat campaign and planted ornamental plants at the entrance of the jail.

As many as 387 patients, including 87 women, were examined during the camp.

Medical Officer Dr Amritapal Singh said medicines were distributed and 17 patients were identified who needed surgical treatment. They will be operated upon at the Civil Hospital and Government Medical College.

Superintendent RK Sharma said as part of the Swacch Bharat Abhiyaan, the entire jail premises was cleaned up by the staff members and garbage was properly disposed of.

Amritsar: DAV Public School has won the District Science Fair organised by the NCERT and the District Science Supervisor. The science fair was held at Government Senior Secondary School, Shivala Road. The main theme of the science fair was ‘Science and Mathematics for a Sustainable World’. The school presented a working model under the sub–theme ‘Waste Management and Landmark in Science and Maths’.

As many as 165 schools participated in the science fair in which more than 300 models were displayed.

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