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Solar energy largely untapped
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Amritsar-Attari bypass
Amritsar Vikas Manch demands Aerocity for Amritsar
Three snatchers arrested, gang of robbers busted
City schools celebrate Children’s Day
Rare Act of Daredevilry 25 years
ago
No VIP duties for specialist docs
National Art Exhibition at Art Gallery to showcase 357 pieces of art
Education Department launches anti-copying drive in district
Sewerage project creates traffic snarls
Second day of the World Sikh Educational
Conference
Feedback
Man booked for raping woman
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Solar energy largely untapped
Amritsar, November 15 An industrialist, Raman Gupta, said the reason was an “indifferent” approach of the government in popularising solar energy and its economic benefits among the consumers. He said thousands of houses were being constructed every year, but not even one per cent houses are being covered under the solar energy, which was available in plenty. The state released a draft policy on net metering for solar energy in August 2013. The salient features of draft policies were that anyone can set up a solar rooftop facility within a capacity range of 1 kw and 500 kw, maximum capacity of the Roof Top Solar PV system shall not be more than 80 per cent of the sanctioned connected load, injection of power from the rooftop solar PV system shall not be more than 90 per cent of the consumption from the licensee’s supply by the consumer in a year. The Union Government is extending 33 per cent subsidy on installing of apparatus under the scheme. Net metering facility will be implemented for the consumers of the PSPCL, who intend to encourage solar green energy and set up solar PV plants at available places on rooftops. Individual households, industries, offices, commercial establishments, institutions, residential complexes and others were eligible for the project capacity from minimum 1 KW up to 500 KW with/ without battery back-up support. Consumers will generate solar power for self consumption and can feed excess power into the grid. Spurt in construction activity in the residential sector is visible on the Batala road, the Majitha road, the Ajnala road, Loharka, Fatehgarh Churriyan besides the Amrisar-Jalandhar GT roads. All these roads have seen arrival of a number of townships in the past some years apart from hundreds of unplanned localities. A construction material dealer, Harpinder Singh, said following a boom in construction activity, people were investing lakhs of rupees on construction of houses, but were not investing any money for saving on energy resources. He attributed this to lack of awareness among people and minimum efforts by the government and its agencies in this regard.
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Residents for public transport system
PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service
Amritsar, November 15 The residents are facing hardship due to non-availability of public transport from Manawala to Chheharta. There are private buses only or auto-rickshaws ply on the road, but from different routes and villages, thus making the journey cumbersome. “Either there are some buses operated by private players, which have different routes via villages, or a few autos having short trips. The main problem, which the residents of the localities around this road face is that they do not have any direct transport from start to end of this route. A resident, who wants to travel from start to end, has to break his journey at almost every 3-4 km and then catch the next bus to continue his journey to reach the destination,” said Prabodh C Bali, an activist of the Amritsar Civil Society, an NGO. They pointed out that a number of colonies and marriage resorts had mushroomed on the stretch and people had to go there to attend functions. Old citizens, women, patients and daily passengers are the worst sufferers. “Suppose, if someone is to reach from the city a private hospital near the Verka bypass on the road, there is no direct transport and if someone wants to move from Park Avenue to Ramtirth Road, there is no way out, except a private vehicle or to change at least six or seven private buses to cover a stretch of just 25 km, which causes extraordinary loss of time and money,” said Dr Sonia Kapoor. The Amritsar Civil Society has submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat in this regard and urged him to extend the city bus service on this route, i.e., from Manawala to Chheharta.
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Amritsar Vikas Manch demands Aerocity for Amritsar
Amritsar, November 15 AVM president Kulwant Singh Ankhi said members of the manch in a resolution passed at a meeting had unanimously demanded from Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to establish and develop an Aerocity in the vicinity of Sri Guru Ramdas Jee International Airport. Keeping in view the need and demands of passengers visiting the airport, the establishment and development of the Aerocity in Amritsar was the need of the hour,
he added. He said the airport was spread over 1,340 acres, besides 1,000 acres were under the control of Indian Air Force. New taxi way was under construction, which would be completed and operational very soon, he added. He said, “At present, category two instrumental landing system (ILS) is in use at Sri Guru Ramdas Jee International Airport. From next year, category 3 ILS will be used,
which is similar to the Delhi airport.” With the introduction of the system, fog (or smog) would not be any hindrance while landing of airplane, he added. He said landing of planes would be safe in all types of weather. Chandigarh airport was equipped
with only category one ILS, he added. The infrastructure provided at the Amritsar airport is better than that at the Delhi airport. It is expected that Qatar Airways will soon start Amritsar-Doha-Toronto flight, which is the long-pending demand of passengers from Punjab. ABC, a new company in aviation, is also planning domestic flights from Amritsar to Goa, Bengaluru, Pune, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Raipur, Surat etc. Etihad Airways is also reportedly planning to start Amritsar-Abu Dhabi-San Francisco flights very soon. Aerocity must possess the facility of shopping centre, six-lane roads, hospitals, institutions, banks, said Ankhi. “Foreign passengers demand is of an executive lounge equipped with paid facility. It is available at all international airports,” he added.
“It is a matter of concern that due to interest of the Punjab government Aerocity has been developed at nascent Mohali airport, which is yet to be fully operational. Meanwhile, there is no plan to establish Aerocity in Amritsar,” said
Ankhi.
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Three snatchers arrested, gang of robbers busted
Amritsar, November 15 HS Brar, ADCP (special), said during interrogation, the culprits had confessed to their involvement in around 15 snatching incidents. Recently, they had robbed Rs 1.50 lakh from a Hoshiarpur trader. He said the accused were now planning to loot Rs 5 lakh from a local trader and they had already conducted a recce in this regard. Investigations revealed that they were earlier held in Malout in a Rs 1.50-lakh robbery case and were currently on bail. While giving details, he said the police confiscated 260 gm narcotic powder from Hira while Rahul and Daljit were found in possession of 265 gm and 270 gm of intoxicant powder respectively. The country-made pistol of .32 bore was confiscated from Daljit. He said the police would seek their police remand and more robbery incidents were likely to be traced during further investigations. Jatinder Singh Aulakh, Police Commissioner, said a special campaign had been launched to arrest the snatchers. Regular instances of snatchings are being reported in the city, which had left the city residents, especially women and tourists, a worried lot. The Police Commissioner said recently a number of snatchers were arrested by the police and police officials had been told to keep an eye on the miscreants having past records.
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City schools celebrate Children’s Day
Amritsar, November 15 The school initiated the CAP to improve reading, writing and general knowledge of students. It also increases self confidence and helps in assessing behaviour of students. Government Girls Senior Secondary School,
Mall Road
A seminar on “Free legal awareness” and an essay writing competition was held at Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Mall Road, on the occasion of Children’s Day. The seminar was organised in collaboration with the District Legal Authority and Legal Literacy Club. The objective of the seminar was to enlighten
students about the Indian law. Chairman, District Legal Services Authority and District and Sessions Judge Gurbir Singh was the chief guest on the occasion. He said women need to realise their rights, only then they could attain their deserved position in society. He said every citizen must be self aware of these rights and their responsibilities towards nation. The District Legal Authority provided free services to people, who could not afford to get legal help due to shortage of funds or for any other reasons, he added. Secretary, District Legal Authority, Amritsar, Arun Aggarwal, said the Indian law gave equal rights to its citizens irrespective of the caste, creed or colour. Principal of the school, Mandeep Kaur, welcomed the chief guest and encouraged students to become responsible citizens. She motivated them to respect and follow the law. Students presented a folk dance on the occasion, which conveyed the message of making society aware of the law against female foeticide. Students who won in essay writing competition were given awards. In charge of
Legal Literacy Club, Mall Road, Mandeep Kaur, thanked everyone present on the occasion.
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Rare Act of Daredevilry 25 years
ago Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service
Amritsar, November 15 IMMA said on the basis of recommendations of the Search Committee the Council of Indian Mine Managers’ Association, it was decided to confer the IMMA Excellence Award 2014 commemorating the 25 years of the feat. Gill will be awarded during a ceremony to be held at Kunustoria in Jharkhand on December 12 . The West Bengal government has already appreciated his act by incorporating his tale in its text books for Marticulation. The Punjab government is yet to acknowledge bravery act of Jaswant Singh Gill for rescuing 65 labourers from a coal mine in Raniganj in West Bengal. Born in Jagdev Khurd village in Ajnala tehsil of Amritsar district, Gill received education from Khalsa College. He was declared Khalsa College blue for remaining the overall best student and player. On November 16, 1989, Gill, who was then working as general manager with Coal India Limited, heard screams of 71 miners trapped in a 110-foot deep water-logged coal mine. The inundation of the mine put the lives of all the miners in danger as all the entry and exits were closed. He devised a novel way of sending down a six-foot long iron capsule from a new bore hole. Putting his life in danger and displaying exemplary courage, he went inside the highly dangerous mine and rescued 65 miners. It took him seven hours to complete the rescue job during which he remained in the waterlogged mine. The courageous act instilled confidence among the onlookers, who also joined him in the rescue operation later, said Gill. However, he still rues that he could not save six other miners. Trained in mine rescue operations, he had put all his skills to use with audacity. The then President of India, Ramaswamy Venkataraman, had conferred the Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak, one of the highest civilian bravery awards, on Gill. He also earned the distinction of being the first and only employee of Coal India Limited to have been awarded by the President. Talking to the Amritsar Tribune, he said, “Almighty had desired that I perform this duty, which I did to the best of my abilities.” He said the action had definitely raised the image of Sikhs in the eyes of the residents of West Bengal.
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No VIP duties for specialist docs
Amritsar, November 15 The specialist doctors have been demanding from the government to issue instructions against their deployment on VIP duties. The department has a norm to send doctors as an emergency team during the visits of important personalities. However, when the specialists were sent on VIP duties, the patients requiring treatment in the same speciality at hospital suffered. As the department is already short of specialists of various categories, it has been facing difficulties in providing treatment in such OPDs. Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jiani had visited the Jallianwala Bagh Martyrs Memorial Civil Hospital and said that specialist doctors should be made available at the hospitals during the OPD hours. In view of this, they should not be sent on such duties. The specialist doctors’ community has hailed the move. A doctor said, “The VIP duties are sheer harassment. The doctors sent on such duties have nothing to do but wait for long hours. The government should change the norms.”
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National Art Exhibition at Art Gallery to showcase 357 pieces of art
Amritsar, November, 15 The exhibition was inaugurated by Kalyan Kumar Chakraborty, Chairman, Lalit Kala Akademi. The art works displayed belong to different genres of art — paintings, sketches, sculptures, murals, photographs and graphics. Emphasising on the need to encourage and promote artists as reflections of a developed society, Chakraborty, while addressing the audience during the inauguration, said, “We need to respect our artists and their work as they are thinkers, who shape the ideas and the emotions prevailing in the social set-up.” Chandigarh-based artist Santosh Kumar was awarded the Thakar Singh memorial award and Hisar-based artist Raj Kumar was given the Dharam Singh memorial award on the occasion. Other artists, who were felicitated, were city-based artist Surinder Singh and Patiala-based artist Balraj Singh Saini. A seminar where artists will be interacting with people will also be held during the exhibition. The exhibition will be on till December 15.
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Dograi Brigade organises ‘run for health’ at Khasa
Amritsar, November 15 As many as 300 children from Class IX to XII form various schools participated in the four-kilometre race. The marathon was flagged off by the Commander of Dograi Brigade, which culminated at Khasa military station. The participants raised slogans against rampant drug abuse. General Officer Commanding (GOC), Panther Division, along with chairperson of the Family Welfare Organisation (FWO) was also present on the occasion. They exhorted youth to adopt a healthy lifestyle bereft of drugs. On completion of the race, Neelakshi, a teacher of Army Public School, Amritsar, delivered a lecture on the perils of drug abuse, the approach to be adopted to treat drug addicts, which should be a mix of both deterrence and resurrection. Children also participated in on the spot slogan writing competition with enthusiasm. A drama was also staged by a troupe highlighting the serious consequences of drug addiction not just amongst youth, but on society as a whole. Prizes were distributed by the chairperson of the FWO, Panther Division, to 10 best runners and three top slogans conveying the mood of the theme. Local villagers lauded the efforts of the Army for bringing the focus of youth back to physical fitness and promoting health of society.
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Education Department launches anti-copying drive in district
Amritsar, November 15 He said the anti-copying drive, which was launched last year, has started giving positive results. Students were made aware about the menace of copying during the drive, added Bolaria. He said the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) was also taking stern action against examination centres, which were unable to prevent copying during examinations. The seminar was organised by the Education Department as a part
of its anti-copying drive in district. Finance and development officer of the PSEB, Gurtej Singh, said students who won in the essay competition, mini-marathon and other contests held under the anti-copying drive were also awarded. He said these students were from Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, besides Amritsar. State convener of the anti-copying campaign, Shruti Shukla, gave details of various activities carried out under the drive through a multimedia presentation. Teams from various schools in the city presented a cultural show on the occasion.
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Sewerage project creates traffic snarls
Amritsar, November 15 He said the road leading from Gate Khajana to Jhabal had been closed due to the ongoing project of laying sewerage from Gate Khajana to FCI godowns at Bharariwal. To avoid inconvenience to the commuters, heavy vehicular traffic going from Gate Khazana and Dhapai Road to Jhabla, Bhikhiwnd, Khemkaran side had been diverted to the route from Bhagtanwala to Ibban Kalan village for further journey, added Nimble. He said the two-wheeler traffic could take the route of Gate Hakima to Anngarh, Fatahpur to Jhabal Road and vice-versa. He urged the people to take the diverted route
for the smooth flow of traffic and avoid any trouble due to closing of Gate Khazana route.
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Second day of the World Sikh Educational
Conference Amritsar, November 15 CKD president Charanjit Singh Chadda said kirtan of “Aasa di Vaar” was performed by Bhai Ranjit Singh at the old-age home run by the society in the morning today. A Nagar Kirtan was also taken out today, which started from Maharaja Ranjit Singh Senior Secondary School. The Nagar Kirtan started after an ardas by Giani Gurbachan Singh, Jathedar of Sri Akal Takhat. It passed through different parts of the city. People put up langars at different points for the sangat from where the Nagar Kirtan passed. Flowers were showered on the Palki Sahib. Management and the staff of the CKD extended a warm welcome to the Nagar Kirtan. — TNS
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Inefficient civic
body
The adage “cleanliness is next to godliness” is true for all ages and regions. Amritsar has seen the golden days of cleanliness half a century ago. Thereafter the deterioration started in the state and the country. Filth, dust and pollution have spoilt the nature’s bounty. Over the period, the civic body has not been able to cope up with the expansion of the city and its ever increasing population. It has lead to deterioration of basic civic amenities. Sewers are faulty, remain choked, treatment plants are scanty and industrial effluents are released in open drains, which further contaminate the subsoil water. The rainwater drainage requires augmentation and upgradation. There is no systematic transformation in garbage collection and its disposal. The residents are agitated over the location of garbage dumps in the vicinity of their dwellings. All open spaces have turned into dump yards. Even parks have not been spared. The protest of the municipal staff against setting up of the solid waste management plants at Jalandhar and Patiala is not a good sign. Waste management and sewage treatment plants are a perquisite for maintaining a clean environment in the city. No doubt, civic bodies are meant to keep the city clean, but each resident will have to contribute in the cleanliness drive once the Municipal Corporation streamlines the system. Something worthwhile must be done to encourage people’s participation in keeping their surroundings clean. Hardish Kaur Sandhu, Amritsar
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The Indian Academy of Fine Arts has organised a month-long National Art Exhibition at Art Gallery, with works of acclaimed artists across the country on display. Over 357 pieces of art will be showcased in the ongoing exhibition as an endeavour to promote art in the city.
The city police has diverted traffic to other roads due to the ongoing project of laying sewerage pipes and covering of Ganda Nallah on Jhabal Road. Dhruman Nimble, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (traffic), in a statement today said the work would take at least three months to complete.
