Amritsar, November 16
Commuters using the Amritsar-Jalandhar GT road are at the receiving end nowadays due to traffic jams caused by the ongoing construction work of the entrance gate.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal’s ambitious project has led to the closure of the main road. Consequently, motorists on both directions are using service lane. The condition of these service lanes is not any better as fissures were seen at many places resulting in bumpy ride.

A tourist from Chandigarh, Gurcharan Singh, said he along with his family came here to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple. However, it took about half an hour to cross half a kilometer stretch.

Another tourist from Delhi, RS Chamak, said the stretch from the point where construction of the gate was going on up to traffic lights ahead was is in a mess. Notably, some policemen present on the road did not even bother to streamline the flow of vehicles.

Industrialist Kamal Dalmia questioned the logic of raising the entrance gate which would only congest the road. “It is like going back to middle ages”. He said there were many other ways to beautify the road which leads to the entry in the Sikh holy city.

He said there was high need to cover kuccha edges of both sides of road with grass since the dust was maximum on this side. Its reason was stationing of sand filled tractor trolleys on the road. He said another site must be specified for the sale of sand. Besides, the road could be beautified by planting of flowers on the central verge and sidewalks.

He said the government was investing over Rs 7 crore in raising a new entry gate to the city on the GT road from the Jalandhar side when one already exists. However, when it comes to aiding existing industries, it does not have enough money.

Textile Manufacturers’ Association (TMA) general secretary Hardit Singh Makhni said the SAD-BJP government has failed in disbursing capital subsidy of about Rs 12 crore under the Industrial Policy 2003 while it showed alacrity in raising an entrance gate with investment of Rs 7 crore.

He said, “There are about 121 claimants for the capital subsidy from Amritsar and Tarn Taran and the rest belong to Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Ferozepur. Early release of funds would have helped these industrialists to compete with their counterparts in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir, who are better placed due to the tax holiday.”

Amritsar, November 16
The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, which is spreading to almost every part of the country with an aim to make our surroundings clean, green and hygienic, seems to have little meaning for thousands of residents living around Bhagtanwala, the ‘designated spot’ for dumping garbage collected from the city and nearby areas.

The area residents have continued their protest at the site for the past more than 10 days. They have got no respite to date except for verbal assurances by the officials.

The garbage dumping site near Chabaal Road in Amritsar. A Tribune photograph

This dumping yard has turned into a political battle ground where senior leaders from the SAD-BJP alliance and the Congress have been blaming each other.

The residents of at least 18 localities, including Guru Gobind Singh Nagar, Guru Nanak Colony, Namakwali Colony, Sharma Colony, Guru Ram Dass Nagar, Gandha Singh Colony, Radha Krishan Colony, Fateh Singh Colony, Ishwar Nagar, Arjan Nagar, Kot Mangal Singh, Baba Deep Singh Avenue, Dashmesh Nagar and Mishra Colony have been living in most unhygienic conditions, which has taken a toll on their health.

Around 50,000 residents live in the localities around this place.

While the much-awaited solid waste management plant continues to hang fire for more than five years, in the absence of proper vigil, garbage is being dumped in a very unprofessional manner here.

As the dumping yard appeared to have filled up to its limits, the present situation is that mounds of garbage have spilled over on the roads.

Residents said even the ground water in their localities was contaminated due to the problem of garbage.

The residents who have been fighting against the administration, under the banner of Sanjhi Sangharsh Committee said they would resort to a peaceful agitation but if need be, the agitation would be intensified.

They demanded that the garbage be removed at the earliest.

Residents resented that they have been losing their family members who have been suffering from serious respiratory problems and lungs diseases.

Around 70 per cent of the population living in the area has been suffering from various health problems due to the smoke emanating from the dumping yard. At this site, garbage is dumped not only from eight local bodies of Amritsar but from Tarn Taran and Baba Bakala too.

Residents said there was not even a single house in the area where all the family members enjoy sound health.

With the residents of these colonies up in arms against dumping garbage at Bhagtanwala, the MC has started dumping garbage at an old defunct dumping yard at Chabaal Road, but it too had to be discontinued after the residents, especially the students and faculty of Chief Khalsa Diwan Nursing College, staged protest and blocked roads.

At present, garbage is being dumped in Chheharta area near Naraingarh but the issue is still unresolved in the absence of any mechanism to dispose of garbage.

Amritsar, November 16
The secretary, local bodies department, would be summoned to find a solution to the plight of the residents living around the Bhaktanwala dump yard anytime now. This was said by National SC Commission Vice Chairperson Dr Raj Kumar Verka today.

Dr Verka along with senior Congress leaders today paid a visit to the Chowk Mangal Singh where the residents of different localities have been staging a dharna against the authorities demanding the shifting of the dump yard from its present location.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Verka said the secretary of the local bodies department would be issued a notice to reply on the dismal and health hazard conditions under which thousands of residents have been living.

He said, “There is an urgent need to shift the garbage dump as it is causing serious health issues for the residents living nearby. They have been inhaling unhealthy air and it is time the authorities stopped dumping the garbage here. I will be in touch with the officials and if need be, they too will be issued notices.”

Others present on the occasion were Congress leaders Harjinder Singh Thekedar, Jugal Kishore Sharma and Adhwani Pappu.

Amritsar, November 16
Activists of Naujwan Bharat Sabha accused an assistant sub inspector of manhandling a worker of the sabha and held demonstration against him here today. They also demanded his immediate suspension.

Amritpal Singh Thathia, district president of the association, in a press statement issued here today, alleged that ASI Sukhdev Singh, posted at the Bandala police chowki, slapped and manhandled their worker Jobanjit Singh without any provocation.

He alleged when a delegation of the association went to the police post to express their resentment, the accused ASI used unparliamentary language and turned them out of the police chowki.

He alleged that the area residents were also fed up of his highhandedness. The association carried out a protest march from Balmiki Chowk at Jandiala Guru to the police post and raised slogans against the police.

However, ASI Sukhdev Singh said the other day Jobanjit was stood near a girls’ school and made obscene gestures.

The ASI said he asked Jobanjit to desist from doing so but when he did not stop, a police team caught him. They received many complaints of boys roaming around the girls’ school, he added.

Amritsar, November 16
Perturbed over indifferent attitude of the state government towards their demand, the shopkeepers and residents of the Airport road today decided to intensify their agitation.

From Wednesday onward, they would permanently block the Airport road till their demands were met. They were sitting on chain hunger strike which entered its third day today.

The shopkeepers were protesting against the fixing of iron grills on the divider reportedly for carving out a corridor for the movements of VIP traffic which is likely to hit their trade. They demanded that the government should either construct an elevated road on the site or they should fix the iron grill in the centre.

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also extended their support to the residents. Dr Daljit Singh, Ashok Talwar and others volunteers of the party met the agitators and participated in the protest. "The administration has to take into account the grievances of the residents. The business of shop keepers will be affected seriously, if their situation is overlooked in the name of development," said AAP leader. — TNS

Amritsar, November 16
The construction work on the Punjab State War Heroes Memorial and Museum, coming up on the city’s outskirts, is underway on war footing as Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is keen to inaugurate it on August 15 next year. Its foundation stone was laid in February this year.

Talking to The Tribune, Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat said around 40 per cent of the work was already complete and they were confident of meeting the deadline of August 15 next year. He said the work on the basement parking, raising structures for the monuments, and boundary wall was almost complete. Now, the work on designing aspect as well as landscaping would start in the coming days, he added. He said they had also received a nod for a couple of Army tanks and MiG fighter jets, which would be displayed at the memorial. The memorial-cum-museum would showcase the supreme sacrifices made by the Punjabis while serving in the armed force, added the DC.

Spread over seven acres, near India Gate, Attari Road, the memorial is coming up at a cost of Rs 86 crore. It will have a 45 metre high stainless steel sword at the centre, representing strength and courage displayed by the people of Punjab while defending the nation in the hour of need. This iconic structure will stand atop a platform surrounded by a water body. The names of martyrs will also be inscribed on the memorial that will have a circular path around it. The memorial is being constructed at an elevation of 12 feet. There will be elevators, staircases, besides lift for the physically challenged.

A blend of traditional architecture and modern style, the memorial will have eight galleries depicting various artifacts, images, digital information and interactive panels, which will impart knowledge on the sacrifices made by Punjabis from the era of Guru Har Gobind till the Kargil War. The state-of-the-art galleries will have modern facilities, including digital panels, projector and LCD screens. The campus will have a 5D auditorium, facilitating an almost realistic experience of different combats from different war zones. The landscaping will also reflect three different war zones from pre-British, British and post-Independent era. It will have ample parking space and a guest house for the Punjab Sainik Welfare Association.

Amritsar, November 16
A team of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) headed by an SDO rank official came under attack at Kolewal village falling under the Lopoke police station here.

They had gone to raid a residential complex of Tota Singh who was allegedly involved in stealing of power by ‘kundi’ connection. The Lopoke police have registered a case in this regard while no arrest has been made so far. Ashwani Kumar, SDO, Chogawan, in his complaint submitted to the police stated that a team headed by him raided the residence of Tota Singh in Kolewal village at around 7:00am. Tota Singh was stealing the power by way of illegal Kundi connection. When objection was raised, he became furious and armed with a Datar (sharp edged weapon) rushed towards lineman Paramjit Singh. Though no one was hurt, the incident has once again put focus on the threats the PSPCL employees face when they raid residences in villages.

Acting on the complaint the police have registered a case under Sections 379, 353 and 186 of the IPC against Tota Singh. Harminder Singh, SHO, Lopoke police station, said they were verifying the complaint while no arrest has been made so far. He said a case has been registered following a written complaint submitted by the PSCPL authorities.

Amritsar, November 16
The police have arrested two persons for allegedly stealing LPG by transferring it to empty cylinder near Naraingh village.

Those arrested were identified as Davinder Singh of Jhand village and Satnam Singh of Jawanda Kalan village in Tarn Taran.

Sub inspector Mukhtiar Singh said they were patrolling the area and a road connectinmg Jandiala canal to Naraingarh they spotted two men at a secluded place illegally transferring LPG from one cylinder to another. Investigations revealed that the owner was unaware about the illegal practice of the accused.

The police have seized 612 filled gas cylinders of Indane Oil Company, four empty cylinders the same company besides two empty cylinders of Hindustan Petroleum.

He said a case has been registered and investigations were underway.—TNS

Amritsar, November 16
Life changed for Arunima Sinha, a national volleyball player, when she was thrown off a moving train while fighting off snatchers. She lost her leg, but not her fighting spirit. And just when the world was busy convincing the young woman that her life has nothing more to look forward to, she decided to climb the highest peak in the world. And life changed once again for Arunima Sinha.

On April 12, 2011, she lost her leg. On May 21, 2013, 26-year-old Arunima was on the top of the world. At 8,848 metres above the sea level, Arunima became the first Indian woman with artificial limb to climb Mount Everest. The mountaineer was in Amritsar to attend ABVP's national convention, where she was awarded with the Yashwant Rao Kelkar youth icon award and a cash reward of Rs 50,000 by Union HRD minister Smriti Irani. When she took on stage, she made the audience relive her experience through her story.

"If we are handicapped from mind, we are handicapped for life. When I expressed my wish to climb Mount Everest, people called me mad. And that's when I knew that I had to do it.," she began her speech with some motivation. Believing in the concept of no pain, no gain, she said her Everest Summit was all about passion and mission to prove the world wrong that disability binds you for life. The odds were always against her, first her accident that took her leg, her decision to get back her lost confidence by climbing Everest and her near death experience while doing so.

"The Everest Summit starts after the Hillary Step, from where the death zone starts. I could only see dead bodies of some of the mountaineers at every few steps. And all I could think about was my mother and my idol, Bachendri Pal," she shared. "Even my Sherpa, my guide wanted to go back as we had limited oxygen supply and bad weather conditions." But she managed to survive the odds and become the first Indian amputee to climb Everest. "I had to fight bad weather conditions, since most of the climbing was done during the night. Once I got on the top, I enjoyed my feat, but also knew that I might not get back alive as my oxygen supply was dwindling and I was struggling with my artificial limb. But I had to fight it out," she said. It took her 28 hours to climb down to reach camp 4, where the rest of the climbers from her group already assumed her dead. "They were in shock and then delighted to see me back alive," said the excited Arunima. Arunima is now planning to open her academy to train youngsters.

Amritsar, November 16
Guru Nanak Dev University clinched the overall trophy in both men’s and women’s sections in the All-India Inter-University Track Cycling (MW) Championship that concluded at the university here today.

The men’s team scored 52 points to get the top osition while the women’s team got 42 points to be the winner.

In the men’s section, the Punjabi University team got the runners-up position with 32 points.

In the women’s section too, the second place was occupied by the Punjabi University team with 
36 points.

Dr HS Randhawa, deputy director and head, Sports, said as many as 50 teams comprising of around 400 cyclists from different universities participated in the championship.

Earlier, in the 1,500 m team trail (men’s), Sukhchain Singh, Kumar Gaurav, Prabhjit Singh and Rajbir Singh from Punjabi University got the first position, whereas Athoktanbike Singh, Karanvir Singh, Anil Kumar and Manohar Lal from Guru Nanak Dev University got the second position.

Dilawar Singh, Niraj, Pankaj and Dilpreet from Kurukeshtra University bagged the third position.

In the women’s section under the same category, Gargi, Kezia Verghese, Parwati VG and Manisha G from GNDU got the first position, whereas Rekha Rani, Seema Rani, Priyanka and Sandeep Kaur from Punjabi University bagged the second position.

The third place went to Krishna MS, Athira Mohan, Bismi S and Amala Vinod, all from Kerala University.

In the elimination race in men’s section, Pankaj Kumar from Kurukeshtra University got the first position, Mohit Kumar from Punjabi University got the second position and Anil Kumar from Guru Nanak Dev University bagged the third position.