16012021-ATR-01.qxd 1/15/2021 11:18 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar TRIBUNE ‘CANCEL REGISTRATION OF PVT HOSPITALS CLAIMING FAKE BILLS’ An RTI activist demanded cancellation of registration of private hospitals which were claiming fake medical bills. FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY PAGE 2 RICHA’S STATEMENT ON MADAM CHIEF MINISTER POSTER ROW MAX 15°C | MIN 5°C | YESTERDAY MAX 16°C | MIN 6°C SUNSET SATURDAY 5:50 PM Vaccination to be done at three government-run health facilities Tribune News Service INBRIEF ‘NO VACCINE TILL WE GET REGULAR JOBS’ Tarn Taran: Employees of the Health Department under the banner of ‘Sehat Mulazim Sanghrash Committee’, Punjab, on Friday submitted a memorandum to Civil Surgeon Dr Rohit Mehta and warned the government that they would not take vaccine till their demands were accepted. A deputation of the local district unit, led by Gurbir Singh Pandori, state leader of the organisation, submitted a memorandum of demands to the Civil Surgeon. He said the main demands of the employees were regularisation of the jobs, decrease in probation period of 1,263 employees to two years, special increment to frontline workers performed duties against Covid-19 and withdrawal of criminal cases registered against health employees on the orders of Finance Minister Manpreet Badal. The committee warned the government of intensifying its agitation if their demands were not met. OC ZOMATO STRIKE ENTERS 6TH DAY Health workers ready the ward for administering the Covid vaccine at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in Amritsar on Friday. VISHAL KUMAR ABOUT COVISHIELD ■ India has approved the AstraZeneca and Oxford Universitydeveloped vaccine which, in India, is manufactured by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India (the world's largest manufacturer of the vaccine, by volume). Covishield is the Indian name of the Oxford vaccine. While Bharat Biotechdeveloped Covaxin is also approved for use in India, in Punjab the Covishield vaccine will be administered during the inoculation drives. The drive would begin after the PM's interaction with state CMs via videoconference on Saturday morning. Youth booked for rape, father under SC/ST Act Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 15 The Chheharta police have booked a youth on the charge of rape and his father for making casteist remarks. They were identified as Gurbaaz Singh and his father Karamjit Singh, both residents of Chicha village falling under the Gharinda police station here. In her complaint in July last year, the 27-year-old victim had alleged that she had an affair with Gurbaaz, who belonged to a Jat Sikh family while she belonged to a Mazhbi Sikh family. She alleged the accused established physical relations with her on the pretext of marrying her. She said as her family went to his residence with a marriage proposal, his father Karamjit Singh used CAST OF KYUN UTTHE DIL CHODD AAYE SHOOTS IN AMRITSAR CHILL The first poster of Madam Chief Minister was unveiled recently but it received criticism from netizens over casteism. All set for maiden Covid inoculation drive today Amritsar, January 15 The district’s maiden inoculation drive against the novel coronavirus will be conducted at three government-run health facilities — Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, the Civil Hospital and the Community Health Centre, Verka — here tomorrow (January 16). Cabinet Minister OP Soni will formally inaugurate the vaccination drive from the Civil Hospital at 11.15 am. Chairing a meeting of the district task force, Deputy Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Khaira said vaccines would be administered to frontline workers who had been at the forefront as corona warriors to prevent its spread in the district. He informed that the first instalment of 20,000 vaccines had been received and data of an equal number of health workers uploaded who would first receive the shots. The shots would be administered PAGE 3 at 26 centres which had been created in different parts of the border district to reach out to all sections of society. Each centre, which would be headed by a Senior Medical Officer (SMO), would be given 100 vials each and all arrangements had been completed. Each centre would have two teams with each team consisting of five medical officials. Each health worker would receive the second dose of the vaccine of the same firm after a gap of 28 days. All beneficiaries were informed today through text messages on their mobile phones for vaccination. He said these doses would be given to each citizen above 18 years of age. However, expectant mothers, active Covid-19 cases and plasma therapy humans would not be administered these doses. The Deputy Commissioner called upon people to use masks and follow social continued on page 2 SUNRISE SUNDAY 7:30 AM SATURDAY | 16 JANUARY 2021 | AMRITSAR Demand for mutton, fish shoots up BIRD FLU SCARE Sale of non-poultry products rises 20% Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 15 On the one hand, bird flu scare has plummeted prices of poultry products (chicken and eggs), and on the other hand, price of fish and mutton has skyrocketed. Gurpreet Singh, a leading mutton seller, said: “Sale of mutton has witnessed around 20 per cent spike. Restricted supply of mutton due to the farmers’ stir has also increased its price from Rs 400 per kg to Rs 500 per kg.” He added that demand of mutton was being met by procuring goats from Rajasthan. Chander Arora, a leading fish trader, said: “Sale of fish in the local market recorded 20 per cent hike in a fortnight. The city is known as a hub of high quality freshwater fish. Singhara’s price (Sperata Seenghala) jumped up from Rs 900 per kg to Rs 1,000 per kg. Sole, which was available for Rs 1,000 per kg, now costs Rs 1,100 per kg.” The Amritsar Poultry Farmers’ Association chief GS Bedi said, “No case of transmission of bird flu to human has been reported in the country since its first outbreak in 2006. News of bird flu outbreak Tribune News Service foul language and allegedly made casteist remarks against them and pushed them out of the house. Perturbed over the incident, she lodged a complaint with the police. However, a case was registered against them under Section 376 of the IPC and Section 3 (2) (5) of the SC/ST Act on Thursday. The Chheharta police said the case was registered following a probe conducted by the women cell and taking the opinion of the district attorney in the regard. The police said the accused would be arrested soon. Set in the backdrop of 1947 and pre-Partition India, Lahore, the show narrates the story of three women. A GOURMET IRRESISTIBLE: Amritsar is known as a hub of high quality freshwater fish. SUNIL KUMAR leads to drop in prices and sales of poultry products, which causes heavy financial loss to poultry owners.” Bedi in a communique to the Union Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fishery, Giriraj Singh, said, “Please help us. We can control bird flu at our farms, but cannot stop news channels from instilling fear in the minds of consumers. Whenever there are reports of bird Suspended ASI among 5 booked for murder bid Amritsar, January 15 The city police have booked a suspended Assistant SubInspector (ASI) among five persons on the charge of firing and murder bid that took place on Lohri. A monetary dispute is stated to be the reason behind the incident while police officials claimed that the matter was under investigation. Those booked were identified as suspended ASI Balwinder Singh, his wife Manjinder Kaur, their son Jass, and Vikram alias Puppi, all residents of Ek Roop Avenue on Majitha Road, and Lovepreet Singh of Gobind Nagar on Majitha Road. Amarjit Singh, who was PAGE 4 Incident took place on Lohri outside victim’s uncle’s house at Ek Roop Avenue injured in the incident, told the police that on Wednesday he had come to his uncle Paramjit Singh’s house at Ek Roop Avenue. He said when they gathered around a bonfire to celebrate the festival in the street, Lovepreet, Vikram and Jass who were standing near the road turn started abusive language. The victim said he, along with his uncle Paramjit Singh, went there and asked them to stop this. He said at around 10.30 pm, all the accused reached the spot where they were celebrating Lohri. Balwinder Singh challenged them while Lovepreet fired shots with his pistol. The victim said Jass also fired in the air. In the incident Amarjit got injured while the accused fled the spot after throwing bricks at the residence of his uncle Paramjit Singh. He said his uncle later took him to hospital where he is under treatment. Parveen Kumar, SHO, Sadar police station, said a case under Sections 307, 427, 148 and 149 of the IPC and Sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act had been registered against the suspects and raids were on to nab them. flu, swine flu and Covid-19, poultry farmers suffer the most. Even medical experts had recommended consumption of poultry products, especially eggs in a diet to tackle the Covid-19.” The letter further states that there were so many other problems due to which huge human mortality happens, but hardly evokes any response from electronic media. Poultry farmers said there was around 10 per cent decline in the sale of eggs and broilers. The wholesale price of a broiler was Rs 90 per kg, but now it hovers around Rs 70 per kg. Similarly, an egg now costs Rs 5.10 in the wholesale market instead of Rs 5.50. Fall in sale of poultry products during the winter season has proved disastrous for farmers as numerous take this allied activity to increase their income. Thousands of tractors to leave for Delhion Jan 20 Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 15 The rail roko demonstration by the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee continued for the 114th day at Manawala here on Friday. Farmer body leaders claimed that on January 20, thousands of tractor trolleys from Tarn Taran district, to be led by Sukhwinder Singh Sabhra and Harpreet Singh Sidhwan, would leave for Delhi. Union workers are approaching farmers at the village level urging them to take part in the Delhi protest with their tractor trolleys in a big number on January 26. Sarwan Singh Pandher, state general secretary, Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, said repeated meetings with the Central Govern- ment failed to bear fruit and even the 9th round meeting also proved futile on Friday. Now the farmer unions are making their preparations for January 26 for a peaceful tractor parade in Delhi. “The farmers’ movement is a mass movement which is aimed at repealing the agriculture laws. Some of our opponents want to create a mess among the general public about the January 26 programme but we will not allow this to happen,” said Pandher. Bridges on defence drain sans safety grills Swachh city: Amritsar gets open defecation free ++ status Tribune News Service Amritsar: The ongoing strike by delivery boys of an online food company, Zomato, entered its sixth day on Friday. A twomember delegation of team leaders Jaswinder Singh from Chandigarh and Rattandeep Singh from Amritsar approached the Labour Commissioner, Amritsar, who fixed January 19 next date of hearing. They said the Labour Commissioner asked the company officials to bring a copy of service conditions on the next date of hearing. They said the company worker who was earlier earning between Rs 22,000 and 25,000 after 28 day of gruelling work, is now earning around Rs 13,000. TNS Nearly 100 villages lie beyond drain in Amritsar, Tarn Taran dists Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 15 Bridges on defence drain, which connect residents of the villages alongside the international border with the mainland has its safety grills missing. The defence drain was dug up decades ago to serve twin purpose; a strategic military barrier in case of infiltration and to get rid of excess rainwater. Around hundred villages lie beyond the defence drain in Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts alone. Starting from Attari till Khemkaran, around 40 bridges connect these villages. Due to absence of safety grills, bridges have turned into a nightmare for commuters, especially during foggy season. In 2016, seven school children had died after their school Amritsar, January 15 Amritsar got open defecation free ++ status (ODF plus plus) from the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. The central team had visited the city to check infrastructure. Mayor Karmajit Singh Rintu appreciated the efforts of the sanitation wing of the Municipal Corporation and cooperation of the city residents. “It is a very positive response by the government. The city got open defecation free ++ status. This will help the city to improve its ranking in the upcoming Sanitation Survey in 2021. We are taking several steps to get first position in the Swachhta Survey 2021.” Komal Mittal, Commissioner, Amritsar Municipal Corporation, said, “After an inspection by the Quality Council of India, an agency of the Central Government, Amritsar city got the ODF Plus Plus status. It is an honour for the entire city. Tireless efforts made by the sanitation wing and operations and maintenance wing of the MC enabled to achieve this.” Health officials of the MC stated that the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs had A broken safety grill of a bridge near Serai Amanat Khan village in border area. TRIBUNE PHOTO bus fell into the defence drain near Mahawa village. The drain at numerous points has very narrow bridges, which not only makes commuting difficult for two-wheelers, but also for pedestrians. Kulrattan Singh, a resident of Attari, said, “There was much hue and cry when seven children had lost their lives. Ideally, the government should have come forward and ensure that all bridges have proper safety grills. But even after four years, the situation is same and everybody has forgotten the tragic accident.” Residents of the border belt stated that bridges were a big cause for concern and every time during elections, politicians promise to get them repaired. “But after elections, promises are often forgotten. No improvement is wit- c m y b nessed in the last two decades,” said another resident, Jagdev Singh. Residents had asked the MLAs and MPs to widen bridges, but no action has been taken on the ground despite repeated pleas. The political parties claimed that they were helpless as bridges on defence drain were under the jurisdiction of the Indian Army. As per the guidelines of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the Municipal Corporation has to construct public toilets after a gap of every 500 metres. FILE certified the city as open defecation gree in 2019 under the Swachh Bharat Mission. The MC built community toilets in slums and public toilets in several markets in the city. As per the guidelines of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the MC has to construct public toilets after a gap of every 500 metres. A large number of toilet booths were installed on the roadsides and markets.