11092023-ATR-01.qxd 9/11/2023 12:49 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune CIVIC BODY STRUGGLES TO COLLECT PROPERTY TAX TAHIR RAJ CONDUCTS GUEST LECTURE FOR FTII STUDENTS Tahir Raj Bhasin recently got opportunity to conduct a guest lecture for students of foundation course on screen acting.P3 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 34°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 27°C MOHSIN KHAN TO JOIN CAST OF MAY I COME IN MADAM? The Property Tax Wing of the Municipal Corporation has recovered approximately ~15 cr till now. P2 FORECAST Actor Mohsin Khan’s inclusion in May I Come In Madam? is bound to be a treat for viewers. P4 » » SUNSET MONDAY 6.42 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 6:12 AM » MONDAY | 11 SEPTEMBER 2023 | AMRITSAR Youth killed over Hire engineers to improve services, suspected affair minister tells Guru Nanak hospital Man denied entry into Darbar Sahib through VIP route, pulls out gun Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 10 A man allegedly pointed a gun at a sewadar on the Golden Temple premises today after he was denied permission to enter the Darbar Sahib through a route meant for VIPs. The devotee, who works with a web channel in Mohali, visited the Golden Temple early in the morning today with his wife and child in tow. Instead of standing in the line outside the Darshani Deori, the journalist asked a sewadar deputed there to allow him into the sanctum sanctorum through a route meant for VIPs. While the sewadar agreed to let the scribe’s wife and child in, he asked the journalist to come through the main entrance. A heated argument soon ensued between the visitor and the sewadar. The scribe got riled up and reportedly pulled out a pistol and pointed it at the volunteer. As the sewadar raised the alarm, some other devotees and members of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Amritsar, September 10 A group of men allegedly killed a youth in Nizampura village yesterday on suspicion of having an illicit affair with the wife of one of them. The victim has been identified as Dilsher Singh, alias Shera, a Nizampura resident. He was attacked by the men with sharp-edged weapons on Saturday in the area falling under the limits of the Jandiala police station. The police have identified the suspects as Harjeet Singh, Jaspal Singh, Kuldeep Singh and Harpreet Singh, all residents of the same village. Sarpanch Heera Singh — the father of the deceased — alleged that as his son was on his way to a local medical store on Saturday evening, he was waylaid by the suspects, who attacked him with sharp-edged weapons and fled the spot. Heera said that Dilsher used to run a medical labora- SGPC delegation to visit US soon Amritsar, September 10 Days after the executive committee of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) decided to set up a printing press in the USA to publish the ‘holy saroops’ of Guru Granth Sahib, a high-level delegation of the SGPC, led by its president Harjinder Singh Dhami, has decided to undertake a visit there. Dhami said the printing press at Tracy City in California will be a religious preaching centre, representing the SGPC in the USA and Canada. It will be set up under the aegis of Akal Takht. He hoped that the centre would meet a long-pending demand of the Sangat based in these countries. The objective of the SGPC delegation’s visit would be to chalk out the outline of the proposed centre and take other necessary steps, he added. — TNS WAS ATTACKED WITH SHARP WEAPONS ■ The youth was reportedly on his way to a local medical store on Saturday evening, he was waylaid by the suspects, who attacked him with sharp-edged weapons and fled the spot ■ The police have registered a case against the suspects — Harjeet, Jaspal, Kuldeep and Harpreet — in this regard following a complaint by Heera. Sub-Inspector Dharminder Singh said the suspects are still at large, but raids are on to nab them tory in the village. He said Harjeet suspected his son of having an illicit relationship with his wife. Heera added that even though his son and Harjeet had ironed out their differences a few days back, the latter still wanted to exact revenge on Dilsher. The police have registered a case against Harjeet, Jaspal, Kuldeep and Harpreet in this regard following a complaint by Heera. Sub-Inspector Dharminder Singh said the suspects are still at large, but raids are on to nab them. Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 10 Health Minister Balbir Singh today directed the Guru Nanak Dev Hospital and Medical College management to appoint some permanent junior engineers to enhance the delivery of services. The minister issued the direction during a meeting with the staff of the medical college and officials of the Public Works Department, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), the Punjab Health System Corporation and the Public Health Department, among others. Keeping in mind the requirements of the medical college, the health minister proposed the construction of a new administrative block and three new buildings for doctors, staff and patients, the installation of air-conditioning facilities in the nursing college, the setting up of multilevel parking and enlarging the blood bank. He also reviewed progress in the ongo- Health Minister Balbir Singh holds a meeting with Guru Nanak Dev Hospital and Medical College officials in Amritsar on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO CONSTRUCTION OF NEW ADMINISTRATIVE BLOCK PROPOSED The health minister proposed the construction of a new administrative block and three new buildings for doctors, staff and patients, the installation of airconditioning facilities in the nursing college, the setting ing construction of canteens. He seemed confident that no roadblocks would come in the way of the development projects at the medical college. The minister added that the government was commit- up of multi-level parking and enlarging the blood bank. He also directed officials from the hospital to appoint some permanent junior engineers to enhance the delivery of services ted to offering quality health services to patients. The minister noted that the government has already been providing services at 659 Aam Aadmi Clinics. He pointed out that as many as 80 different types of medicines and 38 diagnostic tests are being provided free of charge at the clinics. He added that more than 44 lakh people have benefitted from these clinics. NO FIR REGISTERED ■ Instead of standing in the line outside the Darshani Deori, the journalist asked a sewadar deputed there to allow him into the sanctum sanctorum through a route meant for VIPs ■ While the sewadar agreed to let the scribe’s wife and child in, he asked the journalist to come through the main entrance. A heated argument between the two, and the scribe pulled out a pistol and pointed it at the volunteer. However, no FIR was registered against him (SGPC) staff present on the spot rushed to his rescue and tackled the gun-toting visitor. The man was later handed over to the police at the Galiara police post. However, no FIR was registered against him. “The visitor realised his fault and apologised for his conduct. He had come here to pay obeisance with his family, and the SGPC didn’t want to harass him. So no police complaint was filed against him,” an SGPC insider privy to the matter said. SC activists question rationale of reserving wards Say wards with majority SC population should be represented by SC candidates DELIMITATION EXERCISE SURVEY CONDUCTED ON BASIS OF CASTE ■ A survey was conducted on the basis Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 10 Scheduled Caste (SC) activists associated with Central Shri Guru Ravidas Mandir have raised objections over the formation of SC wards with less population of the SC community alleging that the Municipal Corporation has ignored areas where the SC population is above 60 per cent but has not been reserved for the SC candidates. Pertinently, a survey was conducted on the basis of caste by the Municipal Corporation of Amritsar to reserve the wards for candidates from Scheduled Castes. Yudhveer, president, Cen- of caste by the Municipal Corporation of Amritsar to reserve the wards for candidates from Scheduled Castes ■ “Ignoring the findings of the survey is against the rules. Wards in which a majority of Scheduled Caste population resides should be represented by the SC candidates. There is some ill-will on the part of MC officials or influential politicians,” alleged a member of the community tral Shri Guru Ravidas Mandir, said, “I have come to know that the Municipal Corporation of Amritsar has sent the final delimitation report to the Director, Local Government, after rectifying all the errors in the draft. A new map of the delimitation has been prepared in which they have marked the General and reserved category wards. Despite having a caste-based census, the Municipal Corporation reserved the wards by violating the rules. Ward number 66 (new number) has 65.4 per cent SC population but it is not been reserved for the SC candidates. Meanwhile, ward number 83 (new) has only 34.3 per cent SC population but has been reserved for SC candidates.” “Ignoring the findings of the survey is against the rules. Wards in which a majority of Scheduled Caste population resides should be represented by the SC candidates. Instead of reserving these wards, wards which have a minority population of Scheduled Castes have been reserved. There is some illwill on the part of MC officials or influential politicians,” alleged a member of the community. “Ward number 66, 63 and 53 should be reserved for the SC candidates following the caste-based survey conducted by the MC. The government should not issue the final notification until the matter is resolved,” said Yudhveer, president, Central Shri Guru Ravidas Mandir. Pensioners hold a protest outside the house of a minister in Amritsar on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Pensioners protest outside minister’s residence over pending demands Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 10 Members of the Punjab Mulazam and Pensioners Sanjha Front today staged a protest outside the residence of Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO. Pensioners and ASHA workers were among those who took part in the demonstration. Addressing the gathering, union leader Germanjit Singh accused the Bhagwant Mannled state government of having an indifferent attitude towards the demands of contractual workers and pensioners. The union leaders noted that they had met Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema in that regard thrice but the discussions remained inconclusive. The agitators recalled that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had vowed to double the minimum wages of workers, regularise all contractual employees, restore the Old Pension Scheme and make the Sixth Pay Commission more pro-employee ahead of the Assembly elections, but it never made good on those promises. Basic amenities elude residents Even two months after floods, affected Sewage overflow, desilting, potholed roads remain major issues of concern sewer lines properly to provide a solution. Residents livWARD WATCH WARD NO 78 AMRITSAR Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 10 Ward number 78 consists of Guru Amardas Nagar, Indira Colony and Jand Peer areas. Most localities in the ward are underdeveloped with residents deprived of even the basic amenities. Residents of Indira Colony live in insanitary conditions with the stinking sewer water accumulating in streets. Residents living in the area between street number 9 and street number 20 face the problem of choked sewer lines. Even the main road of Indira Colony is in a pathetic condition with several potholes. The sewer water filled A road in Ward No. 78 of Amritsar in a poor condition. SUNIL KUMAR in the potholes proves to be a hurdle in the movement of traffic. Kiranjeet Singh Kinny Pardhan, a local activist, said, “The sewer lines remain choked in all seasons. The manholes overflow and the sewage accumulates in the streets. MC workers visit and clean the sewer with bamboo sticks. It works for some days and then gets choked again. The MC should desilt the ing in some of the streets often get the supply of contaminated potable water.” Bitta, another local resident, said, “Almost every house has a patient of dengue, chikungunya and malaria due to unhygienic conditions. The rainwater accumulates in the streets and stagnates for weeks. The MC staffs do not even visit for fogging.” Sukhbir Singh, former councillor of ward number 78, said, “The MC conducts desilting of main sewer lines with super sucker machines. Such machines are not available for narrow streets. Sanitation workers are not allowed to enter the manholes. Desilting in narrow streets is a major issue in the area. The government should provide small machines for desilting of small sewer lines. Some of the roads and streets are not in good condition. We will make efforts to recarpet these streets and roads.” c m y b families not sure of returning home Gurbaxpuri Tarn Taran, September 10 Though water level in the Sutlej has receded, uncertainty still prevails among the residents of Muthianwala village, located on the IndiaPakistan border, as to when they would shift to their houses that they were forced to leave after floodwaters inundated them. Budha Singh, a 55-year-old farmer from the village, is one among the 30 families that had taken shelter in Gurdwara Gutpatsar Sahib in Muthianwala village. Budha Singh, who has 4.5 acres of agricultural land, said on Sunday that he left his home built in the Mand area and managed to come to a safe place along with his family members and livestock on July 7, the day water entered their houses. Since then, he has been staying in the gurdwara along with his family members and cattle, partaking of the langar to survive. (From left) Wheat stored by family which has rotted; Budha Singh narrates his tale of woes; and household items affected by the deluge. PHOTOS: GURBAXPURI Budha Singh said that he went to visit his house on Saturday and saw that its roof and walls had collapsed. The complex was still waterlogged and the ground was slush, not fit to keep his livestock for fear of contracting any disease. The foul smell made the place uninhabitable. The makeshift shed constructed for the livestock too had collapsed. The wheat stored in the iron drum for the family had rotten, clothes and other article too had been damaged. His crops planted on 4.5 acres of land that he owns had been destroyed. Above all, sand and silt from the river had got deposited in the fields rendering it infertile. Budha Singh had four cows and he used to earn money selling their milk to meet his expenditure which is no longer the case now. Not even a single penny has been received from the administration or the state government as compensation to the flood affected families, he said. There were a number of families that had taken shelter elsewhere because of the floods but have no hope of returning to their homes in the near future as their houses are still surrounded by water. The residents alleged that the state government was not serious about rehabilitating them and no policy has even been announced in this regard till date. Baba Angrej Singh, head of Gurdwara Gutpatsar Sahib, Muthianwala, said that as many as 50 families and more than 400 livestock had taken shelter at the gurdwara for over two months now and there was an acute shortage of dry and green fodder for the animals.