03072024-ATR-01.qxd 7/3/2024 12:52 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FARMERS TO GET ~100 PER KG SUBSIDY ON MAIZE SEEDS CELEBRITIES TALK ABOUT THEIR LOVE FOR THE RAINY SEASON At a rate of ~100 per kg, a farmer will be able to avail subsidy for seeds used in a maximum of five acres of land. P2 Growing up in Jammu and Kashmir, the monsoon holds a special place in my heart, Sherleen Dutt. P4 » FORECAST GENERALLY CLOUDY MAX 33°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 38°C | MIN 28°C HIT FORMULA: KALKI 2898 AD COLLECTS ~625 CR GLOBALLY SUNSET WEDNESDAY 7.39 PM The recently released dystopian sci-fi epic film Kalki 2898 AD is moving on the box-office like a raging bull. P4 » SUNRISE THURSDAY 5:30 AM » WEDNESDAY | 3 JULY 2024 | AMRITSAR Delay in release of salary grants for non-government colleges draws flak Commuters irked as several trains cancelled, delayed Amritsar, July 2 Passengers at the Amritsar railway station were inconvenienced when three pairs of trains were cancelled and several others delayed after derailment of a goods train in Haryana’s Karnal district. The rail traffic on the DelhiAmritsar route was affected causing inconvenience to passengers on a sultry Tuesday. Three pairs of trains were cancelled and several ran behind their scheduled time.The trains cancelled were Delhi-Amritsar and Amritsar-Delhi Shan-ePunjab, Delhi-Pathankot via Amritsar and Saharsa-Amritsar Jan Sewa Express. The Jan Sewa express would remain cancelled on July 3 too. Delhi-Amritsar Shatabdi, which arrives at 1:35 pm was delayed by several hours. The train was expected to reach here in the evening. It is understood that the train would also be delayed by several hours during on its return journey. Aditya Mahajan, a trader, who frequently visits Delhi for business purpose, said travel time had ballooned. He said passengers were compelled to board buses after the train got derailed. Finding enough customers, private bus operators hiked their ticket rates. — TNS Neha Saini Tribune News Service Thieves decamped with ACs, fans, inverters and batteries from the Aam Aadmi Clinic in Muradpur. Theft at Aam Aadmi Clinic in Muradpur Tarn Taran, July 2 Thieves stole equipment from the Aam Aadmi Clinic in Muradpur locality here on Monday. In complaint lodged with the police, Dr Dhiraj Sharma, Medical Officer in-charge, stated that the theft came to light when staff opened the clinic on Monday morning. The police said two masked thieves took away two air-conditioners, three TOOK AWAY BILLBOARD WITH CM’S PICTURE While coming out of the clinic, thieves also took away the billboard which had Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s picture. The police said after registering a case, an investigation had been launched in the matter. fans, four inverters and batteries from the clinic. The theft was captured in the footage of the closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras installed on the clinic premises and in its vicinity. While coming out of the clinic, thieves also took away the billboard which had Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s picture. The police said after receiving the complaint, a case had been registered and an investigation launched in into the matter. — OC Aujla meets Naidu, requests to start direct flights from holy city to Nanded, Guwahati, Dharamsala Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 2 Local MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla met Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu in Delhi today. During the meeting he held discussion regarding the expansion of the Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport and commencement of new flights for better air connectivity across the country. Aujla requested Naidu to start direct flights from Amritsar to Nanded and Guwahati to provide air travel facility to devotees and the Army personnel. Aujla said Army personnel travelled three days to reach their destination — Guwahati — by train. He said a direct flight to Guwahati from Amritsar would reduce their travel time considerably. According to the tourist inflow, Amritsar-Dharamsala flight should also be started, he said. “This will save a lot of time College teachers during a meeting of the PCCTU in Amritsar on Tuesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Earlier, colleges had a ❝Teachers in these collegesithave been hit hard. 200 to 300. Moreover,studentin salary strength of 500 or more. Now, has dropped from delay grant hits rural-belt colleges harder as their managements do not have funds to pay even their five per cent share of salaries. Dr Karanjit Singh, OFFICIATING PRINCIPAL, BABA BUDDHA SAHEB COLLEGE, CHABAL ❞ has had an impact on the quality of teaching in these colleges,” he said. He said failure to do so would compel the PCCTU to hold protests in Jalandhar coinciding with the upcoming by-elections. No salary since February There are 136 non-government aided colleges, which get 95 per cent salary grant from the state government under the grant-in-aid scheme. Since February, teachers in these colleges have received no salary. Decrease in student enrolment due to migration has proved a double whammy for teachers. “Teachers in these colleges have been hit hard. Earlier, colleges used to have a stu- dent strength of 500 or more. Now, it has dropped from 200 to 300. Moreover, delay in salary grant hits rural-belt colleges hard as their managements do not have funds to pay even their five per cent share of salaries,” shared Dr Karanjit Singh, officiating principal and physical education lecturer at Baba Buddha Saheb College, Chabal, Tarn Taran Road. “Our college has 15 teachers for 350 students. Due to financial crunch, we cannot recruit new teachers,’ Dr Karanjit Singh said. Probe mismanagement of exams, says PCCTU Prof Vinay Sophat, PCCTU, president, highlighted the irresponsible attitude of the Central Government towards the recent NEET (UG) scandal and cancellation and deferral of the UGC and the CSIR NET and the NEET (PG) exam, respectively, within a week’s time. “This systematic governmental failure has jeopardised the future of nearly half a crore meritorious students of our country. This is an unprecedented and unforgivable crime committed by the governmentappointed agencies and institutions,” he said. All India Federation of University and College Teachers Organizations (AIFUCTO) president Prof M Nagarajan, too, urged the government to get the matter investigated under the supervision of the Supreme Court. Admn sets target to plant 10 lakh saplings in city MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla with Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu in Delhi. direct flight from Amritsar reduce travel ❝toADelhi and board UL-boundto Heathrow will such flight cantime of students, who go flights. Besides, facilitate travelling to Canada. It will boost the tourism sector in Amritsar. ❞ Gurjeet Singh Aujla, LOK SABHA MP of tourists coming from abroad, who travel for several hours by car to reach Dharamsala,” Aujla said. Thai Airways efforts to start flights from Amritsar also came up during discussion. Besides, Aujla implored Naidu to start a direct flight from Amritsar to Heathrow. He said, “A direct flight from Amritsar to Heathrow will reduce travel time of students, who go to Delhi and board flight for the UK. Besides, such flight can facilitate travelling to Canada. It will boost the tourism sector in Amritsar.” Aujla said during the meeting, the expansion of Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport and its infrastructure were also discussed. Once in high demand, price of oxygen cylinders pinches consumers, unit owners Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 2 The crippling shortage of oxygen gas cylinders is over with subsiding of the Covid19 pandemic. At present, retail users are lamenting high price of oxygen cylinders while its manufacturers are cribbing over high investment they made during the emergency situation which arose after the onset of the pandemic. The shortage of cylinders during the pandemic hiked its price. Around the pandemic its rate spiked from Rs 200 to Rs 500 and did not come down even after the Amritsar, July 2 Calling out the AAP government in Punjab on sidelining the higher education while it publicised the “Sikhiya Kranti” in school education, the district unit of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU) condemned delay in release of salary grants for non-government colleges in the state. At a meeting, Dr Gurdas Singh Sekhon, general secretary, PCCTU and a faculty member of DAV College, Hathi Gate, said, “A significant number of non-government college teachers in Punjab have not received their salaries for the past four months due to the delay in disbursement of grants by the DPI, Colleges. Earlier, grants were delayed due to the General Elections. The AAP government came into power because of the teaching fraternity. Despite announcements, salary grants and other aid for teachers are never released on time. Teachers are in deep financial crisis.” Dr Vinay Sophat, president, PCCTU, who chaired the meeting, condemned the callous attitude of the Punjab Government towards private-aided colleges, which cater to approximately 80 per cent of students. “These colleges play a crucial role in providing quality education across the state. We seek immediate action from the Punjab Government for the release of the pending grant without any further delay. This Oxygen cylinders lined up at a unit in Amritsar. SUNIL KUMAR pandemic subsides. Oxygen cylinders are mainly used in medical and industrial units. Welders use oxygen while cutting steel and iron. This increase in cylinder prices was passed on to con- sumers by manufacturers and their users. Manjit Singh, a welder at Gha Mandi, said before the pandemic a 10 cubic meter oxygen cylinder used to cost Rs 200. Now its piece had gone upto Rs 500 in retail. He said the input cost of welders had amplified as a shop normally replenished three to four oxygen cylinders every month. Sumit Bhandari, a manufacturer, said two varieties of oxygen cylinders were available in the market. One with 10 cubic and another with seven cubic meter of oxygen. He claimed that the latter cost hung around Rs 200 apiece. There are five units producing oxygen in the city. After the government intervention during the pandemic period their owners had doubled plant capacity from 1,000 to continued on page 2 c m y b Amritsar, July 2 Like every other year, once again the administration has set a target to plant 10 lakh saplings in the district this season. But the real question is how many of these would survive the apathy of residents, stray cattle, fire and other vagaries of nature. Besides administration, various NGOs and individuals too are running independent tree plantation campaigns to make the city greener. “Ten lakh saplings is a big number. Even if the administration and residents manage to help 10,000 saplings survive it would be a big achievement,” said Joginder Singh, a senior citizen. Singh is worried as he has seen stray animals grazing on saplings. He has also witnessed saplings getting burnt in a fire ignited by farmers to get rid of crop residue or safai karamcharis to dispose of waste. Saplings after plantation need proper care. “The administration announces to plant lakhs of saplings every year. Even if 10 per cent of saplings planted in the last 10 years had survived, the city would have turned into a forest by now,” quipped a college student Gursahib Singh. He said in a mad rush for quoting a big number to draw an applause, the government should ensure that maximum number of saplings survived. “The energy and resources should be used to ensure that saplings grow into trees. This continued on page 2 Waterlogging on corridor of the Bus Rapid Transit System after rain in Amritsar. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR Rainwater recharge wells built along BRTS lane lying defunct Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 2 Rainwater recharge wells along the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) corridor have been lying defunct for a long time. The project implemented by Public Works Department (PWD) at the cost of Rs 550 crore in 2017 was later handed over to the municipal corporation (MC). The MC staff have found that most rainwater recharge wells constructed alongside Mall Road and GT Road are not functional. Recently, MC Assistant Commissioner issued directions to officials of the operation and maintenance (O&M) to clean recharge wells before the onset of the monsoon season. However, the MC staff NO STORMWATER SEWER IN CITY The holy city does not have stormwater sewer in any area. Sanitary sewer lines are being used to drain out rainwater from the city. Such improper arrangements and poor infrastructure leads to waterlogging in the several areas of the city. claimed that recharge wells had got choked with debris during the construction of the BRTS lane. It would be hard to make these wells functional, they said. The holy city does not have stormwater sewer in any area. Sanitary sewer lines are being used to drain out rainwater from the city. Such improper arrangements and poor infrastruc- ture leads to waterlogging in the several areas of the city. MC Commissioner Harpreet Singh said, “Motors in all three sewage treatment plants (STPs), including Khaparkhedi, Gounsabad and Chatiwind, have been repaired and are now functional. At present, there are 18 plants to pump out rainwater from the city. Officials of the O&M wing will maintain all plants and keep their pumps functional. If their motors break down, these would be repaired immediately.” He said a ward-wise sewer desilting target was given to the junior engineer concerned. He said super sucker machines, jetting machines and other equipment was deployed for desilting sewer lines.
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