25092024-ATR-01.qxd 9/24/2024 11:01 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY FEROZEPUR GOVT HOSPITAL SANS REGULAR EYE SPECIALIST PATWARIS TO HELP FARMERS SHUN STUBBLE BURNING ACTOR ALIA BHATT DAZZLES AT PARIS FASHION WEEK DEBUT The eye hospital has turned into a ‘white elephant’ in the absence of specialist doctors. P3 A campaign has been launched to sensitise farmers against burning stubble in Malerkotla. P3 Bollywood star Alia Bhatt looked gorgeous as she made her Paris Fashion Week debut. P4 » » MAX 35°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 36°C | MIN 35°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 6.22 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 6.21 AM » WEDNESDAY | 25 SEPTEMBER 2024 | AMRITSAR Solar power installation programme gets boost, 15 govt buildings install plants in city PEDA INITIATIVE Head constable Babita and constable Sahil (2nd from left) Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar cops bag gold medal in All India Police Games Amritsar, September 24 Two cops who bagged gold medal in body-building and arm wrestling at the All India Police Games were honoured here today. Woman Head Constable Babita and Constable Sahil from the Commissionerate Police brought laurels in the 73rd All India Police Wrestling Cluster Championship 2024, which was held from September 9 to 13 at Lucknow, UP . Harkamal Kaur, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP), stated that a total of 39 teams, including paramilitary forces and state police forces, participated. Woman Head Constable Babita, won the gold medal in 65 kg category of bodybuilding while constable Sahil won gold in the 100 kg category in arm wrestling. The Commissioner of Police congratulated the two on their achievement while ADCP Harkamal Kaur and ACP Kamaljit Singh honoured the players today at Police Lines, Amritsar city. — TNS Amritsar, September 24 Punjab Energy Development Authority (PEDA) has equipped 15 government buildings with solar energy plants in Amritsar under the Smart City project with the aim of cutting down reliance on costly conventional power and promoting solar energy. To cut expenses on electricity tariff, solar power is gradually replacing conventional sources of energy and the government has been equipping its own buildings with solar power to promote renewable sources of energy. Yashpal, District Manager, PEDA, said under the Smart City project, 15 government institutions have so far been equipped with solar plants. These are Guru Nanak Hospital, Mental Hospital, Civil Hospital, Ram Lal Eye Hospital, War Memorial, Municipal Corporation, Improvement Trust, Government Dental College, Dental College (Girls hostel), Dental College (Boys hostel), Police stations B, C and D divisions, Polytechnic College and ADA Bhawan. Commenced in 2015 with an insignificant production of some Kilowatt (kW), the city now has over 1,200 grid The number of those opting for solar power has come down since free power was introduced in the district. GOING SOLAR Yashpal, District Manager, PEDA, said under the Smart City project, 15 government institutions have so far been equipped with solar plants. These are Guru Nanak Hospital, Mental Hospital, Civil Hospital, Ram Lal Eye Hospital, War Memorial, Municipal Corporation, Improvement Trust, Government Dental College, Dental College (Girls hostel), Dental College (Boys hostel), Police stations B, C and D divisions, Polytechnic College and ADA Bhawan. rooftop solar (RTS) connections with 43 MW load. Out of these, two mega solar plants are at Dera Radha Soami Satsang, Beas, with a combined capacity of about 2 MW. Both the Union and the state governments have been promoting the transition from conventional to solar power as it is environment friendly and also costs less. There is no denying the fact that the number of those opting for solar power has come down since free power was introduced in the district. For instance, there were 944 grid rooftop solar (RTS) connections here till July 2022. Since the introduction of free power scheme, only 264 connec- tions had been added. Non-government institutions are also adopting solar energy. Punjab Naatshala has adopted green and clean energy by switching over to solar power for its energy consumption. It installed a 20 kW solar power panel to cut down on 75 per cent of its power expenses. Khalsa College Governing Council (KCGC), which runs 18 educational institutions, switched over to solar energy for a majority of its institutions. Guru Nanak Dev University also got a rooftop solar power plant of 3 MW capacity installed under the Union Government’s Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) in 2018. In 2019, the Punjab State War Memorial and Museum became the first government building in the city to use solar power under the Smart City project. In 2021, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, in association with the United Sikh Mission, USA, took a lead by installing a solar power plant on the Golden Temple premises. It plans to install similar solar panels in other gurdwaras managed by it. Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International airport, Amritsar railway station, and several other government-run institutions have installed solar grid rooftop. KMSC demands relief for kin of slain farmers Union also highlights shortage of DAP fertiliser Members of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee during a protest outside the DC office in Amritsar on Tuesday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 24 Farmers under the banner of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) staged a protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office here on Tuesday demanding compensation for kin of those who died during the Delhi morcha and during the ongoing protest at Shambu border. The union highlighted the shortage of DAP fertiliser at a time when farmers are getting ready for wheat sowing. “The government and its officials know the time when farmers need DAP It is shock. ing that the government has failed to make arrangements for the required quantity of the fertiliser,” said KMSC general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher. Taking a jibe at film actress and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut regarding her statements for need to bring in three controversial agriculture laws, Pandher said, “The actress is stressed because her films are not doing good and she is not getting work. Even if she wants the government to bring back the laws which were revoked by the government, she should talk with her party leadership.” The KMSC leaders stated that there have been reports that agricultural lands for roads being constructed under the Bharatmala project are being forcefully acquired with help from the police without resolving the issues regarding fair compensation. The leaders stated that they have brought all issues to the notice of the Deputy Commissioner. The union pointed out the open sale of drugs and demanded that action should be taken against police officials who are helping drug peddlers. It stated that drugs are openly available and the government machinery is not doing anything concrete. Snatchers target Attari-bound Israeli woman After probe, Transport Dept clerk booked for registering vehicles on forged papers The auto-rickshaw driver called the PCR and cops provided first aid to her. The police launched a manhunt to nab the snatchers and recovered the passport and other valuables of the victim. The victim stated in her complaint that there were three persons on a bike, who came from the rear and snatched her bag. The bag was in her lap. When the miscreants pulled her bag, she also fell down from the moving auto. “It took a few seconds for them to grab my bag. I fell down on the road. I am here to visit the Golden Temple and border. The police helped me a lot and made an effort to search for them. Hopefully, they will find them. I am still in pain and stressed about the situation,” she said. The auto-rickshaw driver, who works with a hotel and often visits the Attari border with tourists, said, “We left the hotel for Attari border. When we reached near Chheharta, three bike-borne youth came and targeted her bag. They pulled her bag and she fell out of the auto.” Sarwanjit Singh, Assistant Commissioner of Police, said,“We immediately constituted teams and investigated the matter. We have identified the accused and raiding teams are on the job. Hopefully, we will arrest them within one or two days.” — TNS Train-themed restaurantopens to serve people 24X7 at city station Stray cattle a threat to green cover in city Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 24 In a shocking incident, three miscreants snatched the handbag of an Israeli tourist and injured her when she was on way to the Attari border to watch the retreat ceremony here yesterday. The woman was injured as the snatchers pulled her out of a moving auto-rickshaw and she fell on the road. The bag contained her passport, wallet, money, credit cards, diary and other valuable things. Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 24 Without booking a seat in a train, one can enjoy a delectable meal in the ambience of a coach as the restaurant-onwheels, which is actually housed in a train coach, is now open 24x7. Placed in the circulating area of the railway station, any person from the city can easily visit the railway coach restaurant to satiate his hunger with mouthwatering dishes. Open all day and night, it will benefit mostly tourists and locals who can enjoy delectable food any time. The contract for setting up a restaurant was awarded in April 2023 to a New Delhibased company, which beautifully spruced up a discarded train coach to set up a restaurant on wheels. It is reliably learnt that the company was given a five-year contract at an annual licence fee of ~28.30 lakh. The trainthemed restaurant will serve both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, local dishes The inside view of the train-themed restaurant in Amritsar on Tuesday. PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR like kulcha and other tandoor-based eatables to attract tourists visiting the holy city. The Railways provided a model track (showpiece) and stationed a discarded coach, number 01056, at the circulating area of the station outside platform 1-A. The coach being used as a restaurant has been beautifully decorated and steel stairs akin to the one used while boarding a train has been installed outside. Small chairs and sitting area complete with wide windows remind one of travel in a train. Amidst the ambience of a train, the restaurant would offer tandoori food like kulchas, naan and other eatables. The city is famous for several delicacies, but the most sought-after breakfast is kulchas with crisp exterior and soft and flaky interiors, wrapped around fillings of potato, onion, cauliflower, green chillies, smoky spices and more besides puris, Chhole-bhature. The restaurant would serve multiple foot items in the aesthetically decked up coach. Amritsar, September 24 The increasing number of stray cattle is posing a threat to newly planted saplings alongside roads in different areas of the city, leaving residents frustrated. Besides, stray cattle are also a threat to the lives of commuters. Stray cattle has already destroyed numerous saplings, nullifying the efforts of the civic body to beautify and increase the green cover in the city. Residents and commuters alike are asking the administration to take swift action and relocate stray cattle to designated shelters. The situation is alarming as a large number of stray cattle can be seen roaming free, damaging public property and putting human lives at risk. “Stray cattle are destroying our efforts to make our city clean and green,” said Rohan Sharma, a local resident. “We urge the administration to take concrete steps to address the issue,” he said. continued on page 2 c m y b Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 24 Following a complaint by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Lopoke, the police have booked a Motor Transport Clerk (MTC), who registered vehicles on the basis of forged documents. A case has been registered after an inquiry conducted by the SDM, Lopoke, Amandeep Kaur. The accused MTC, identified as Ardeepak, is reportedly absconding after the registration of case. Police officials claimed that they have been conducting raids to arrest the accused MTC and he will be arrested soon. A local RTI activist had complained to Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney and she ordered an inquiry into the case. The investigation was handed over to SDM, Lopoke, during which it was found that the documents of over 100 vehicles were forged. The list of the said vehicles has also been sent by the SDM to Regional Transport Officer (RTO) Arshdeep Singh Lubana, which is being investigated. According to the information received, the MTC has some private agents, who used to prepare forged documents for him. There were complaints that BS-IV vehicles, which are prohibited by the Supreme Court register, were being registered in Lopoke Tehsil. The Deputy Commissioner asked for a report from the SDM, Lopoke, within five days. The SDM, Amandeep Kaur, conducted an inquiry and found the involvement of MTC Ardeepak in the preparation of forged documents. She suspended the MTC and recommended to the Senior Superintendent of Police (Rural) that a case be registered against the MTC after which on Monday, the Lopoke police registered a case of fraud against the accused. It is worth mentioning that the accused had been posted as MTC in the SDM office, Amritsar, for a long time. Ear- lier, he was also looking after the work of MTC in SDM-2 office. During that time also, he had registered many vehicles in the same way. The complainant in the case, Varun Sareen, demanded from the Deputy Commissioner that the matter should be investigated in all sub-divisions and not just Lopoke. “If other sub-divisional offices also conduct an investigation, then a major scam will come to light. This is not only happening in Amritsar but in other cities of the state too. The registration of BS-IV vehicles is going on in other tehsils also and senior officials are involved in it,” alleged Sareen. ‘Rahul Gandhi must apologise for his remarks’ Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 24 Criticising Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on his statement on Sikhs, BJP Punjab state general secretary Dr Jagmohan Singh Raju said that the anti-Sikh mentality of the Congress had once again been exposed. Raju alleged that the Congress was again trying to bring an era of terrorism in Punjab. Addressing a press conference at the BJP office here on Tuesday, along with district party president Harvinder Singh Sandhu, Raju said that Rahul Gandhi’s comment was worrying, because he was trying to spread lies to provoke the Sikh community living abroad. Raju said that Rahul Gandhi has been making state- BJP leader Jagmohan Singh Raju (2nd from right) addresses mediapersons in Amritsar on Tuesday. ments on many sensitive issues. “I think this is the most frightening of all because Rahul Gandhi is trying to spread a false story in front of the Sikh community who are trying to earn their livelihood in America and other countries through hard work and honesty,” he said. Raju said that it was the Congress which ordered the attack and desecration of Sri Harmandir Sahib in 1984. “On whose orders did the riots take place in Delhi and Kanpur and why was no action taken against those leaders during the rule of Congress,” he asked. He said that during the riots under the rule of Congress party, thousands of Sikhs were massacred. “Their hair was forcibly cut and beards shaved. Rahul Gandhi did not say that this happened when the Congress was in power at the Centre and in Delhi,” he said. Raju said that every Gursikh has the right to wear the Sikh Kakars in India which includes turban, Kada and Siri Sahib (small 6-inch sword) and he can travel anywhere, including airplane, wearing these. “Rahul Gandhi is trying to tarnish the image of India by lying abroad,” he said. He demanded that Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the people of the country including the Sikh community.