23112024-ATR-01.qxd 11/22/2024 11:17 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST FOG ‘INCENTIVISE FARMERS TO COMBAT FARM FIRES’ VIDHU VINOD CHOPRA ENTHRALS AUDIENCE AT IFFI CELEBS RECALL WHEN THEY EARNED THEIR FIRST PAYCHECKS Entrepreneurs say move will unlock state’s potential for biofuel revolution. P3 One person who rocked on the third day of the 55th edition of IFFI at Goa was Vidhu Vinod Chopra! P4 From heartfelt gifts to cherished buys, here's how some well-known faces recall spending their first paychecks. P4 » » » MAX 26°C | MIN 12°C YESTERDAY MAX 26°C | MIN 12°C SUNSET SATURDAY 5.28 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 7.06 AM SATURDAY | 23 NOVEMBER 2024 | AMRITSAR ADA workers demolish illegal structures on Ram Tirath Road Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 22 Acting tough against illegal colonies on Ram Tirath Road, the Amritsar Development Authority (ADA) conducted a demolition drive and razed illegal structures in unauthorized colonies here on Friday. Additional Chief Administrator Major Amit Sareen said an ADA team, led by Gursewak Singh Aulakh, District Town Planner (Regulatory), along with police teams demolished unauthorised structures in illegal colonies at Wadala Bhitewad village. Aulakh said the government had issued notices under the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation Act, 1995 (PAPRA Act-1995), to control future development and stop coming up of unauthorised colonies. The owners of two unauthorised colonies at Wadala Bhitewad village had flouted the government rules. He warned the developers of unauthorised colonies that it could lead to 3-7 years’ imprisonment and fines of up to ~2-5 lakh under the Youth stabbed to death, 1 held Amritsar, November 22 A minor altercation turned ugly when a youth, identified as Gaurav, a resident of Prem Nagar locality, was stabbed to death by several persons outside Hindustan Basti here on Friday. The police have registered a case and lauched a hunt nab the suspects. One of the suspects was caught by onlookers and brutally thrashed before he was handed over to the police. Assistant Commissioner of Police Jaspal Singh said the police have arrested one of the accused, Darpan of Mahan Singh Gate, whose two accomplices, Sunny and Ashish, are absconding. He said an FIR has been registered. The incident had occurred at around 11.45pm yesterday. The victim was returning home when the accused surrounded him and entered into a brawl. They allegedly stabbed him multiple times which ultimately led to his death. — TNS Officials step up drive to prevent cases of dengue, chikungunya Neha Saini Tribune News Service Workers of the Amritsar Development Authority Town Planning wing during a demolition drive in an illegal colony in Amritsar on Friday. PAPRA Act. The ADA had already urged the Amritsar Rural Police to register an FIR against 14 colonisers. He said the offenders continued with construction work instead of answering the notices issued to them. He informed that the ADA undertook a demolition drive in another unauthorised colony New Maple City - located in the same village. However, the coloniser restarted development works and erected new structures, which have been demolished by the ADA again. Major Amit Sareen said the regulatory wing of PUDA regularly inspects unauthorized colonies in Amritsar and issued notices while asking them to stop work. He said it has also installed warning boards forbidding the public from buying plots in these colonies. He urged the people to verify the PUDA approval before purchasing plots in colonies to avoid financial losses and trouble. Amritsar, November 22 The Health Department seems to be adopting an all hands on the deck approach while dealing with dengue/chikungunya this year. Taking a cue from last year’s chikungunya outbreak, officials of the Health Department have constituted 15 teams to counter and check the spread of larvae for disease control. Civil Surgeon Dr Kirandeep Kaur said this year, the number of reported cases is significantly less than last year. “We reported 66 cases of dengue and 28 cases of chikungunya this year, while there are no active cases. There is also no cluster of cases this time like last year, when the district had reported 651 instances of of dengue/chikungunya. We are also carrying out extensive inspection of houses and Sewage water remains stagnant on Majitha Road in Amritsar on Friday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR commercial buildings, creating awareness regarding spread of diseases and larvae control. 360 challans have been issued to the offenders,” said the Civil Surgeon. People were being made aware with the campaign being led by District Epidemiologist Dr Harjot Kaur. “15 teams of Health Department officials are active in urban centres while we have hired 120 breeding checkers, people who check breeding of mosquitoes through doorto-door inspection in rural areas as well. Awareness drives are being carried out in different areas of the city including Naraingarh, Chheharta, Putlighar, Batala Road, Majitha Road and Jahajgarh. In addition, 15 teams of anti-larvae squad went to about 285 houses in the entire area and made people aware about dengue/chikungunya larvae today,” she informed. Meanwhile, anti-larvae activities were conducted by Health Department teams and students of nursing colleges by going to different houses. Larvae found in containers from about eight houses were destroyed on the spot. Apart from this, a fever survey was also conducted from these areas and blood samples taken from patients experiencing fever. Along with this, black oil was found in stagnant water at many places, where spraying and fogging was done. Civil Surgeon Dr Kirandeep Kaur said that the Health Department is alert and dengue wards have been prepared across the district as a preventive measure. “Dengue wards have been established in Civil Hospital, Amritsar, at the sub-divisional hospital and also at block level. The anti-larvae wing is visiting different parts of the city, especially the hot spots and carrying out anti-larvae activities. Apart from this, all private hospitals and laboratories have been informed to report any case.” Food Dept officials collect milk, Traffic police launch campaign to apprise desi ghee, sweet samples in city people of importance of wearing helmets Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 22 In order to tighten the noose around those who supply adulterated milk and sell spurious milk products with impunity, the Food Safety wing of Health Department took samples of milk, milk products and sweets from prominent dairies and sweet shops in Chheharta area here on Friday. Food Safety Officers Dr Jatinder Bhatia and Dr Kamaldeep Kaur took samples from Schit and Arya restaurants and sweet shops located in Chheharta area. They took five samples – two of milk, two of sweets and one of desi ghee. Dr Bhatia said the samples were sent to the Food Testing Laboratory at Kharar and appropriate action would be taken following their reports. The Health Department authorities said there have Amritsar, November 22 Days after the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the states of Punjab and Haryana and Union Territory of Chandigarh to file details report on challans issued to two-wheelers or to those with pillion riders wearing no safety helmet, the traffic education cell of the city police on Friday embarked upon an awareness drive and distributed helmets to school children. Residents of the holy city, including youth, refrain from wearing the mandatory helmets while driving two-wheelers and this despite the fact that a majority of the challans issued by the traffic wing is for helmet-less driving. The traffic education cell led by Sub-Inspector Daljit Singh in collaboration with Indian Head Injury Founda- Officials of the Food Safety Department take samples of milk and its products from a dairy in Amritsar on Friday. been reports of selling of adulterated milk, milk products and sweets made from it. They said a campaign was recently started to take samples to check black sheeps using adulterated milk products, thereby playing with the health of the common man in order to earn a quick buck. The Health Department asked those involved in the dairy business to refrain from selling spurious milk and milk product or else face action. Amritsar traffic police personnel distribute helmets to drivers of two-wheelers in Amritsar on Friday. tion, Delhi, led by Dr Chitra on Friday distributed helmets to school children studying in Classes V to VIII at Government Senior Secondary Smart School at Chabba. Daljit Singh said the step has been taken by the traffic wing of Punjab Police led by ADGP (Traffic) A S Rai to spread awareness about the importance of wearing helmets while driving two wheelers. “The school children were made aware of the importance of wearing helmets as it can prove helpful in saving precious lives during sudden road mishaps,” he said, while adding that head injuries were major cause of fatalities during road accidents involving bikes and scooters. Among others present on the occasion were school principal Avtar Singh, school staff, people of the area and parents of children. The amendment to Section 129 of the Motor Vehicles Act mandates the use of helmet for all motorcycle riders above the age of four, including women, except Sikhs wearing turban. The High Court had taken suo motu cognizance with regard to the safety of women on motorcycles, particularly Sikh women not wearing turban. As per the amended Section 129 of the Motor Vehicles Act, driving a scooter or bike without helmet is a serious traffic violation and can attract a fine of up to ~1,000. The traffic police can also impound the vehicle or suspend the driving licence. Trials and tribulations of Partition unravelled at lit fest Bathinda’s Rajinder Singh bags Teacher of the Year Award-2023 Neha Walia Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 22 The fourth day of the 9th Amritsar Sahitya Utsav and Book Fair began with the Head of Punjabi Department, Khalsa College, Dr Atam Singh Randhawa inviting Punjabi thinker and critic Dr Ravi Ravindra, who quoted poems and literary pieces on the theme of ‘Love and Patriotism’. “The Partition of the country was a tragic phenomenon which affected the social, political, religious and economic fabric to a great extent. It was a cunning political move on the basis of which some mutually selfish decisions of both the parties led to a conspiracy. Taking lessons from this division, have we become aware that this kind of phenomenon does not happen in future,” he asked, beginning the session with a statement. Comparing the Partition of India with holocaust, he said that despite the years, the event is never represented through a global perspective. Girls perfom gidhha during the book fair at Khalsa College in Amritsar on Friday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR Referring to various writers, who have expressed this suffering, people born after the partition, who suffered the tragedy, are still connected with this phenomenon on an emotional level. “There is a dearth of literature on mutual love and association in the context of the country’s Partition. Literature related to tragedy was mostly written and read in Hindi, Urdu and Bengali. What happened to the various affected parties related to Partition such as the disabled, poor, Dalits is an issue to consider,” he said. Renowned playwright and director Kewal Dhaliwal, speaking with reference to the play he directed, ‘Yatra 1947’, said it is a representation of the sufferings of Partition at the human level. “Such emotions have been an integral part of life of every generation. The issue of Partition of the country is not only limited to physical division but is also connected with emotional connection. This is the reason why we mention this event again and again. The question to consider is whether we have learned any lessons from the tragedy of Partition or not? Have we understood the tactics of the ruling class or not? The need is for us to become wise so that we do not have to face such phenomenon again. Literature cannot be read or understood without pain, sen- c m y b sation and consciousness. Such events are vital to understanding the causes and effects of partition,” he said. Chief guest Parminder Sodhi said humanity is the special religion of man. “The basic mantra of human behaviour is equality. If people do not reject mutual religious bigotry, then the possibility of such situations may arise again.” Dr Kuldeep Singh Deep, speaking with reference to theatre, said freedom is our catharsis when it makes us feel the pain of the events that happened to us. “Its presentation is being done through theatre and in films. The literature associated with partition blows away our mind. Literature creates awareness by connecting us with our heritage. .” The theatre and film production department, Punjabi University, Patiala, and the Youth Welfare and Cultural Activities Department presented the play ‘Evam Inderjit’ by playwright Badal Sarkar in the open air theatre marking the culmination of the evening. Amritsar, November 22 Annual Teacher of the Year Award-2023 ceremony was held at Khalsa College of Education in collaboration with Khalsa Global Reach Foundation here today. Rajinder Singh, an ETT teacher from Elementary School Kothe Inder Singh Wala, Bathinda bagged the Teacher of the Year award, winning Rs. one lakh cash award and citation. The second position was bagged by Rumani Ahuja, Lecturer in Mathematics, Government Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana, who received Rs.25,000 cash award and citation while Deepak Kumar, Lecturer in Physics, Government Senior Secondary School, Daroli Bhai, Moga was awarded with third position, with ~15,000 cash prize. The award, constituted with the financial help from Khalsa Global Reach Foundation (US) aims to identify and encourage the teaching community Rajinder Singh (in red turban), an ETT teacher from Bathinda, receives the award in Amritsar on Friday. to provide value based education to the society. Khalsa University VC Dr.Mehal Singh, who was the chief guest, said that teachers lay the foundation of any society and the award had been set up to encourage them in performing their duties as nurturers and nation builders. KU Registrar Dr.Khushwinder Kumar said the education scenario has changed with the implementation of the New Education Policy and the role of the teacher has become more challenging. Master Karamjit Singh Grewal from Government Middle School, Jhameri, Ludhiana was also given special award of Rs.10,000 for promoting Punjabi language and other special prizes were also given to teachers Ajay Kumar, Rupinderjit Kaur, Kiran Bala, Gurnam Singh, Gopal Singh, Pankaj Kumar Goyal, Narinder Singh, Palwinder Kaur and Surinder Singh. — TNS