17062025-ATR-01.qxd 6/16/2025 11:21 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune SAPLINGS BURNT IN GREEN MEMORIAL PARK PUNJAB STUDENTS SHIFT FOCUS TO GERMANY Immigration experts in Punjab are witnessing a sharp increase in student enquiries for Germany. P2 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 35°C | MIN 29°C YESTERDAY MAX 37°C | MIN 28°C GET PHYSICAL: OF SIMPLE JOGS AND COMPLEX CARBS A fire recently broke out in a minijungle along the NH-54 bypass road in Amritsar. P2 FORECAST “It’s not just about looking a certain way, it’s about showing up as best version of myself,” says Malik. P4 » » SUNSET TUESDAY 7.21 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 5.23 AM » TUESDAY | 17 JUNE 2025 | AMRITSAR No end to stray cattle menace Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 16 Despite paying a cow cess on electricity bills, liquor purchases and on buying vehicles, residents of the city are struggling to cope with the growing menace of stray cattle on roads and streets. The Amritsar Municipal Corporation’s claims of spending crores of rupees on development programmes have not proved effective enough for controlling the menace. According to officials, over 3,500 stray cows are roaming city areas, causing traffic jams, accidents, and even attacks on residents. Male calves deserted by farmers in rural areas are increasingly moving to urban locations in search of food, exacerbating the problem. Dozens of stray cows can be seen on the road inside the cantonment area. Further, these can be spotted under the elevated bridge near Bhadari Bridge. Similar is the situation on the Outer Circular road near the cremation ground. Cows relishing leftovers thrown by vegetable vendors can be seen sitting in the middle of roads. A research conducted by traf- Covid-19 makes a comeback in city, but docs say no need to panic Manmeet Singh gill Tribune News Service Stray cattle roam a road in Amritsar on Monday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR fic experts at Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) earlier had highlighted the severity of the issue with several major accidents due to stray cattle being reported. Unfortunately, both residents and stray animals are being killed in road accidents. The municipal corporation’s existing cattle shed has a limited capacity. Though the municipal corporation has approved the construction of two gaushalas to accommodate around 600 cattle in Naraingarh, more sheds are required to house other strays. Activists have repeatedly raised concerns over the exclusion of furious bulls from cow shelters, which often results in mishaps on city roads. “The MC should also take care of bulls,” said Ravinder Mahajan, an activist, adding that the gaushala managements claim that bulls picks up a fight with cows and injure them, so they do not keep a bull in a cow shelter. The MC’s inability to address the stray cattle issue has left residents frustrated and demanding effective solutions. As the situation continues to pose risks to both humans and animals, the authorities are under pressure to find a lasting solution. Amritsar, June 16 Covid-19 has made a comeback after nearly three and a half years in the city with three new cases being reported. Civil Surgeon Dr Kirandeep Kaur has appealed to the residents to not panic. The cases involve junior doctors from a medical college who are currently in home isolation and are reported to be fine. The Civil Surgeon (CS) assured the public that patients with the new variant tend to recover quickly on their own within two to three days. She emphasised that while precautions are necessary, panic is unwarranted. The Civil Surgeon appealed to the public to take precautions, especially those with mild symptoms like cough, cold, fever and shortness of breath. “Avoid crowd- The Civil Surgeon has assured the public that patients afflicted with the new variant tend to recover quickly on their own, within two to three days. ed areas, maintain good hygiene, and wear face mask when necessary,” she advised. Dr Kirandeep Kaur also emphasized the importance of protecting vulnerable groups, including elderly persons, pregnant mothers, small children, and those with underlying health conditions like diabetes, hypertension and kidney disease. To prevent the spread of the virus, the Civil Surgeon recommended frequent hand-washing with soap, using masks as needed, and seeking immediate medical attention if serious symptoms develop. She urged people to rely on credible sources of information and avoid spreading rumours or misinformation on social media. The Civil Surgeon said the district has ample infrastructure in place to deal with the situation. “We have beds reserved for patients at all government hospitals. Ventilators and medicines are also in stock,” she said. The health advisory issued by the department also highlights the importance of avoiding crowded or poorly ventilated places, especially for those with pre-existing health conditions. The residents have also been urged to maintain good hygiene practices, including washing hands regularly and avoiding touching their face, mouth or eyes without washing their hands. Dr Kirandeep Kaur said by taking these precautions, residents can help prevent the spread of Covic19 and ensure their safety and well-being. Tourist Information Centre near Golden Maize producers not getting MSP for crop Temple lacks both employees, space Gurbaxpuri Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 16 Several surveys in the past found the world’s holiest Sikh shrine —- Golden Temple —- among the top tourist destinations in the country yet the state government has made available only a small room and minuscule staff to man the Tourist Information Centre. Situated opposite Golden Temple, the office can accommodate not more than five persons at a time. In the name of staff, it has got only two officials and a Sewadar (class IV). The two officials include a Tourism Officer and a tourist guide. To complicate matters for tourists, the size of the display board informing the location of the Tourist Information Centre is so small that it can be viewed only by a keen observer. Another tourist information centre in the basement of the Golden Temple Entrance A view of the Tourist Information Centre located opposite the Golden Temple in Amritsar. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR Plaza does not find favour with visitors who find it impractical and inconvenient to visit the underground office. A retired teacher from Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Prof Sukhdev Singh, vice-chairman of INTACH, said the government must at least provide a receptionist, one tourist officer, two guides and a helper to run the office properly. The centre is neither prop- erly visible nor has it an inquiry window to answer the queries of tourists. Small twothree page literature should be readily available for visitors, he remarked. Satnam Singh, who runs a couple of lodges in the vicinity of the Golden Temple, said tourists coming from diverse linguistic backgrounds found it tough to communicate with locals to know the location of sightseeing places and utility centres in the holy city. In the absence of proper arrangements by the government to disseminate reliable information, tourists often fall prey to those persons who hoodwink them on the pretext of guiding them. When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney said, “We have already forwarded a demand to the government for hiring more staff to be deployed at the Tourist Information Centre.” Tarn Taran, June 16 Farmers cultivating maize are being exploited in the local grain market. The state government has fixed the MSP of maize at Rs 2,400 per quintal from this season whereas it has been procured in the market at less than half of the MSP The crop is being . procured by private firms as there is no government agency deputed to procure the maize. It is worth noting that the area under maize increased from 18,000 acre last year to 30,000 acre this year. Moreover, Tarn Taran is the only market where private firms came to procure maize. As a result, farmers from Amritsar and Kapurthala districts too come to sell their produce here. On Monday, Charanjit Singh, a maize cultivator from Yodha Nagri (Tarsikka, Amritsar) who came with his one-acre crop, said that his produce had been procured at the rate of just Rs 1,000 per Maize farmers express their concern over not being given the MSP on maize in Tarn Taran. quintal while Mangdeep Singh from Bhrowal, who came to the market with his two acres of crop, said he has been given the rate of Rs 1,050 per quintal. Meanwhile, Palwinder Singh from Bania village who brought his fouracre produce, said that he has been given Rs 1,360 per quintal while Sarwan Singh of Bharowal informed that he was given an MSP of Rs 1,405 for his two-acre produce. The farmers alleged that they were being exploited in the Tarn Taran market and demanded that farmers who have not been given the MSP on maize must be given compensation by the state government. It was a matter of some concern that farmers have to wait for three to four days for the purchase of their produce. Mandi Supervisor Amrinder Singh said that till date, as many as 33,000 bags of maize have arrived in the mandi since the starting of the season and disclosed that maize has been procured at a price ranging from Rs 1,450 to Rs 2,400 on Monday in the mandi. Construction work of roads BRTS relaunch likely in early July with 40 buses started in Ranjit Avenue area Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 16 In a bid to enhance infrastructure and improve the quality of life for residents, Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) Chairman Karamjeet Singh Rintu inaugurated the construction of premix roads from Amrit Anand Park, Ranjit Avenue, to Saini Chowk here on Monday. Speaking on the occasion, Rintu assured that all pending development projects are being completed and that efforts are being intensified to develop the city. He highlighted the importance of constant development work for the ease and comfort of the residents of Amritsar city. “Today, I was briefed by representatives from the Ranjit Avenue A, B, C, and D blocks about the development work that will be initiated in the coming days,” said Rintu. “I am committed to resolving people’s issues on a priority basis. Every day, large numbers of people come to the AIT office to discuss their problems and we are addressing them immediately,” he said. Rintu said under the leadership of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the state government is dedicated to serving people and all proposed development works in areas highlighted by the public are being initiated. “We are committed to carrying out 100 present development works in the northern constituency,” he added. He assured the public that the work on road construction has already started and will continue smoothly. “We are working tirelessly to provide every possible facility to people under the guidance of our Chief Minister,” said Rintu. Additionally, he mentioned that the municipal corporation has already begun the tendering process to improve the city’s sanitation system. “In the coming days, significant improvements will be seen in the city’s cleanliness efforts,” he added. On the same occasion, Senior Deputy Mayor Priyanka Sharma assured that there would be no shortcomings in the development works carried out by the municipal corporation. “We are holding daily meetings with municipal officials to ensure that people’s problems are resolved promptly,” she said. Amritsar, June 16 The Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) project is gearing up to relaunch full-scale operations, with 40 buses expected to be back on the roads by the first week of July. Although no official announcement has been made yet, the buzz around the preparations by Punjab Roadways and the government suggests that the service will resume soon. After operating for the past six months with limited, free services, passengers will now be required to pay fare, as the Punjab government has reportedly issued a fare notification. However, the Municipal Corporation is still not making any effort to hire a vendor for ticket collection and a firm to handle bus repairs. The revival of the BRTS began in December 2024, just before the municipal elections, when Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal c m y b A BRTS bus on the dedicated route in Amritsar on Monday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR flagged off six buses. These buses had resumed service after a 14-month hiatus and have since been running between the Golden Gate and India Gate without charging any fare. Punjab Roadways will supervise the overall project while the fare collection will fall under the Municipal Corporation’s jurisdiction. The fare details, prepared by Punjab Roadways, were submitted to the Punjab government, which has since approved them through an official notification. However, the department is now facing a logistical delay due to the unavailability of ticketing machines, which are essential for fare collection. Once these machines are procured and installed, the full fleet of 40 buses will begin operations. City residents have been demanding an increase in the number of BRTS buses and expansion of services to more routes. These routes are now ready for use but are awaiting the final step of installing the ticket machines. Punjab Roadways officials stated that all aspects such as rising fuel prices and the increasing cost of spare parts were taken into account while deciding the fare structure. “We heard that the bus service will resume on the BRTS route but the MC didn’t hire the ticket collection staff till date. It would be further delayed due to poor coordination among the various departments involved in the operation,” said the manager of a firm hired for BRTS operation.