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  • Harjap Singh Aujla appointed as USA Patron of Amritsar Vikas Manch:

    Punjab Newsline Network

    Tuesday, 20 October 2009
    HPAMRITSAR: Punjabi Diaspora settled abroad seem to be more keen to see a cleaner, more liveable Amritsar; Besides, They have recourses to help promote Amritsar Vikas Manch agenda in their own way. Some of them are already popular names in social work and are eager to contribute their mite through association with this NGO.

    Amritsar Vikas Manch President S. Manmohan Singh Brar and General Secretary Amrit Lal Mannan has stated that Manch has deputed Harjap Singh Aujla of 16 Junction Pond Lane,Monmouth Junction, New Jersy, 08852 USA, Ph:- 7323290981, Email- harjapaujla@gmail.com as the USA patron of the Manch and authorised to issue Statements on behalf of Amritsar Vikas Manch. Ideas and opinions may be mailed to him at the address cited above.

    Aujla is a retired engineer settled in the USA and understands the limitations and compulsions of Punjab politics vis-à-vis Amritsar and harbours a penetrating and analytical mind duly armed with a zest for ‘sewa’. We expect that this Manch will use his presence overseas to augur welfare of Amritsar .

P.K. Jaiswar- Tribune News Service
Amritsar, June 23' 2009: The Amritsar Vikas Manch (AVM) has decided to adopt Sakatary Bagh, currently in poor shape as the authorities concerned have failed to complete the repair of the adjoining storm water drain. A team of the manch paid a visit to the bagh in this regard and discussed the issue for making the garden more beautiful and methods for its upkeep.Daljit Singh Kohli, vice-president of the manch, said situated on the outskirts of the city on the Tarn Taran road, the garden is one of the major green lungs of the city. It can be divided into two parts. The area near the drain is low-lying, due to which filthy drain water has been filled in the area damaging the green cover and trees as the repair work is still going on the drain. However, the remaining area, which is little higher, is being maintained by the Municipal Corporation although it is not up to the mark.He said a delegation of the AVM had also met Deputy Commissioner, Kahan Singh Pannu for adopting the park. The manch would carry out plantation work in the park with the active help of other non-government organisations (NGOs), including Pingalwara, Red Cross and other similar societies, which could provide saplings of decorative and shadow trees.Sakatri Bagh, has been in the eye of storm as sewerage water and filth frequently enters the park, adversely affecting the flora and fauna. The storm water drain, which runs parallel to the park, is under repair and a temporary drain has been built through the park to drain out the filthy water. During rains, the temporary drain overflows and the water enters the park, turning it into a pool of filth.It is pertinent to mention here that the corporation had also released big advertisements seeking topnotch landscape consultants to spruce up the green lungs, which are getting rapidly choked due to burgeoning urban growth and commercialisation. However, the corporation is yet to initiate any steps to maintain such parks, lamented a nature lover.

Tribune News service Amritsar, May 26 2009: The Amritsar Vikas Manch (AVM) has urged the Deputy Commissioner and the Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation to impose a ban on the burning of garbage and residue of trees.The Manch general secretary Amrit Lal Mannan, in a communiqué to the DC and the Commissioner, said that as the state government had already imposed a ban on the burning the wheat crop residue to protect environment, it should also ban the burning of garbage and tree leaves which damaged the green belts.He said that in the morning hours when a large number of people go for morning walk they saw smoke in every corner of the city where the garbage and the residue of trees were burnt by some irresponsible persons.Mannan said in Ram Bagh near the statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh one may see the damaged trees due to bruning of tree leaves and the branches. He demanded action against the persons responsible for burning the garbage and tree remains. He said that some employees of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation were suspended for this lapse some time back. He demanded strict warning to all the officials concerned against burning garbage in the open.
‘Specify sites outside city for political rallies’-AVM
P.K. Jaiswar- Tribune News service Amritsar, May 1' 2009: The Amritsar Vikas Manch today sought holding of political rallies only at selected and notified open spaces outside the city instead of organising them at almost every chowk thus disrupting traffic during peak hours of day and causing inconvenience to people and school kids especially when the temperature in the district is soaring day by day. In a missive to Chief Election Commissioner Naveen Chawla, manch patron Mohan Singh stated that the historic city since Independence has always been at the centrestage of politics, regardless of politicalparty or coalition at the helm of affairs in Punjab. He said political parties of all hues choose to obstruct road traffic for rallying purposes. They select busy crossings and road arbitrarily and without any prior notice or permission from competent authority for holding rallies without taking into consideration the inconvenience or hardship which thousands of busy commuters, senior citizens or returning school kids have to endure for long hours in the scorching north Indian summer. The police was seen only paving the way for such avoidable and frequent dislocation of traffic and not unexpectedly, such rallies and cavalcades leave a trail of damage to city roads and public property besides vehicular pollution due to dislocation of traffic, he added. The manch leader suggested that the district administration should be directed to spell out some open spaces for holding protests or rallies, outside the city and away from roads for example at Ranjit Avenue Block A or adjoining areas around New Amritsar Bypass. Rallies are very important and they should be properly organised butnot inflicted on hapless motoristsor school kids, who are taken ascaptive audience. He requested the Chief Election Commissioner to direct the district administrations to maintain normal day-to-day life of citizens and permit rallies by political parties only at select and notified open spaces or marriage resorts.

Retaining History
ASI better equipped to handle Ram Bagh: AVM
P K Jaiswar- Tribune News Service
Amritsar, March 10 2009: The leaders of the Amritsar Vikas Manch (AVM) have appealed to Navjot Singh Sidhu, MP, to get the charge of the entire Ram Bagh Complex transferred to the ASI along with the project of restoration, which would save the municipal corporation, Amritsar, unnecessary expense and labour and also ensure quality restoration by ASI experts. Taking up the issue of the state of disrepair and total mismanagement of the restoration work going on in the local historic Ram Bagh, the Amritsar Vikas Manch today held the Punjab government and the local municipal corporation responsible for the sorry state of affairs at the historic garden. A delegation of the manch, consisting of patrons Prof. Mohan Singh and Dr. Charanjit Singh Gumtala, led by president Manmohan Singh Brar today met SN Kesarwani, the superintending archaeologist at the site who informed them that the 678 kanal, 12 marla, national monument was put on the list of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on October 15, 2004. However, he said till date it was still under the municipal corporation, Amritsar, and it was the corporation and the state
government, which was carrying out the projects of roads in the bagh, although the situation demands that this specialised task be carried out by experts of the ASI, he added. “Unfortunately, in spite of reminders by the central government, the charge of the historic bagh has not been handed over to the ASI, which at present is entrusted with only six structures viz The Gate, The Royal Palace, The Royal Bath, Chhoti Baradari, Machhi Ghar and the Watch Towers,” Kesarwani said.He said the restoration workof the Royal Bath would be taken up next year.

AVM: Govt ‘deliberately’ ignoring Rajasansi airport
Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 27 2009: The Amritsar Vikas Manch, in a communiqué to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, alleged that the ruling alliance was deliberately giving step-motherly treatment to Rajasansi International Airport here. Manch patrons Dr Charanjit Singh Gumtala and Prof Mohan Singh, in the letter, said the state government had acquired 300 acres for Rs 450 crore within an unprecedented time of about four months for the Mohali airport. However, the government had failed to acquire merely 44 acres for the Amritsar airport at a very nominal cost of Rs 10 to 12 crore. This land was to be acquired in July 2007 for the construction of a parallel taxi track (which is taken by an aircraft just after landing to avoid blockage of the runway). They said even after nearly two years, the 44 acres had not been acquired for reasons best known to the government. They said even before the beginning of construction, a six-lane expressway up to Phagwara was being provided for the Mohali airport for which the acquisition notification had been issued. But the Punjab government was not bothered to provide the six-lane expressway approach to the Rajasansi International Airport which is getting 60 to 65 international flights per week and ferrying more than five lakh passengers annually.Gumtala said Union Minister for Sports Manohar Singh Gill and member of Parliament Navjot Singh Sidhu had been demanding that 1,000 acres should be acquired for the expansion of the Amritsar airport, but the Punjab government was not paying any heed to them. The manch leaders said all this made it clear that the government was not interested in the development of the Amritsar airport. The manch leaders appealed to the CM and the Deputy CM that to develop the Amritsar airport on the pattern of the Delhi airport, by postponing the construction of new international airports in the state till the Amritsar airport developed into a full-fledged international airport, to acquire 44 acres for expansion of the Amritsar airport immediately, start the process of expressway from Amritsar airport to Ludhiana and another up to Bathinda via Faridkot and also start the process of acquiring 1,000 acres for the expansion of the Amritsar airport.
 AVM: Ban free foreign study tours by leaders
P.K. Jaiswar--Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 30 2009: The foreign and study tours by various MLAs, chairmen of various departments and ministers on government expenses during the previous Congress regime yielded no result. This is outcome of the information received under the RTI Act by the Amritsar Vikas Manch (AVM), which has sought immediate ban on such tours. In a communique to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, patron of the manch Prof Mohan Singh said according to information they received under the RTI Act, during the previous Congress regime about 80 MLAs and Congress leadersvisited many countries for “study tour” from May, 2005,to August, 2005, at government expenses of more thanRs 86.50 lakh.However, the authority concerned failed to provide any information regarding what benefit the state had from these tours and what these leaders observed and reported about their visits to these countries.Giving details, Prof Mohan Singh said according to information provided by the under secretary, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, a 29-member delegation of Congress MLAs and leaders visited France, Switzerland, UK, Italy, etc, from July 8 to 25, 2005, while about 25 MLAs and leaders went to Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Singapore on a study tour from July 24 to August 9, 2005.Interestingly, about 25 MLAs had visited Pakistan on “study and peace” tour from May 21 to May 30, 2005. The government borne an expenditure of Rs 82.47 lakh and Rs 4.34 lakh, respectively, on these tour.The AVM patron said the city of Golden Temple, which has an important and prominent place in would tourism map, lack very basic amenities, including clean drinking water and sewerage system, besides the state of education and health facilities was also dismal.He pointed out that there was no need of such tours. The MLAs and leaders of the state were very rich and themselves could afford these tours. If they wanted to go on study tours they could bear the expenditure themselves rather than wasting the precious public money and causing loss tostate exchequer.
New Office-bearers of AVM nominated
Amritsar, August 2008: The following have been nominated as office-bearers of the executive committee of the Amritsar Vikas Manch (AVM): President - Manmohan Singh; senior vice-presidents - Yoginderpal Gupta and Kanwalpreet Singh; vice-presidents - Ravel Sandhu, Bhupinder Rattan, Daljit Kohli, Gian Jaggu and Yashpal Jhabal; general secretary - Amrit Lal Manan; secretary - Bhupinder Singh Chand; press secretary - Jasbir Jas; and executive members - Hari Singh Amar, Dev Raj Sharma, Gurdeep Singh, Harminder Sandhu, Harinder Mohan Singh, Dr Hardeep Singh Deep, Rakesh Sharma, R.P.S. Bedi, Varinderjit Singh Jyoti, Dr Ashok Arora and Balbir Singh Randhawa. — The Tribune

‘Telecast kirtan live on Internet’
Varinder Walia- Tribune News Service
Amritsar, August 22: The Amritsar Vikas Manch has demanded a site for the daily live telecast of kirtan from Harmandar Sahib on the Internet and also an extension of its audio broadcast on the Internet radio. In a communique to SGPC president Avtar Singh, manch patron Dr Charanjit Singh Gumtala has apprised him of the technological developments in the USA, Canada, UK and many other countries (including India) whereby gurdwaras have set up their websites and started dishing out video programmes just like TV and one of the most visited sites, www.sikhnet.com, provides links to different gurdwara websites so as facilitate the users. Dr Gumtala, who is currently in the USA, said even the kirtan from Gurdwara Dukh Niwaran Sahib, Ludhiana, telecast from 4.30 am to 11 am (IST) and 4.30 pm to 10.30 pm (IST), is linked to benefit viewers living anywhere in the world. Programmes from Harmandar Sahib are viewed with great reverence worldwide by not only the Sikh population but also many others. Unfortunately these channels are not available on the Internet and a special and costly connection is required from satellite and cable companies. In the USA , Dish Network (satellite company) charges $150 for installing a new dish and $20 per month for showing the channel alone. With the availability of direct video programmes from Harmandar Sahib on the SGPC site, viewers all over the world would be able to access them.


Manmohan Singh is new AVM chief
Amritsar, April 22: Manmohan Singh has been elected president of the Amritsar Vikas Manch (AVM), an organisation for the development of the city, during a meeting held at the Ashoka Senior Secondary School here. The outgoing president, Harbhajan Singh Gill, presented a report about the activities of the manch during the last year. Harmohan Singh Bedi, senior member and former president of the manch talked about the achievements of the manch. They proposed the name of Manmohan Singh as president for the year 2008-09. The decision was unanimously welcomed by the members present. The patron of the manch Dr Charanjit Singh Gumtala, prof. Mohan Singh and Pritam Singh Kalsi were among the other members present.



Earth Day
Environment in serious trouble: NGOs vow joint fight
Amritsar, April 22: Various NGOs of Amritsar today vowed to put up a joint fight against environment problems, including global warming, climatic change and impact of pesticide on human health. They had assembled at Rambagh, one of the city’s greener area, to celebrate the World Earth Day.
The representatives of organisations, including Saathi, Param Vaibhav, Amritsar Vikas Manch, Bharat Vikas Parishad, Pollution Control Committee, Kheti Virast Mission and Mission Aagaaz gave a clarion call to the residents, various political and religious groups to pitch in to battle the threat being faced Mother Nature.
Meanwhile, mayor Shawet Malik, while addressing the students at Shri Guru Harkrishan Public School, Ranjit Avenue, said each one of us should plant a tree to keep our environment clean and green. The depleting cover of ozone layer poses a great danger to the inhabitants of the earth, he added. He made an appeal to various organisations, social sabha societies, religious bodies to make the holy city beautiful.
Meanwhile, National Green Corp of Ashoka senior secondary school organised a rally on the occasion of World Earth Day. DEO Davinder Pal Singh Dhillon, flagged off the rally in which a large number of students participated. The theme was ‘Save water save planet’. Addressing the students, Kailash Chand Sharma, district science officer emphasised on the need to conserve water. The planet Earth could be saved if we make sincere efforts to remove the pollution which has become a great danger to our planet’s existence. World earth day also celebrated in Government Secondary School, Chheharta here.
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, April 8: International environment campaign group WWF along with several other NGOs including Mission Aagaaz, Amritsar Vikas Manch, New Hope and Jeewan Jagriti here organised a cycle expedition for energy conservation campaign launched all over the world recently.
The expedition started from the deputy commissioner’s residence, passed through various bazaars and vantage points including municipal corporation commissioner’s residence, Red Cross Bhawan, Government College for Women, district court complex, Railway Station, Queens Road and M M Road. It culminated at the Lawrence Road area.
Deputy commissioner, Kahan Singh Pannu and MC commissioner DPS Kharbanda while addressing the expedition, promised all possible help to the participants. Kharbanda assured that the municipal corporation would switch off the decorative lights of the corporation from 8 to 9 pm for energy conservation under Earth Hour, being observed all over the world.
Parkash Singh Bhatti, president Pollution Control Committee, Amritsar, speaking on the occasion said the main aim of the expedition was spreading awareness among the residents of the holy city that they should use their vehicles and various electrical and electronic appliances for their necessity but not for their luxury.
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, March 25: Police reforms, though a distant dream in Punjab, are emerging as a subject of discussion with the general public. At least a beginning seems to have been made. This is the impression that a casual observer would get after attending a seminar entitled “Police-Public interaction” organised by the Amritsar Vikas Manch (AVM).
Manch president Harbhajan Singh Gill enlightened the audience on the reforms and facilities introduced by SSP Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh and introduced in all the police stations of the city such as the appointment of lady police receptionists (PROs) who are supposed to welcome all complainants with a smile and guide them accordingly about the provisions of “Write your own FIR” scheme, initially available at the Sadar police station and the Golden Temple.
He said other states had welcomed the innovations made by the SSP and decided to implement these reforms in letter and spirit. He has dwelt upon the idea of community police and said as per our Constitution every citizen is a policeman without uniform and every policeman is a citizen in police uniform meaning that crime be eliminated or at least reduced to the minimum if the community also gets involved and is vigilant. The city is becoming a highly preferred tourist destination which requires a police of a different kind. Hence the tourist-friendly wing of the police has been promoted to remain available and help the pilgrims, he added.
The SSP invited the audience to ask questions and spent an hour answering their queries. Replying to a query, he clarified that in foreign countries even a phone call from a politician is illegal.
He said yoga camps were being organised to keep the policemen fit. To sensitise the police force, various refresher courses were being organised. Rawail Singh Sandhu, principal Y.P. Gupta and others participated in the question-answer session.

Extension Demand
‘2009 shouldn’t mean end of spl industrial package for state’
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, February 12; Taking an exception to the statement made by state minister for industries Ashwani Kumar that by the end of 2009 a special industrial package would be withdrawn from all states except Jammu and Kashmir and the north-eastern states, the Amritsar Vikas Manch (AVM) on Tuesday urged the Prime Minister and the state minister to take personal interest for granting an industrial package for Punjab on the pattern of its neighbouring states.
The AVM wanted the package to continue even beyond 2009. In a press release here, Dr Charanjit Singh Gumtala and Amrit Lal Manan, patron and former general secretary of the manch, respectively, stated that the PM and Ashwani Kumar were well aware of the plight of the industry in the state. They said the special industrial package given to Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana had wreaked havoc for the Punjab industry as various industrialists preferred to set up new units in these states which were enjoying tax holidays and other benefits. Industrialists of Punjab were also shifting their industries to these states, they added.
Giving the background of the special industrial package, they said it was former Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral who had announced to give special tax and other benefits to the border districts of Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Ferozepore to boost the dying industry in these districts which were hit by terrorism.
Unfortunately the decision could not be implemented and the successive NDA government did not show any interest in this either. Instead, these facilities were provided to the neighboring states by the Vajpayee government with a view to winning the elections.

Drop Mohali airport project says AVM

Amritsar, December 21: The Amritsar Vikas Manch (AVM) today urged Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to drop the Mohali international airport project. In a communiqué to Punjab Chief Minister, manch patron Charanjit Singh Gumtala said the proposed airport at Mohali would only encourage shifting of industry from Punjab to Baddi in Himachal Pradesh and some areas of Haryana.

He expressed the view that Mohali airport would not be of much use to Punjab as 12 out of 20 districts of the state were nearer to Amritsar than to Chandigarh.
Among the eight districts which are close to Chandigarh, Patiala, Ropar and Mohali constituted only 2 per cent of the total passenger traffic to foreign countries as per the report of Delhi-based firm Consulting Engineering Services (India) in association with the ICRA Management Consulting Services. Moreover, all these districts comprised only 23 legislative constituencies out of the 117 in Punjab.

The manch leader said it would not be wise for the state government to waste a staggering amount of Rs 700-800 crore on a project the benefit of which would be shared by Chandigarh, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. They urged Parkash Singh Badal to prevent the wastage of public money to be spent for acquiring land for the proposed airport.

The financial position of the state was already very poor and it is proven by the fact that the Punjab government had given a grant of Rs 100 crore to the holy city after mortgaging property of the Amritsar improvement trust.
Thus, the government, on one hand, did not have Rs 100 crore for improving the basic infrastructure of the holy city and, on the other, it was providing Rs 700-800 crore for the proposed international airport at Mohali, which is not essential for the state.-TNS

Special courts for adulteration cases sought
Amritsar, December 14: The Amritsar Vikas Manch (AVM) has urged the state government to set up special courts to ensure fast disposal of cases relating to the adulteration in fruits, vegetables and other food items vended with impunity. Harbhajan Singh Gill, president, AVM, in a missive to state health and family welfare minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla apprised her of highly adulterated fruits, vegetables and condiments being vended in the market with impurity. He asked for the identification of the culprits and strict punishment for them under the existing laws in order to curb the menace. — TNS

Develop Amritsar as a World Class City says Amritsar Vikas Manch

Amritsar - March 15 (Dr. Charanjit Singh Gumtala) Amritsar Vikas Manch congratulated Mr. Parkash Singh Badal on becoming the Chief Minister of the state for the fourth time. In a letter to Mr. Badal, the Manch president S. Harbhajan Singh Gill and General Secretary Mr. Amritlal Manan have said that the Congress party lost in Majha because it ignored Majha and specially Amritsar in the process of development of the state.

The Congress failed to set up the Special Economic Zone in Amritsar despite the fact that it was announced by the Prime Minister. It also took all the five central government institutions to Mohali and Patiala. Three institutes namely The National Institute of Biotechnology, Nanotechnology and Indian Institute of Science were selected for Mohali and National Institute of Law and defense for Patiala. Even the National Institute of Biotechnology, which was announced for Amritsar by the Prime Minister at the time of 400 year celebrations of Sri Guru Granth Sahib and which clearly mentioned in the Punjab government advertisements on 27 February, 2005 in all major newspapers, was deliberately shifted to Mohali.
A world class healthcare township (Medical City) announced by Mr.Singla, the then Finance Minister of Punjab, never materialized. The congress government took no initiative to improve the basic infrastructure like roads and streetlighting, etc. in Amritsar city. Rather it gave more attention to Mohali to make it a world class city by establishing the Greater Mohali area evelopment Authority. But it never thought of making Amritsar as a World Class city, despite the fact that it receives nearly one crore domestic as well as international tourists annually. It made no effort to improve its tourist potential and make Amritsar into a tourist friendly city. The Manch leaders have said that it is always Majha which tilts the balance and helps a political Party to rule the state as was evident in the last elections when there was no Akali MLA and the government was of congress party.
The manch leaders have appealed Mr. Badal to keep Amritsar on the top of its priority list keeping in view its religious, historical and international tourist importance. They urged Mr. Badal to set up the Knowledge city in Amritsar instead of Mohali. This consists of the National Institute of Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, Biotechnology Park and the Indian Institute of Management etc.
He is urged to set up a world class Medical City at Amritsar besides setting up Greater Amritsar Area Development Authority. The Manch leaders also demanded the setting up of Amritsar Tourism and Industrial Development Authority to improve the tourism potential of the city and to create international level facilities for the tourists who arrive here from all over the world.

Amritsar Vikas Manch demands heritage zone around Golden Temple

Amritsar Vikas Manch has strongly demanded the immediate demolition of the multistory commercial complex of 160 shops in front of the holiest of the holy shrine of the Sikhs, Sri Harmandir Sahib in blatant violation of the Galiara scheme. It also demanded a high level enquiry under which circumstances the huge complex came up illegally just 50-meters from Sri Harmandir Sahib. In different letters to S.Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister Punjab and Sukhbir Singh Badal, the Manch president S.Harbhajan Singh Gill has said that it is a calculated move and a big blunder committed by the congress government to raise multistory commercial complex in front of Sri Harmandir Sahib to deface and diminish the dignity of the holiest of holy shrine of the Sikhs. It is similar in nature with the blunder committed by Mayawati government in the case of commercialization of the area around the Taj Mahal. A similar type of case should be registered against the culprits.

Sri Harmandir Sahib has great Heritage value not for the Sikhs only but for the whole world. This is proved by a BBC survey, which placed Sri Harmandir Sahib at the sixth position among the 50 most sought after destinations of the world. The enlistment of it as a World Heritage Site may be deferred for the time being, but it will revive again in the near future. Sri Harmandir Sahib attracts 75-80 lakh foreign as well as domestic tourists annually.

If it had come in the world Heritage Sites, no new construction could have been raised in the radius of 1000 meters. This huge commercial complex has badly affected the majestic look of Sri Harmandir Sahib Complex and it is a great insult to the holiest of holy shrine of the Siklhs.

The purpose of the Galiara Scheme was to decongest and beautify the area around the Golden Temple. The very purpose of the scheme stands defeated with the construction of this huge commercial complex. In three phases, many buildings were demolished and beautiful gardens came up. But surprisingly, at the main entry to the shrine, the most important part of this scheme, a huge super structure has been raised. This is a clear cut case of misappropriation of Public Money. The central government funds meant for the purpose of beautifying the area was misused for the construction of commercial complex.

The authorities constructed 160 shops without reason and without any legal authority. There was no compulsion by any law to construct these shops for the uprooted shopkeepers in front of the Golden Temple. Even the number of the shops to be demolished is not more than 40-45. They can be adjusted any where else as was the case with the uprooted shopkeepers in the first three phases. They were given shops outside the walled city.

The previous government commercialized the area in front of the Golden Temple instead of making it calm, serene, peaceful and beautiful. The construction of this building will make this area more polluted by air and noise pollution as it will invite more vehicles, as the commercial activity in this building alone will bring more than 300-400 cars/scooters daily. The Punjab Pollution Control Board has in its recent survey has found the area in front of the Golden Temple most polluted and expressed concern over the increasing level of pollution due to vehicles etc. The new building will also create problems in the sewerage system of the area as well.
The SGPC has also raised objections to the construction of this building by writing to the then Chief Minister. The building has made this area more congested instead of decongesting, which will affect the free flow of thousands of visitors who come here daily. It will rather create inconvenience and harassment to the visitors.

Air Sahara international flights from Amritsar sought

Amritsar, March 15 - : - Amritsar Vikas Manch has sought Air Sahara international flights from Amritsar. Established over a decade ago, Amritsar Vikas Manch is a community development NGO committed towards the cause of all round development of Amritsar.The Amritsar Vikas Manch is a non profit making community development Organization, registered in India. The organization was established in the year 1991, under the far sighted vision of Singh Sahib Giani Kirpal Singh Ji, to carry forward sanctity of Guru Arjan Dev Ji's words "Vasdi Sanghan Apaar Anup Ramdaspur".

In a letter to the President of Air Sahara, Mr. Alok Sharma, Manch Advisor & Former President Dr. Charanjit Singh Gumtala has welcomed the proposed flights of Air Sahara from Sri Nagar to Amritsar.

Amritsar airport is developing fast. Many international airlines are operating from Amritsar. So it has a great scope for Air Sahara flights operating from Delhi to other destinations.
There is currently no direct link to these destinations from Amritsar except Singapore. Singapore Airlines operates from Amritsar to Singapore only for 3 days a week. For other destinations, passengers have to travel to Delhi.
If Air Sahara starts flights via Amritsar it will attract a huge rush especially for Chicago, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. It is also requested to start direct flights from Amritsar to New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Toronto, Vancover, Melbourne and other countries.

Passengers prefer direct flights as is evident from the huge rush to all airlines operating from Amritsar. Amritsar airport meets the needs of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir. Presently Air Sahara operates from Delhi-Singapore, Delhi–Colombo, Delhi-Male and Chenai-Colombo.It has proposals out for Chicago, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur. A copy of the letter was also sent to S. Parkash Singh Badal Chief Minister Punjab, Dr. Upinderjeet Kaur Civil Avition Minister, Punjab and S. Navjot Singh Sidhu, M.P.


Air Canada should operate from Amritsar : Gumtala


Amritsar: Air Canada should operate from Amritsar . In a letter to Air Canada President Mr. Montie Brewer, Amritsar Vikas Manch advisor Dr. Charanjit Singh Gumtala stated that Air Canada is going to discontinue flights to India from April 30, 2007 . It is said that AIR INDIA Amritsar-Toranto flight has adversely affected Air Canada Delhi-Toranto flight because people prefer Amritsar to Delhi. Dr. Gumtala has requested the Mr. Montie Brewer to start Air Canada flight from instead Delhi. People will prefer Air Canada rather than Air India because passengers are not satisfied of the service of Air India. Secondly, passengers traveling to USA and other parts of Canada will also prefer Air Canada because Air Canada has more connectively than Air India to these cities. Amritsar airport is becoming more and more popular. Many airlines like Singapore Airlines, Jet Airways, Uzbek, Turkmenia Air India Indian Airlines are successfully operating from Amritsar . So it is in it interest of Air Canada to start flights from Amritsar. Manch leader has also appealed to Punjabis of Canada to approach members of the Canadian Parliament like S. Gurbax Singh Malhi, S. Navdeep Singh and others to appeal to Air Canada to start flights from Amritsar .

Amritsar-Nanded air link sought

Amritsar Vikas Manch has sought Amritsar-Nanded air link. In a letter to President of India Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, AICC President & UPA Chair person Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, Manch advisor Dr. Charanjit Singh Gumtala stated that Tercentenary Guru Gaddi Divas of the holy Guru Granth Sahib is being celebrated on large scale at Sachkhand Abchal Nagar, Nanded in Maharashtra next year (2008). In this connection an airport is being constructed at Nanded. It will be completed this year. It is requested that air link between Amritsar-Nanded be established so that people of Punjab can easily visit this holy shrine. Air India & Indian Airlines should start Amritsar-Nanded flights. Government should also approach other airlines for this connection. Efforts should be done to link Nanded to U.K., USA, Canada etc. via Amritsar so that visitors from these countries can easily visit these two holy Sikh shrines. Amritsar airport is international and many international flights are already operating. Some of them can be extended to Nanded.

Copy of the letter has also been sent to President S.G.P.C. S. Avtar Singh, Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh, Administrator Gurudwara Board, Sachkhand Abchal Nagar, Nanded, S. Parminder Singh Pasricha requesting them to approach the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in this matter.


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bicky71 amritsary janon 0 Aug 18 2009, 10:59 PM EDT by bicky71
Thread started: Aug 18 2009, 10:59 PM EDT  Watch
i love amritsar and wants its development. i m living 1000s miles away from amritsar but my heart belongs to this city. thats why i m worried abot it. the way badal govt treating with amritsar this is unbearble. every one should think abot it do something otherwise one day badal will ruined it. due to his pesonel intrest he want to develope mohali airport and not think even 1% abot amritsar airport. thats why i never heard any statement abot the airlines stop flying to amritsar besides he urging high authorities to start international flights for mohali as soon as possible. pls pls do something and warn badal KE AMRITSAR DE DOKHI NU KITE DHOI NAHI MILL SAKDI.
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Adobe Portable Document Format Campaign_against_drugs.pdf (Adobe Portable Document Format - 8k)
posted by infoasr   Mar 9 2007, 1:48 PM EST
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Adobe Portable Document Format AVM_Press_Rls_27Feb07.pdf (Adobe Portable Document Format - 7k)
posted by infoasr   Feb 27 2007, 10:20 AM EST
Press Release about election Results