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Sunday, July 26, 1998

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Teasing victim dies on birthday
CHENNAI, July 25 (PTI) — A 20-year-old victim of a teasing incident a week ago, died here last night on her birthday succumbing to head injuries sustained near her college while resisting the overtures made by a group of boys.
Sarika Shah, a second year undergraduate of business management at Ethiraj College, had suffered serious head injuries when she fell on the road while trying to escape from some boys who came in an autorickshaw, sprayed water on her and pulled her hand near her college on Saturday, according to the police.
With a suspected brain haemorrhage, she was brought in an unconscious state to a private hospital where an emergency surgery was performed on her. She slipped into a coma and was on life support systems until last night.
An eyewitness told the police that one of the boys was caught and roughed up by passers-by but he gave them a slip when attention shifted to the victim.
The death of Sarika, daughter of a local businessman is the first of its kind in the recent past.
The police has registered a "traffic accident" case and policemen have been deployed near the college and other women’s institutions.
The death evoked sharp reactions from political parties with the Tamil Maanila Congress MP and former Union Minister Jayanthi Natarajan blaming the inadequate deployment of policemen near vulnerable points like women’s colleges for the incident.
Condemning it as an event that ought to put society to shame, she demanded a special drive against "teasing" gangs operating with impunity.
The TNCC president, Mr Tindivanam K. Ramamurthy, also blamed the government, saying it had not heeded to the party’s warnings about anti-social elements and the deteriorating law and order situation.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi warned of stern action against those indulging in teasing.
In the past few days, more than 100 persons, including students, had been arrested in the city on charges of teasing, he said.
Quoting the police, UNI said the circumstances of the assault were not clear. However, a case of murder has been registered by the Egmore police, but none of the gang members have been arrested so far.

High-rise buildings banned in Kasauli
From S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service
SHIMLA, July 25 — The construction of buildings with more than three storeys has been banned in the Kasauli area of Solan district by the Himachal Pradesh Government.
The restriction of vertical construction of buildings has been imposed in the development plan for Kasauli town which has been approved by the state government.The development plan was discussed by the state Cabinet at a recent meeting here before finally approving it.
The development plan lays that no structure or building with more than three storeys shall be allowed in any part of the planning area.
The procedure for obtaining permission for the construction of houses for self-occupation and self-employment units has been simplified.
No major industry, hotel, restaurant, residential colony, commercial complex or group housing project shall be allowed till it is certified by the Executive Engineer, Irrigation and Public Health, concerned with the area that adequate water supply is available for the particular project against the ongoing schemes.
The provisions of the H.P. Town and Country Planning Act were imposed in the Kasauli area in August 1992 following reports of haphazard constructions by private builders in the area were published by The Tribune and the issue was also taken up by the Society for the Preservation of Kasauli and its Environs (SPOKE) in the court. These house builders were out to destroy the beauty of the town and the areas around.
Kasauli town has been excluded from the planning area as it is a cantonment.
The development plan has stressed that every possible effort should be made to preserve the cultural heritage, hill architecture and glory of Kasauli town. The historical Christ Church and other such buildings of cultural significance should be preserved through special efforts.
No building in the town should be allowed to exceed three storeys in any case.
All forests and open spaces should be protected and preserved. No major building blocks should be allowed to be constructed at any cost. Restrictions need to be imposed in the government sector too.
Rain shelters, kiosks or sheds to be constructed along the roadside must be designed in such a way that their architecture bears a resemblance to the local environment.
The development plan has made it clear that the water crisis was a big hindrance in future development of the town. The nearby towns of Solan, Parwanoo and Kalka already have chronic water shortage. Most of the springs in and around Kasauli have been tapped and Gambhar river no longer holds any promise in view of its receding potential. The schemes in hand with the IPH Department for the augmentation of water supply would only meet the requirements of the natural population increase over the next 15 to 20 years.
It has been suggested in the plan that no large-scale acquisition be undertaken by the state government for any major commercial, residential as well as industrial project. Earlier the H.P. Housing Board had to drop its major scheme to plan a residential project at Nahri on account of the non-availability of water supply.
No government land in the Kasauli planning area should be transferred or leased out by the Collector unless a no-objection certificate is issued by the Town and Country Planning Department (TAC).
To preserve the forest area, no urban activity involving the felling of trees and despoiling of hill slopes shall be permissible. The government should acquire the private forests and develop them as city forests.
The concept of "mixed land use" has been evolved for allowing future growth and development within proposed urbanisable area. Because of the utter shortage of water, sectoral development, townships and planned colonies have not been proposed. Only 200 hectares of land is fit for development. In the zone of mixed land use, only such activities as are incidental, conforming and compatible with one another shall be permitted, provided these are unhazardous, eco-friendly and safe.
The development plan has suggested that a bypass should be constructed at Garkhal which has become a bottleneck. The 150-year-old carriageway has been reduced to a jumble of narrow tunnels through which vehicles pass with great difficulty. Proper bus stops should be developed for the buses heading for Dharampur from Kasauli and Jagjitnagar in the Garkhal bazaar.
The plan has recommended that no building or structure shall be raised or constructed within 5 metres from the edge of the acquired width of the roads which include, Kasauli-Jangeshu-Parwanoo, Kasauli-Garkhal-Dharampur (via Pine Grove School), Kasauli-Garkhal-Dharampur (via Sukhi Johri) and Kasauli-Garkhal-Jagjitnagar.
The draft development plan, however, has simplified the procedures for obtaining permission for constructions in the villages around the town. No sanction of any kind shall be required for the construction of cow shed, green house, water tanks, temporary structures incidental to agricultural use, pumphouse, schools, libraries, religious buildings by central or state government or village panchayats, provided these are up to two storeys.
Pucca structures of farm houses for self use up to 200 sq. metre plinth area, but not exceeding two storeys shall be permissible on a simple application.
Besides, single storeyed structures for self-employment activities, including chakki, poultry farm, dairy, store or godown for food, seeds, fertilisers, service industry and small-scale industry related to agriculture and non-polluting in nature can be permitted on a simple application.
The plan has simplified the system of the construction of houses for self occupation in the urbanisable areas around the town. No formal permission shall be required for the construction of houses for self occupation or structures by bona fide residents for self employment and public utility buildings in case the plot is located more than 150 metre away from all major roads. However, a simple application shall have to be submitted to the competent authority along with a line plan of proposed construction and revenue record accompanied with recommendation from the pradhan of the gram panchayat.