The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

Massive hike in city water tariff
Cess on sewerage also okayed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 17 — The city residents will have to shell out more for water as the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) today okayed the proposal to almost double water tariff for various categories of consumers. Besides this, the imposition of sewerage cess and tax on taxi stands were also approved at the meeting of the civic body.

The highest-ever hike in the water rate was surprisingly passed without much discussion and amid walkout and tearing off the copy of the agenda by the Congress members. The proposal will now be sent to the Chandigarh Administration, which will issue the notification for the implementation of the new rates.

The Senior Deputy Mayor, Mr Des Raj Tandon, said since the Central Government had directed the civic body to revise the water rates before any new water projects were cleared. The revision had become inevitable.

Mr Prem Sagar Jain (BJP) said since there was an urgent need to generate resources, this agenda should be passed without any discussion, which was vehemently opposed by the Congress councillor, who alleged that the decision went against the BJP manifesto, which promised that no new taxes would be levied on the residents. The five Congress members then trooped into the Well of the House and raised anti-BJP slogans before staging a walkout. The Congress councillor, Mr Gurcharan Dass Kala, even tore off the agenda papers in the House to register his protest.

A nominated councillor, Mr Harish Bhanot, while coming down heavily on the civic body’s policy of providing free water to the colony residents, wanted that enforcement should be strengthened and the leakage of water minimised.

According to new rates, the lowest domestic rates up to the consumption of 15 kilolitres (KL) had been revised from Rs 0.70 to Rs 1.40. For the metered lawn the new rate would be Rs 2.50 per KL as against the current Rs 1.25 per KL.

Similalry, the institutions will have pay Rs 4.50 for a KL consumed as against Rs 3 per KL now. For the private construction, Rs 3.25 per square feet of the covered area will be charged and the cost of construction will be taken as Rs 650 per square feet.

For the unmetered connections in the urban area, a flat rate of Rs 100 per connection per month had been fixed as against Rs 25 being charged now.The residents of the villages and rehabilitation colonies having up to three taps will now pay Rs 150 per connection per month. The milk colonies, having up to five taps, will be required to Rs 300 per connection per month. And for more than five taps, Rs 5 per KL will have to paid.

An amount of Rs 400 per stand post in markets and lavatories will be charged. Now the treated effluent water for the irrigation of lawns and parks will be available for Rs 50 per kanal per month. A sum of Rs 500 per acre per month is the new rate for irrigation.

Now the consumers will have to arrange their own meters and they will be responsible for the replacement for the defective meters. The civic body will also levy amount on the owners of tubewells ranging from Rs 9,000 (2’’) to Rs 50,000 (6”)

Through another decision, the meeting approved the levy of the sewerage tax at the rate of Rs 5 per seat per month for the residential buildings and Rs 10 for all other buildings. Another important decision taken was the levy of charges on the taxi stands. While taxi stands having area up to 2,000 square feet will have to pay Rs 5,000 per month, those having area above 2,000 square feet will be charged Rs 7,500 per month.

The handing over of 98 toilet blocks to the private parties for maintenance and the sanctioning of staff for the three complaint centres were the other important decisions. The civic body will now open the three complaint centres in Sector 37 and Mani Majra, besides the main complaint centre in Sector 17. The meeting also cleared the setting up of the agenda branch.

Earlier, the Mayor, Ms Shanta Abhilashi, assured the house that work on the removal of the encroachments by certain hotels would be started in a fortnight.

Meanwhile, the Congress spokesman, Mr Subhash Chawla, while criticising the massive hike, has described it a “fraud” with the people by the BJP-SAD alliance.

CATs have failed to provide speedy justice: Aggarwal
By Rajendra Sharma
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 17 — “I am short of Benches. I am short of Members (Administrative). Therefore, cases go on piling up before different Central Administrative Tribunals in the country,” said Justice Ashok Aggarwal, Chairman of all Central Administrative Tribunals.

In an interview this morning, Justice Aggarwal conceded that Tribunals had failed to dispense speedy and cheap justice to the public for which they were set up. He said he would take up the matter of filling posts of various Judicial and Administrative Members in Tribunals with the government.

A former Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, Justice Aggarwal said it was not easy to increase the strength of tribunal Benches. “The appointment of each Administrative or Judicial Member entails creation of additional infrastructure and manpower like court officers, stenographers, clerks and peons, apart from additional courtrooms.”

Since the government is short of funds, it is not possible to create new posts. “I shall definitely strive to get the existing posts filled as early as possible,” he remarked.

Justice Aggarwal, who took over this assignment last October, revealed that he had constituted a committee consisting of two Vice-Chairman and a senior Administrative Member to formulate new norms for disposal of cases. This would help reduce the number of pending cases.

Justice Aggarwal feels that Members (Administrative and Judicial) of tribunals should be treated on a par with High Court Judges in matters of pay and perks. “I shall take up this matter also with the government.”

He lauded the Supreme Court judgement holding that tribunal decisions could be questioned in High Court through petitions. This had helped reducing arrears in the apex court. He was of the opinion that High Court intervened in judgements of tribunals only if tribunals went wrong in a question of law.

Soft-spoken and witty, Justice Aggarwal earlier inaugurated a new building of the Chandigarh Bench of the tribunal in Sector 17. “This is the first Bench in the country which has its own building. All other tribunals have been functioning from rented buildings.”

On arrival Justice Aggarwal was received by Mr J.S. Dhaliwal, acting Vice-Chairman of the Chandigarh Bench of the tribunal, and Mr V.K. Majotra, Member (Administrative), apart from the Adviser to the Chandigarh Administrator, Mrs Vaneeta Rai.

The President of the Tribunal Bar Association Mr G.S. Bal, earlier voiced the difficulties faced by lawyers. He told Justice Aggarwal and the Adviser that lawyers did not have any parking space at the new tribunal building. At times when advocates parked their vehicles on the open space in front of the Treasury Office, its main gate was locked by the Treasury staff, much to the discomfiture of lawyers. And there was no parking lot for litigants, he lamented.

Addressing a selecting gather of advocates and members of the tribunal, the chairman advised them to devote a little extra time to clear, as far as possible, old cases. “The Bench and the Bar are complementary to each other. If they wish, they can reduce arrears for doing a little more work”, he remarked.

Justice Aggarwal also granted the request of the Tribunal Bar Association for providing judgements of contested cases in the tribunal library. This would help both clients and lawyers to go through them.

Speaking for the Bench, Mr Dhaliwal, who is also Member (Judicial), apprised the chairman of the functioning of the local Bench. He pointed out that this Bench had jurisdiction over four states — Punjab, Haryana, Himacal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, besides the Union Territory of Chandigarh. Notwithstanding pressure of heavy work and shortage of two Members, the Bench had been disposing of many more cases than fixed for it.

After the function was over, Justice Aggarwal presided over a Full Bench of the tribunal to set at rest a difference of opinion between different tribunal Benches. In one case the Judicial Member of the local tribunal had agreed with the Bombay Bench that special pay given to an officer should be merged in his basic pay at the time of his promotion to the next higher rank, which the Member (Administrative) had taken a different view.

The Full Bench agreed with the opinion held by the Judicial Member and observed that the Administrative Member had little to differ with the judgement of the Division Bench.

War widows given Badge of Sacrifice
Tribune News Service

CHANDI MANDIR, Jan 17 — There were many a wet eye in Manekshaw Auditorium here today as 50 war widows, including relatives, were honoured with the Badge of Sacrifice acknowledging the supreme sacrifice made by the soldiers by a grateful nation.

The next of kith and kin were handed over the oblong gold plated medallions along with Certificates of Honour at a solemn ceremony held here this morning. The function was organised by 322 AD Regiment. The families of martyrs belong to various parts of this region.

The badges were given by Col K. K. Singh, Officiating Brigade Commander, Mr S.K. Monga, DC, Panchkula, and Maj D.P.S. Budhwar, Secretary Zila Sainik Board, Panchkula. A large number of senior officers were also present on the occasion.

The medallions were instituted by the Chief of Army Staff as a token symbol to remember, recognise and honour the families of the gallant soldiers who laid down their lives for the safety and honour of the nation.

The medallions depict a flame symbolising the eternal sacrifice made by these soldiers and has the immortal words “for your tomorrow, he gave his today” on one side in English and its translation in Hindi on the other side.

Today’s event was a part of the ongoing special ceremonies being organised at various military headquarters across the country.

The wheelchair bound 100-year old mother of one of those honoured was overcome by grief and had to be wheeled out of the auditorium by an attendant. Similarly, many widows, many nearly blind, were too old and feeble and had to be escorted to the dais.

The oldest widow to be honoured was Mrs Kartar Kaur, whose husband, Sepoy Gurdial Singh of 60 Sikh, laid down his life while fighting intruders in Kashmir in 1948. The nearly 80-year old widow was escorted to the dais by an attendant amid applause from the audience. Mr Jeeta Singh received the medallion for his brother, Sepoy Ujagar Singh of 1 Sikh, who was killed while fighting Pakistani intruders in 1947.

Similarly, Mr Sher Singh received the honour for his uncle, Ujagar Singh of I Sikh, in the 1947 operations.

The list of honoured soldiers include Vir Chakra winner Nk Mohinder Singh, 4 Sikh, Vir Chakra Sub Sampuran Singh, 13 Sikh LI, and Sena Medal winner L Nk Saudagar Singh, 7 Sikh, killed in Operation Cactus Lilly in Jammu and Kashmir in 1971 and Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka in 1987 and Operation Riddle in Jammu and Kashmir in 1965, respectively.

Other widows who were honoured were Mrs Swadesh Kumari for Subedar Gobind Ram, 17 J&K Rif, Kashmir valley, 1994, Mrs Surjit Kaur for Babu Singh, 9 Horse, 1971, Hukum Devi for Nb Sub Mehar Singh, 1 Horse, 1971, Rattan Kumari for Daf Roshan Singh, 14 Horse, 1965, Mrs Kulvinder Kaur for SWR Dalip Singh, 63 Cavalry, 1971, Mrs Bhago for L Nk Rattan Singh, 1962, Mrs Nasib Kaur for Sep Pritam Singh, 1962 and Bhajan Kaur, for Sep Ajaib Singh, 1 Sikh, 1962.

Dhan Kaur for Sep Gurpal Singh, 2 Sikh, 1965, Amarjit Singh (son) for Sub Rakha Singh, 2 Sikh LI, 1962, Kehar Kaur for Hav Gurdial Singh, 4 Sikh LI, 1962, Hazara Singh for Sep Bhag Singh, 1962, Tej Kaur for Hav Dalmer Singh, 6 Sikh LI, 1965, Surjit Kaur for Sep Gurdev Singh, 1962, Gurmeet Singh (brother) for Sep Pritam Singh, 5 Sikh LI, 1965, Harbans Kaur for L Nk Dayal Singh, 1965 and Kartar Kaur (mother) for Sep Sham Singh, 6 Sikh LI, 1965, and Bhajan Singh (father) for Sep Bahadur Singh, 6 Sikh LI, 1965.

Baljinder Kaur for Sep Gurmail Singh, 9 Sikh LI, 1971; Surinder Kaur for Nb Sub Avtar Singh, 14 Sikh LI, 1994; Gurmit Kaur for Nk Mansa Singh, 1971; Jarnail Kaur for Nk Faqir Singh, 3 Sikh LI, 1971; Gurnam Singh for Sep Kuldip Singh, 13 Sikh LI, 1987; Surjit Kaur for Nk Harbhajan Singh, 9 Sikh LI, 1998, Harjinder Kaur for Hav Swarn Singh, 13 Sikh LI, 1987; and Paramjit Kaur for Nk Surjeet Singh, 16 Sikh LI, 1999.

Pal Kaur for Sep Ajaib Singh, 10 Sikh LI, 1971; Saroj Rana for Hav Ravindra Singh, 6 Para, 1998; Devindra Singh, Nk Dharam Singh, 4 Sikh, 1984; Kanta for Nb Sub Nirmal Singh, 10 Mahar, 1998; Karnail Singh (son) for Sep Surjit Singh, 15 Punjab, 1971; Bhajan Kaur for Hav Nirmal Singh, 4 Mahar, 1987; Dharam Singh (father) for Nk Pritam Singh, 3 Punjab, 1989; Kuldip Kaur, Sep Tarsem Singh, 20 Punjab, 1971; Ravinder Kaur (niece) for Sep Mohan Singh, 5 Sikh, 1971; Manjit Kaur for Harbhajan Singh, 17 Sikh, 1989; and Swarn Kaur for Sep Onka Singh, 6 Sikh, 1991; and Swarn Kaur for L Nk Jagjit Singh, 8 Sikh, 1993.

Icy winds sweep region

CHANDIGARH, Jan 17 (UNI) — The whole of North-West India continued to smart under severe cold wave conditions with minimum temperatures plumetting by two to six degrees Celsius below normal for the third day today.

The westerly disturbances having further moved eastward, Jammu and Kashmir, Himchal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi and the National Capital Region shivered under the intense cold wave conditions.

The weathermen here have warned of continued cold wave over the next 24 hours and ground frosts appearing at some places in Punjab and Haryana during the night.

The clear weather and bright sun notwithstanding, icy winds sweeping from across snowclad mountains kept day temperature one to two degrees below normal in the region.

Amritsar in Punjab turned out to be the coldest place in the plains with minimum temperature dipping to 1.3°C, four degrees below normal, followed by Ludhiana (2.8°C) and Patiala (3.5°C), three and four degrees, respectively, below normal this morning.

In Delhi, Palam reported the low of 2.5° Celsius, about four degrees below normal while Safdarjung recorded 5°C, minus two degrees this morning.

Ambala, Hisar, Rohtak and Gurgaon in Haryana were the coldest places each reporting the low of 3.1°C, 3.6°C, 4.7°C, 3°C respectively, this morning. These were two to four degrees below normal.

The people in and around Chandigarh after experiencing yet another cold night with 3.6°C, three degrees below normal saw the day temperature hovering around 18.8°C, one degree below normal.

The entire northern-most Ladakh district continued to smart under sub-zero temperatures of eight to ten degree Celsius. Srinagar recorded the -3.3°C this morning.

The whole of tribal belt in Himachal Pradesh continued to reel under sub-zero temperatures of eight to ten degree Celsius. However, famous tourist resort of Manali has been experiencing the coldest nights in several years with minimum staying six to seven degree Celius below the freezing point.

Solan, a midway town along the Kalka-Shimla highway was the coldest in the lower reaches of Himchal Pradesh with the minimum temperature dipping to -3°C this morning. Una was the other colder place with -2°C, followed by Sundernagar (-0.6°C). Shimla reported the low of -0.3°C, two degree below normal.

COMMUNITY

Road Safety Week concludes
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 17 — The Road Safety Week organised by the Chandigarh traffic police from January 11 concluded here today. A prize distribution function was held at Tagore Theatre here today, in this regard. Ms Vineeta Rai, Adviser to the Administrator, was the chief guest.

Speaking on the occasion, she said the week was filled with meaningful activities, aimed at spreading awareness about the traffic rules and regulations. She hoped that the awareness created would actually translate into action by the city residents.

The Adviser said despite the increase in the population and the number of vehicles on the roads, there had been no parallel increase in the number of traffic policemen. She said, therefore, road users should help in enforcing the rules and regulations.

She also distributed prizes to the winners of the various competitions organised during the week.

Mr Parag Jain, SSP, in his address, sought the cooperation of the people in regulating the traffic in various parts of the city. He also said 129 lives had been lost in accidents past year. Commenting on the increase in automobile thefts, he said etching on windscreens of cars would be undertaken to help the police trace stolen vehicles.

Mr Alok Kumar, ASP, Traffic, read out a report of the activities undertaken during the week. Also present on the occasion were Mr Asad Farooqui, SSP, Operations, and Mr D.S. Saroya, DPI (S), besides traffic wardens and participants.

The students of Kailash Behl Centenary School, Sector 7, presented a colourful cultural programme on the occasion.

The following are the winners of various prizes that were given today: Painting competition (below 10 years) — Rajveer 1, Sukriti 2 (both students of Shivalik Public School, Sector 41); Neeral Dogra (St Kabir Public School, Sector 26) 3.

Age group 11 to 15 — Anil Sofat (St Kabir) 1, Sonika (GMSSS, Sector 16) 2, and Vinay Ahuja (Shivaik Public School) 3; above-16 age group — Sukriti Vadhera (GMSSS, Sector 16) 1, Bharat Sindhwani (GSSS, Sector 20) 2, and Chetan (GMSSS, Sector 40) 3.

Brisk walk (men) — Mr M. L. Chatkara 1, Mr D.K. Saggar 2. women — Ms Shakuntala Sharma 1, Ms Santosh Bidani 2.

Declamation (schools) — Palwinder Kaur, (GMSSS, Sector 33) 1, Joti Kaur (Shivalik Public School) 2, Amrita Bhattacharya, (DAV, Sector 8) 3; colleges — Ashminder Singh (SGGS College, Sector 26) 1, Raghav Kumaria (S.D. College, Sector 32) 2.

Mr Gurpal Singh of Depot Number 3 of the CTU, was adjudged the best participant at the workshop for drivers.

Skit competition by school students — GMSSS, Sector 34, (1), GMSSS, Sector 40, (2); essay competition — Simran Dhaliwal (1), Sahil Manchanda (2) and Palwinder Kaur (3).

Slogan writing — Sanjeev Arora (1), Akant (2) and Rajni (3); poster competition — Manpal Singh Setia (1), Chetan (2), Silky Arora (3).

Milk supply to city affected
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 17 — The supply of milk to the city and periphery was affected today following a strike by members of the Periphery Milkmen Union and the Sangarash Committee, Punjab and Chandigarh. The strike was total, the agitators claimed.

Hundreds of milkmen from various parts of the state and the periphery took part in the strike. The protesters assembled in Sector 34 and raised slogans against the government for setting up the “anti-farmer Punjab Dairy Development Board which will bring many small-time dairy owners and vendors on the road”. The board will ensure that milk can be sold to the government dairy alone, thereby sounding the death knell for thousands of milkmen, they said.

The protesters later marched to the Housing Board roundabout and held up traffic for more than three hours. The police had made arrangements to prevent any attempt to break a cordon and any march towards the Punjab CM’s residence.

Leaders of the union said the milkmen, who acted as a counter force to big buyers who purchased milk at low rates, would no more be there and the ultimate sufferer would be the consumer who will have no option but to buy milk at the prices dictated by the board. Moreover, the milk would only be sold in packets, hitting small-time farmers or vendors.

The terms of the board also stipulate that a dairy owner and a farmer would have to sell his milk to a particular dairy for at least one year with the condition that all loss would be borne by the seller with no liability on part of the purchaser.

They alleged that the Punjab government, in collusion with certain foreign powers, was labelling the whole exercise as a big leap for the White Revolution and was very necessary to give it a fillip.

The agitators demanded amendments in the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, ensuring the sale of good quality feed at nominal rates, rolling back the 4 per cent surcharge levied on the sale of feed.

They also demanded that the government should lift the ban on transporting cattle from one place to another, besides scrapping the development board.

A memorandum was later submitted to the Punjab Governor.

Snag in phone exchange
From Our Correspondent

MANAULI (SAS Nagar), Jan 17 — Telephone users of more than 12 villages are a harassed lot because of a fault in the rural telephone exchange here.

The snag has affected the numbers in the series of 518 and 519. The village panchayat of Manauli has complained to the authorities concerned but little has been done in this regard.

Kaul's death condoled
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 17 — The death of T.N. Kaul was mourned at a condolence meeting held at the Sector 19 Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID) today.

T.N. Kaul was a member of the governing body of the CRRID and the chairman of the editorial board of the international quarterly Man and Development. Staff members observed a two-minute silence as a mark of respect to the departed soul.

Mr Rashpal Malhotra, Director, CRRID, recalled Kaul's contribution in diplomacy and international relations. He also highlighted Kaul's personal efforts to make CRRID a vibrant research organisation.

CRIME

Cop accused in jailbreak case
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 17 — Accusing UT Sub-Inspector D.S. Chandel of fabricating record in the jailbreak case, accused D.S. Rajput, in a complaint before a city court, has stated that 24 ladoos, allegedly containing explosives, were displayed during a press conference in June, 1998, while only 11 ladoos were later produced before the trial court.

Seeking directions to the Station House Officer of the Sector 34 police station to lodge an FIR on the basis of the complaint, Rajput stated that the absence of the remaining ladoos showed that the case property had been tampered with.

Claiming to have been implicated, Rajput also asked for arresting Chandel after dismissing him, "so that no one police person under the garb of investigation misused his police power to misguide the UT Administration in future, in the interest of justice."

Taking up the complaint, the UT Judicial Magistrate (First Class), Mr A. K. Bishnoi, directed it to be "checked and registered" before fixing February 1 for consideration.

Meanwhile, Rajput, in his complaint, also stated that Chandel obtained the sanction order for the prosecution of the applicant after misleading the administration, besides arranging a press conference on June 11, 1998, without its consent.

He added that false statements of certain prosecution witnesses, including Lakhwinder Singh, Girish Ahluwalia and Labh Singh were prepared, while the statements of the jail superintendent and other officials were not recorded.

Body recovered from ditch
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 17 — The police recovered a body from a ditch near the CTU workshop in the Industrial area here today.

According to police sources, the body was of a man said to be in his late 30s and bore a stab wound in the abdomen. The knife had not been taken out from the wound and has been recovered by the police. The man also appeared to have been strangulated by a muffler, which was wrapped around his neck. He was wearing a trouser, shirt and a jacket and sported a bald head.

A dog squad was pressed into service but no breakthrough was reported till late evening. The police suspects that the murder could have been committed elsewhere and the body dumped here. The body was seen by some employees of the forest department who were going to plant some saplings.

A case under Section 302, IPC, has been registered at the Industrial Area police station.

Whisky seized: The police has arrested Rajbir Singh and Om Parkash in the city and recovered 52 bottles of whisky from their possession. Cases under Section 61 / 1/14 of the Excise Act have been registered.

Arrested: A Jhampur resident, Daljit Singh, has been arrested for allegedly stealing money from the purse of Anil Kumar, a resident of Sector 28. A case under Section 379 / 411, IPC, has been registered.

Car stolen: Mahmood Saleem, a resident of Sector 15, reported that his car, CHK 3662, had been stolen from his residence. A case under Section 379, IPC, has been registered.

Eve-teasing: Sushil Kumar, a resident of Burail, was arrested on the charge of eve-teasing from Palsora village. A case under Section 294 / 509, IPC, has been registered.

BUSINESS

Demand for money irks allottees
By Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 17 — A project one and a half years behind schedule and an additional financial burden of over Rs 50,000 underlines the harassment caused to more than 550 house allottees of Panjab University under a scheme of the Panjab University Home Provision Associates Cooperative House Building Society.

In a letter circulated among members, Rs 55,000 has been demanded for A-category, Rs 40,000 for B-category and Rs 15,000 for C-category. The money is expected in three instalments. Allotment has been made on paper but possession has not been given.

Agitated members say demand for an additional sum has never been mentioned in the scheme. Most of the members have not been consulted for additions in the project.

The managing committee says it is short of funds. Delay will put additional burden on members, the circular says. The cooperative society claims that calculation of costs of the project and total collections have revealed a gap of Rs 2.76 crore, which needs to be realised from members.

An open letter has questioned the right of the cooperative society to ask for additional money. It adds that details of the work done through the committee bulletin and report from the internal auditor have not been provided.Another representation demands proper investigation by the CBI. It also points out that due to harassment, members have been forced to dispose of their D- units. A member says there is need to take a decision after going through the details of the project. Voice of harassed investors can be seen on the walls at the entrance to the administration block and other buildings on the campus.

Call to conserve petroleum
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 17 — The Punjab Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, today called upon the people to use alternative sources of energy with a view to conserve the fast-depleting petroleum products.

Speaking at the state-level inaugural function of the oil conservation fortnight at SAS Nagar, near here, he expressed concern at the burgeoning oil import bill, which stood at Rs 30,000 crore per year.

There was no alternative to conservation as demand had risen from 54 million tonnes to 96 million tonnes in the past 10 years. The production had decreased from 34 million tonnes to 33 million tonnes, he added.

Terming the conservation of oil products a social responsibility, the minister informed that the Punjab Government had decided to purchase only fuel-efficient vehicles.

Mr A.S. Bajwa, Manager of Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA), claimed that since the launching of conservation drives in 1991, petroleum products worth Rs 846 crore had been conserved.

Meanwhile, launching the drive in Sector 17 here, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr M. Ramsekhar, called upon oil companies to create greater awareness on fuel economy in the automative sector. The conservation assumes more importance here as Chandigarh has the largest per capita vehicles in the country, with 4.7 lakh registered vehicles in a population of about 9 lakh.

Mr A.M. Nagar, State Level Coordinator of the oil industry, Panjab and Haryana, said 24 per cent of the total export earnings of the country was accounted for by oil imports.

Mr Ajit Singh, Chief General Manager, HPCL, and State Level Coordinator of UT, emphasised on need for optimum utilisation of petroleum products in all walks of life.

The theme of the fortnight this year, which has jointly been organised by Hindustan Petroleum, Bharat Petroleum, Indian Oil and IBP and PCRA, is "conserve petroleum for economy and environment".