The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

Union ministry ruling on brick use near thermal plants
By Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 22 — Mixing of a minimum of 25 per cent of fly ash, bottom ash or pond ash in the manufacture of clay bricks or tiles or blocks for use in construction activities within a radius of 50 km of coal or lignite-based thermal power plants has been made mandatory by a notification issued by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.

The new notification of the Union Ministry has been issued in pursuance of the orders of the High Court of Delhi on a Public Interest Litigation which made it mandatory for the Union Government to issue this order on or before October 26 last year.

The PIL was filed to seek the protection of the environment, conserve top soil for manufacture of bricks and prevent the dumping of fly ash discharged from coal or lignite-based thermal power plants. One such plant, Ropar Thermal Plant, is located close to Chandigarh (about 60 km). As such the new notification will have a bearing on all brick kilns and units engaged in the manufacture of tiles, bricks and blocks.

With this order, the restrictions on the excavation of top soil for manufacture of bricks and promoting the utilisation of fly ash in the manufacture of building materials and in the construction activity has become mandatory.

Under the notification, the authority for ensuring the use of the specified quantity of fly ash, bottom ash or pond ash will lie with the Regional Officer of the State Pollution Control Board or the Pollution Control Committee.

In case of non-compliance, the said authority, in addition to cancellation of the consent order issued to establish the brick kiln, shall move the district administration for cancellation of mining lease. The cancellation of mining lease shall be decided after due hearing. The thermal power plants shall maintain month-wise records of ash made available to each brick kiln. Only in case sufficient quantity of fly ash, bottom or pond ash is not made available to brick kilns, the authorities concerned can make suitable modifications.

Under the Union Government orders, each coal or lignite-based thermal power plant shall constitute a dispute settlement committee which will include the General Manager of the power plant, and a representative of the All-India Brick and Tile Manufacturers’ Federation. Such a committee will ensure unhindered loading and transport of ash without any undue loss of time.

Further, the order makes it mandatory for all coal or lignite-based thermal power plants to make available fly ash, for at least 10 years, without any payment or any consideration for the purpose of manufacture of ash-based products, such as cement, concrete blocks, bricks, panels or any other material for construction of roads, embankments, dams, dykes or for any other construction activity.

It also makes it mandatory for such power plants to phase out the dumping and disposal of fly ash on land in accordance with the plan according to which they have been licensed to generate power. Such an action plan, to be completed in nine years, shall provide for 30 per cent of the fly ash utilisation within three years from this order to increase further

in utilisation by 10 per cent points every year progressively for the next six years to enable utilisation of the entire fly ash in the power plant by the end of ninth year.

Further, the power plants are required to phase out utilisation of fly ash in accordance with an action plan to be drawn up by power plants not extending beyond 15 years.

Annual implementation report in this regard is to be submitted by April 30 to the Central Pollution Control Board or the State Pollution Control Board or Pollution Control Committees.

Various government agencies, including PWDs, CPWD, National Highways, development authorities, housing boards and other construction agencies shall prescribe the use of fly ash-based products in their respective schedule specifications and construction applications.

The local authorities, too, have been asked to specify in their respective building byelaws and regulations the use of such ash-based products and construction techniques in building materials, roads, embankments or for any other use within four months of the publication of this notification.

The Chandigarh Administration may soon issue a notification in compliance with requirements of order of the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment.

An album of elegance, passion
From Our Correspondent

PANCHKULA, Jan 22 — “We live in a world that sees only the very best”, said the two artistes, Preety and Pinky, who crooned well as a team to wrap up their first Hindi Indi-pop music audio-video album, titled Jhume Jahan, released recently.

Life has not been a bed of roses for them. They have had their share of miseries and struggle, the two singing sisters revealed at a press conference held at a local hotel here today. Preety, the elder one, sings in all voices of leading singers, including Shamshad Begum, Salma Aga, Asha Bhonsle and even R.D. Burman.

Starting with stage performances at a tender age of 5, Pinky and Preety said they have had several playback singing offers with noted music directors, including Anu Malik.

Their new pop album makes an attempt to usher into trans-cultural ethos and is a celebration of life. “Elegance and passion are expression of human attitude”, said Pinky, and that’s what is evident in the soul of the album. With a distinction of being the first singing sisters to bring Gujarat into limelight (they hale from Gujarat), both Preety and Pinky have received worldwide acclaim with over 120 shows to their credit.

Live performances almost everywhere, from South Africa, USA, Canada to London and the homeland, they cherish such ‘gasp-evoking’ shows to know more about people worldwide, they said. Preety, an Aquarian, and Pinky, a Libran, have received formal training in classical singing from the Pandit Rao ji of ‘Gandharav’ Mahavidyalaya, Ahmedabad.

Revealing more about the album, the two said stress has been laid on the lyrics. Reminiscing, solace in love, the albums hit number, pi pi pi papiha pi pi bole, has earned applause all over.

DD kendra in city soon
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 22 — Mr Satya Pal Jain, a former BJP MP from Chandigarh, said here today that the local kendra of Doordarshan would become operational soon.

In a written statement, Mr Jain said that an assurance to this effect had been given to him by the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister, Mr Arun Jaitely, whom he met in New Delhi yesterday.

Mr Jain said that Mr Jaitely would visit Chandigarh in the third week of February during which he would hold a meeting of the officials concerned to take stock of the latest position on the Chandigarh kendra.

Mr Jain informed the minister that in spite of the policy of the Union Government that each state capital must have a Doordarshan kendra, Chandigarh did not have any although the city is the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana.

Mrs Sushma Swaraj during her tenure as Minister of Information and Broadcasting, came here to lay the foundation stone of the kendra the work on which had been in progress since then. Mr Jain wanted Mr Jaitely to get the work on the construction expedited.

Conversion of sites rakes up controversy
By Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 22 — The issue of allowing conversion in use of commercial property, especially the demands for conversion of general trade sites into hotel sites, is raking up a controversy in itself.

The recent decision to allow conversion of three general category sites into hotel sites in Sector 34 has been done just a couple of weeks ago but a lot of dust is already being raised. Various segments of the hotel industry in Chandigarh have been asking the Estate Officer to stop this as it can lead to an unending stream of such demands.

The estate office had written to those seeking conversion of trade to deposit the difference in premium between the general trade property and a hotel or lodging-cum-restaurant site. The Hotel Association of Chandigarh, in a memorandum submitted to the Estate Officer, has alleged that unwanted conversions are taking place and the conversion charges are not being calculated correctly.

At present the charges are calculated on the basis of square yards of plot and not the covered area available on each storey. A more covered area or an increase in the number of storeys means more rooms and thus more revenue. For example, says the association, three storeys are allowed in Sector 35 and Sector 22. But in sites in Sector 34 five storeys are permitted.

In the first case the combined covered area of all the storeys works to be approximately 9000 square feet. On the other hand, the covered area of a site in Sector 34 will be approximately 16,000 square feet as the number of storeys is more. The sites in Sector 34 are also a bit bigger than those in Sector 35, Sector 22 or Sector 7 and 26. However, the calculations to arrive at the sum payable by way of difference in premium of general trade site and a hotel site are based on square yards.

Meanwhile, official sources said that conversion of three sites had been okayed some time ago but the backlash from the hotel lobby has been tremendous. Another general trade site holder in Sector 7 is also applying for conversion. Another site in Sector 26 in wrapped in controversy. On the other hand , the Hotel Association claims that occupancy rate in Chandigarh is no more than 50 percent, Thus there was no need to allow conversion of general trade sites into hotel sites. This will also hamper the auctioning of the five star hotel in Sector 34, added the association.

Interestingly, in the past two weeks, a number of advertisements have been appearing in newspapers which the sellers have been claiming that they have got conversion letters issued by the Administration. So this will mean more hotels and lodgings in the city.

‘Buses not touching Mohali’
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Jan 22 — In spite of instructions by the state transport authorities, Punjab Roadways buses plying from Chandigarh to different destinations in Punjab and back fail to touch the local bus-stand, causing a lot of harassment to persons visiting the township.

To highlight the problem a number of residents had blocked the Chandigarh-Kharar road near Balongi village in April last year. Enquiries reveal that of the 300 buses of the Punjab Roadways, which daily ply from the Chandigarh bus-stand to different destinations in Punjab, only 100 buses touch the local bus-stand.

The residents lament that they face the maximum inconvenience when the Chandigarh bound drop the local passengers on the Chandigarh-Kharar road and they have to pay exorbitant fare to reach their respective destinations. Moreover, there was no local bus service and the residents were dependent on the local bus service being run by the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking.

The officials at the local bus-stand say that they had been writing to the higher authorities regarding the non-entry of long route buses in the local bus-stand. A daily report of the buses which entered the bus-stand was also sent to the officials concerned. They say that a majority of the passengers who board the buses from Chandigarh bus-stand preferred the buses which by passed SAS Nagar.

While the issue hangs fire, the residents want that a local shuttle bus service from the point — where the Chandigarh bound buses drop the local passengers— to different phases should be run for the time being.

On the other hand, a town planner questioned the wisdom of the authorities concerned to locate the bus-stand in the heart of the township whereas it could have been located somewhere on the Chandigarh-Kharar road and local bus service could be run. Investigations reveal that the local bus-stand was initially planned as a workshop of the Punjab Roadways.

Powermen's token strike tomorrow
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 22 — The UT Powermen Union has decided to observe one-day token strike on January 24 in support of the UP State Electricity Board employees' agitation in pursuance of the call given by the Electricity Employees Federation of India and the All-India Electricity Employees Federation in case the Central and UP Governments failed to resolve the issue of the striking employees by then.

In a statement issued yesterday, Mr Bhag Mal Rana, General Secretary of the union, said that a decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the executive council of the union held under the presidentship of Mr Kasturi Lal where the attitude of both the Central and UP Governments towards the UP electricity employees was strongly condemned.

The union decided to support the strike by employees to protect their service conditions and people's interests.

CRIME

DGP suggests high-level probe
From Our Correspondent

SAS NAGAR, Jan 22 — The Additional DGP of the Punjab Human Rights Commission has recommended a probe by a senior IAS officer into allegations made by a complainant regarding high-handedness of the local police and also the transfer of the SP, Mr B.S. Randhawa.

The ADGP in his report to the commission favoured an inquiry into the charges of Mrs Ranjit Kaur, particularly about the false registration of an FIR on May 3,1999, at SAS Nagar. The report said if the allegations were true, disciplinary and criminal action may be initiated against Mr Randhawa. In the meanwhile it would be advisable to have Mr Randhawa posted outside Ropar.

Mrs Ranjit Kaur said that her Phase IV house was given on rent to the police in 1991 which was now occupied by Mr Randhawa. She wanted to get it vacated. She and her husband were allegedly humiliated and beaten up by police personnel on May 3,1999, at the house. Subsequently, the SP allegedly got a false case registered against them for trespass and assault on police personnel deployed on the premises.

Mr Ranjit Kaur further alleged that a police party visited her residence on December 9,1999. The personnel allegedly abused her and her mother and pushed and threatened them. They also tried to get the complainant’s signatures on a piece of paper.

However, the police version was that the complainant was stopped from entering the SP’s premises upon which she allegedly assaulted a constable and others. The uniform of the constable was torn. The police had gone to the complainant’s residence on December 9 to serve notice which the latter declined to receive and the police party returned.

The commission in its order on January 19 agreed ex-facie with the ADGP’s recommendations and said it was desirable to give a showcause notice under Section 16 of the Protection of Human Rights Act,1993, to Mr Randhawa as to why a recommendation for his transfer may not be made to the government. The commission also directed the Ropar SSP to ensure that no police personnel visited or raided the complainant’s residence.

The next date of hearing was fixed for February 22.

2 held for immoral trafficking
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 22 — The police has arrested two women on the charges of immoral trafficking.

According to the police, the accused, a resident of Sector 23 and another of Sector 41, were arrested by a team led by Mr Sagar Preet, ASP, Central, from near the Sector 15 petrol station. A case under Sections 4, 5, 7 and 8 of the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act has been registered.

Liquor seized: The police has arrested four persons from various parts of the city and seized 140 bottles of whisky from their possession. Davinder Singh and Om Parkash were arrested from a dhaba in Sector 22, while Mahesh and Raju were nabbed from the Sector 46 and 49 dividing road.

Cases under Sections 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act have been registered.

Nepali held: Bharat Yadav, a resident of Nepal, was arrested while he was stealing 47 cement tiles and loading them on his rickshaw. A case under Sections 379 and 411, IPC, has been registered.

Motor cycle stolen: Mr Thupstranring Chem, a resident of Sector 27, reported that his motor cycle (DL-4SC-3997) had been stolen from the Sector 17 parking lot. A case under Section 379, IPC, has been registered.

FROM THE SCHOOLS

Colourful function by children
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 22 — The annual prize distribution of the MDAV School, Sector 32, was held today on the school premises in which about 200 students participated. The function was presided over by Mr Anil, Executive Director, Srianch Paper Mills, Ahmedgarh. Mr Brahm Saroop Kalia, DEO, UT, was the chief guest.

Students presented a colourful programme that included a welcome song, nursery rhymes, folk dances of different states.

PTA poll: Elections of the Parents Teachers Association of the Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 16, were held today under the chairmanship Mr R.K. Sharma, Principal. The following have been elected office-bearers: President — Mr A.S. Hundal; Vice-Presidents — Mr J.K. Puri and Mr Narinder Malik; General Secretary — Mr R.K. Aggarwal; Joint Secretary — Mrs Neeta Sekhon; Treasurer — Mrs Shashi Datta; and Auditor — Mr A.K. Aggarwal.

Drawing contest: A drawing competition was organised at Shishu Niketan Senior Secondary Model School, Sector 22, in collaboration with the Ravalgon Sugar Farm Ltd.

About 3,500 students participated in the competition. The results are: class III — Paramjit (1), Gagandeep (2), Pushkar (3) and Abhishek Kumar (special prize); class IV — Saurabh (1), R. Aishwarya (2) and Shivali (3); class V — Binni Gupta (1), Isha Aggarwal (2) and Neha Arora (3); class VI — Amandeep Kaur (1), Munish Katoch (2) and Surbhi Gupta (3); class VII — Arjun Singh (1), Ishan Dwivedi (2) and Suraj Mahajan (3); class VIII — Asshdeep Saini (1), Sheetal Goel (2) and Gurpreet Kaur (3).

Prize distribution: The DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, in collaboration with the Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) today organised a prize distribution function of essays and slogan writing competition on conservation of national resources.

Prizes were given to the following students:

Essay writing: Kunal Thakur (1), Anoop Bhatt (2) and Vikas Rana (3); slogan writing: Anupam Dogra (1), A. Ahmad (2) and Jatin (3).

Science contest: The State Institute of Education, Sector 32, conducted the Science Contest-99 in which Jagroop Singh of class X of the DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, topped the merit list in the urban category.