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| Saturday, February 3,
2001, Chandigarh, India |
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Welfare bodies rise to
the occasion CHANDIGARH, Feb 2 — The Chandigarh Administration today placed an order for the manufacture of 200 more tents with various manufacturing centres of Punjab jails, even as the first consignment of 200 tents, 12,000 bottles of mineral water and a truckload of life-saving drugs was airlifted to the earthquake-ridden people of Bhuj. The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr Ajay Kashyap, along with a team of jawans has already reached Bhuj to oversee the setting up of tents at Bachau. Gen JFR Jacob (retd), UT Administrator, reviewed the arrangements of earthquake relief and felt that requirements of tents was still a priority and the Chandigarh Administration should place an order for the manufacture of 200 more tents. Meanwhile, relief from all sections of society kept on pouring as people responded overwhelmingly to the appeal of the Administration. In a single day, today various organisations gave away drafts of Rs 43.67 lakh to the Punjab Governor as total amount collected till date touched Rs.1,21,67,020/-. Mr RS Gujaral, Home Secretary, Union Territory, Chandigarh handed over two drafts of Rs. 17.65 lakh and Rs.9.00 lakh collected by the employees of various Departments of U.T. Administration. The Director of Health and Director Family Welfare handed over a draft of Rs. 4,06,420/-. Dr V.P. Singla gave individual contributions of Rs.20,000/-. The Federation of Small-Scale Industries donated a bunch of drafts of Rs 1.63 lakh and the Chandigarh Furniture Association gave a draft of Rs 57,000. The Chandigarh Paint Dealers Association donated Rs 80,000 and shopkeepers of the Palika Bazaar Association gave a draft of Rs 21,000. The Shivalik Enclave Welfare Association gave a draft of Rs 1.07 lakh and a truck-load of biscuits costing Rs 63,000/-. The Chandigarh Chemists Association gave a cheque of Rs 1.31 lakh and the Sector 15C Market Association gave a cheque of Rs 31,000/-. Students of Guru Gobind Singh College handed over a draft of Rs 1 lakh to the Governor whereas the Jewellers Association gave a draft of Rs.1.30 lakh. The Chandigarh Automobile Association gave a cheque of Rs 1.86 lakh whereas Burail Shopkeeper Association gave a cheque of Rs 30,000. The Petroleum Dealers Association gave a cheque of Rs 94,000 whereas Cox India Limited gave a draft of Rs 51,000 the Chambers of Chandigarh Small Scale Industries gave a cheque of Rs 1 lakh. The Parent Teacher Association contributed a sum of Rs 38,970 and the employees of the Ordanance Cable Factory have donated one day’s basic salary. As a special gesture, the Social Service Society, being run under the aegis of the HFCL, has announced to contribute one day’s salary amounting to Rs 35 lakh for the fund. Similarly, a cheque of Rs 17.65 lakh was presented to General Jacob on behalf of the UT government schools. The students and faculty of SUS College of Engineering and Technology, Tangori, donated Rs 37,600. Meanwhile, Mr CP Batta, an advocate of Punjab and Haryana High Court, has offered to provide shelter and food to two elder people and two school-going children for four years. Batta Public School had already offered free education for two children. The chandigarh seva samiti collected several items like clothes and foodgrains. The staff of the State Bank of Patiala (Haryana Zone) contributed Rs 3.5 lakh for the fund. The Punjab Architecture Department has contributed Rs 47,538 as first installment for the fund. The Mohali Industries Association today despatched 124 cartons containing
woollens, blankets, bedsheets, shawls and other items for the victims. The Residents Welfare Association, Sector 23-D, has contributed the second installment of Rs 2,200. Mandi Board staff
to help quake-hit CHANDIGARH,
Feb 2 — All employees of the Punjab Mandi Board and market committees will donate their one-day salary towards the Gujarat Chief Minister’s Earthquake Relief Fund.
Mr G.P.S. Randhawa who was elected the new president of the Punjab Mandi Board Officers Association, said this here on Friday. Mr Avtar Singh, Mr Satwant Singh Virk, Mr Vipan Kapur have been elected association’s vice-president, general secretary and treasurer, respectively.
Scheme to adopt
quake-hit kids PANCHKULA,
Feb 2 — All-India Mission has offered to adopt the education of 100 children affected in the Gujarat earthquake under its Vishvas Foster Scheme. In a press statement, Mr Rishi Gautam, president of Vishvas, said that under the scheme, orphan children would be admitted in its Vishvas Bal Ashrams at Shahabad Markanda in Kurukshetra and Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh. The needy would be provided scholarships for education as per their level of qualifications.
Apart from this, Gurudev Swami Vishvas Ji, along with over 500 volunteers, would go to Gujarat to help in the relief work for the earthquake victims.
CSSI
donates 1 lakh CHANDIGARH, Feb 2 — Mr Roshan Lal Jindal, President of the Confederation of Small Scale Industries, today presented a cheque for Rs 1 lakh to the Deputy Commissioner of Chandigarh, Mr
Ramsekhar, for contribution to the Red Cross Relief Fund,
Gujarat. The organisation also organised a blood donation camp to help victims of the recent earthquake.
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Census duty may affect
studies CHANDIGARH, Feb 2 — As the date for conducting the census draws closer, the city Administration is getting busy with formulating a comprehensive duty plan for the same. As per the latest information available, about 10 to 50 per cent of government school teachers in UT had been put on census duty. While justice is likely to be done to census, studies may be affected in schools, and quite obviously so, with teachers remaining on duty from February 6 till March 6. As far as division of work is concerned, the percentage of teachers on duty differs from school to school. Still the normal procedure of working in all the schools is likely to get affected. The study schedule will also get hampered. The UT Education Department, which is aware of the problem, is determined to ensure that the teaching work continues with whatever staff is available. A senior official of the department assured that disruption of work would be minimal. He added that arrangements were being made accordingly in all the schools and the department would try its level best to prevent hampering the study schedule. Meanwhile, principals of all schools have planned to adjust the timetables accordingly. In some schools, the number of periods will be decreased while the five main periods will be held. In other schools the timing will be curtailed and the school will end two hours before the scheduled time. Some of the principals also plan to hold different classes on alternative days so that no subject suffers. A few principals informed that they planned to take two or three sections of the same class simultaneously. Parents and the students would be informed well in time so that appropriate arrangements could be made by them. The following is the census duty deputation in some of the schools: GMSSS, Sector 35, (24); GMSSS, Sector 18, (26); GMSSS, Sector 33, (19); and four teachers from Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 23. In some other schools almost the entire staff has been put on census duty and the schools have been left with very few teachers to manage the affairs. |
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City resident charges police with
torture CHANDIGARH, Feb 2 — A city resident has accused the police of physical harassment in connivance with his landlord in a case of tenancy dispute. Mr Ashwani Sharma, a phariwala in Sector 22, has accused the police personnel posted in Sector 22 police post of being in collusion with his former landlord, who had set his rented accommodation on fire in December, 2000, in order to force him out of the house. He has also alleged that he was brutally tortured in the Sector 22 police post after he was called there on the pretext of taking his remaining dues from the landlord. However, the police has denied these allegations and instead claimed that the complainant had cooked up the story in order to get the better of his landlord, Mr Surat Singh, who, the former had been blackmailing for money. While talking to TNS here today, the complainant said that he had been staying as a tenant in the house of Mr Surat Singh in Sector 22 alongwith his brother for the last six months. He said that since October he had strained relations with the landlord and the latter wanted him to vacate the house. “On December 5, 2000, a fire broke out in my room when we were not there and the total loss was around Rs 12,500. I apprehended that this was a case of sabotage and so lodged a formal complaint with the police on December 7. However, a few days later on December 25, I saw a police officer of the rank of a Sub Inspector, Mr Birbal and four constables coming to Mr Surat Singh’s house and after spending some time with him, they came up at my door and threatened me to leave the place.” He says that after a few days of this incident he was paid a part of the compensation by the landlord in the presence of the police personnel amounting to Rs 6000/-. He says that after he was paid the part compensation, the Incharge of the police post, SI Yash Pal Sharma, asked him to hand over the keys of the rented accommodation to the landlord on December 31 and the balance would be paid back to the complainant. Mr Sharma claims that he was not paid the balance upon vacating the house and was told to meet the police again in a few days and take the money from them. “ It was on January 16, that I was again summoned by the Sector 22 police and Head Constable Bedi took me there from my new residence near a Health Centre, Sector 22, on the pretext of giving me my dues. However, when I reached there at around 4:45 pm. I was beaten up and given electric shocks. The ordeal lasted for around three hours and after this I was told not to ever visit the area again.” He says that he has also given a written complaint to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr Parag Jain, Home Secretary, the Inspector General of Police, the SP Headquarters and the Grievances Cell on January 29 and demanded that the accused police officers who are threatening him be suitably punished. Interestingly, he has also alleged that after the complaint was sent to the SSP, the accused police officers are pressurising him to withdraw the complaint and have been offering him monetary allurements. However, the incharge of the police post, SI Yash Pal, while denying all the allegations said that the police had helped the two parties (tenant and landlord) reach at a compromise. “The man was indeed summoned to the Police post on January 6 on grounds of suspicion of his being involved in a robbery bid. But he was let off after the antecedents were checked and he was found not guilty.” He also said that since the police had not “tortured” him, there was no question of his being offered monetary allurements. |
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Civil-military meet to discuss disaster management CHANDI MANDIR, Feb 2 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Parkash Chautala, today suggested that a special division in the Army be created to take up effective rescue and relief operations in times of disasters and natural calamities. Delivering the inaugural address at the annual Civil-Military Liaison Conference at Headquarters, Western Command, here today, the Chief Minister said that the special division should be well trained in crisis and disaster management, besides being equipped with sophisticated life saving and rescue equipment. According to a statement issued here, the aim of the conference was to discuss and co-ordinate important issues that are likely to emerge during various contingencies in the state and to evolve a joint and coordinated approach between the military and the state government to promote cooperation at a functional level. A review of past activities was carried out followed by a discussion on issues related to emerging security threats, disaster control law and order situation and internal security. Mr Chautala said that state governments could not help the effected people in the manner the Army could do with its equipment, training and manpower. Appreciating the significant role played by the Army in disaster management, he said that it was high time we changed our thinking and approach to manage unforeseen crisis so as to prevent heavy loss to life and property. Assuring the Army authorities of providing all possible assistance by the state, the Chief Minister also pointed out that the civil authorities should adopt a more practical approach and shun red-tapism and cumbersome procedures so as to ensure timely implementation of projects. Stating that 1.7 lakh soldiers in the Army hailed from Haryana and that 17 lakh people from the state are associated with the defence forces, Mr Chautala said that it is unfortunate that the state had only one Sainik School. Repeated requests by the state government to set up another Sainik School has not borne any results. Addressing issues pertaining to geo-strategy and the security environment, the GOC-in-C, Western Command, Lt Gen Surjit Singh, in his address urged caution against the ill-designs of Pakistan’s ISI. He said that it had not confined its activities to the borders, but is also involved in stirring riots and religious fundamentalism. He said that there is a need to keep a watch on certain elements which are being exploited by Pakistan to destabilise the country. The Army Commander said that the peace initiative taken by India has been recognised by western countries as well as by China, but peace could be restored only if Pakistan did not resort to terrorism and proxy war. The meeting was attended by the Haryana Chief Secretary, Mr L M Goyal, Director General of Police, Mr N S Malik, and top state administration officers. Besides the Army Commander, the Chief of Staff, Western Command, Lt Gen H R S Mann, corps commanders and senior staff officers of the Western Command were also present. |
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Property tax proposed in MC
budget CHANDIGARH, Feb 2 — The first Congress budget of the Municipal Corporation for the year 2001-2002, Chandigarh, proposes property tax, contrary to the stand of the Congress party on the issue while in opposition for the past four years. The budgetary proposals also envisage no cut in water tariff and sewerage cess. . The new mayor, Mr Raj Kumar Goyal, had, at the time of taking charge said that city residents would not be burdened with any taxes and had announced reduction of the water tariff and the sewerage cess. Despite this, the MC was anticipating receipts worth Rs 15 crore from property tax in the budget. It is pertinent to mention that the Congress had been opposing the proposed levy of property tax and staging walkouts on the issue during the tenure of four BJP Mayors. But the BJP had tactfully neither levied the tax nor taken up cudgels against the Administration on the issue. But now, if the same is imposed on residents by the Congress, it would adversely affect the common man. Furthermore, the budget proposes no reduction on water tariff and sewerage cess, as the MC is anticipating receipts worth Rs 25 crore from water tariff and Rs 2 crore from the latter. The Congress councillors had opposed the increase in the rates of water tariff last year. It may be recalled that the Mayor, during the first meeting of the Finance and Contract Committee (F and CC) meeting had proposed an increase in the supervision charges of water meters. But the same were not passed, following opposition by a BJP councillor on the issue. This only goes to show that contrary to the claims of the Mayor, the Congress had not been able to think on any new sources of revenue generation and had to take recourse to property tax for undertaking developmental works in the city. The proposals would come up for discussion in the Finance and Contract Committee meet, scheduled to be held on February 9, after which it would be sent to the House for a final nod. The budgetary proposals at a glance estimate that Rs 26.50 crore will come in the shape of grant-in-aid from the UT administration under plan expenditure and Rs 50 crore under non-plan expenditure. Besides this, the MC will generate a revenue to the tune of Rs 72.76 crore from its own resources. This includes Rs 25 crore from water tariff, Rs 2 crore from sewerage cess, Rs 15 crore from property tax, Rs 25 crore from Estate receipts and Rs 5.76 crore from other receipts. An amount of Rs 10 crore has been proposed for the Phase-IV of Kajauli water supply scheme. As per estimates, a total of Rs 6.50 crore has been kept aside for the improvement of roads. An amount of Rs 3 crore would be spent on improvement in the water supply by adding additional pipelines in the city, installation of new tubewells, and construction of underground reservoirs. Other highlights include Rs 2.63 crore for services to rehabilitation colonies, development of Janata and Kumhar colonies in Sector 25, Rs 1 crore for sewerage treatment plants in Raipur Kalan and Mani Majra, Rs 1 crore for landscaping, development of green belts, fragrance garden, parks and open spaces and Rs 2.87 crore for the purchase of machinery for mechanical transportation of garbage and modernisation of jhatka and pig slaughter houses. According to information available, there is provision of Rs 105.72 crore under the non-planned expenditure. However, under planned expenditute there is provision of Rs 40.86 crore, in comparison to Rs 25.44 crores under this estimated head last year. |
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PUDA fixing tree guards haphazardly SAS NAGAR, Feb 2 — Contrary to its name, the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) is going about fixing tree guards, inside which saplings are being planted, in a most unplanned manner in Phase VI and parts of Phase I here drawing flak from residents. The drive to set up metallic tree guards began 10-15 days ago but it appears that the PUDA officials concerned are merely completing a formality, wasting precious public funds in the process. The tree guards are being fixed in a haphazard way. At places concrete footpaths have bee broken to put the guards, at other points these have been fixed under big, shady trees and still in other cases these have been fixed without even levelling the ground or clearing debris. Besides, in many cases the officials concerned have not even bothered to maintain a uniform distance between one guard and the other. At certain points the guards have already come out. The Municipal Councillor of Phase VI, Mr Rajinder Sharma, estimated that around 250 trees guards had been put up by PUDA in his phase. At many points, he said, footpaths, on which the civic body had spent so much to build had been broken to put up the tree guards. A round of the Phase VI residential area by this correspondent showed the unsystematic way in which the work has been done. Tree guards have been fixed right next to the boundary walls of the public health waterworks and Shivalik Public School in Phase VI after breaking footpaths. Residents wondered how trees would grow so close to the walls. Similarly, the footpath has been broken in front of the community centre. At one point, near the PHD tubewell, a tree guard has been fixed on a small mound. In front of one of the houses in that phase (number 108) a tree guard has been put up without even clearing debris at the spot. Near house number 73, tree guards have been fixed right under overhead power cables, which is bound to create problems if the trees grown there are of the tall variety. Certain residents who had maintained areas adjoining their boundary walls by growing plants said PUDA had gone ahead and fixed tree guards next to such plants. A retired DSP, Mr D.S. Loomba, said he had already grown a few trees around his corner house which were now obstructing light. Now PUDA had come along and fixed tree guards for undertaking more plantation. In Phase I, adjoining Mohali village, a long footpath has been broken to accommodate tree guards. Plants are now growing in these enclosures. Mr Sham Bansal, a municipal councillor of the area, said there was a green belt adjoining the footpath and wondered why the guards could not be fixed there. Mr Sujan Singh Bal, president of the Citizens Welfare Society of the area, said PUDA was just wasting funds under the drive. “If it really has a lot of funds at its disposal, it could spend these on providing a proper building for Government Primary School in the area which is at present being run in two dilapidated rooms.” |
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READERS
WRITE AN interesting debate is in progress on the city’s roundabouts and traffic lights. The roundabouts that are well maintained do look beautiful. But at some places where there is very heavy traffic, such as ones near the cricket stadium, the bus stand, Kisan Bhavan, etc there seems to be no alternative to replacing these with traffic lights. But it should not be roundabouts with traffic lights. The main source of trouble at the roundabouts, however, is the total lack of public awareness about the rules of the road. Nobody seems to know that at a roundabout, the traffic on your right has the right of way. Therefore at all entry points at the roundabouts, boards should be put up stating this rule in bold letters. There are a number of staggered T-junctions where traffic lights have been installed. At these junctions confusion often prevails, causing traffic bottlenecks. Some vehicles try to zig-zag their way through the traffic and some others block the road. Cyclists, rickshaws and two-wheelers complete the chaos, especially on busy junctions like the one between Sectors 22 and 23. For the purpose of traffic lights, these staggered T-junctions (including both the Ts) should be treated as one so that traffic coming from one direction faces only one set of lights. This will make the flow of traffic safer and smoother and also simplify the operation of lights. PARGAT SINGH New DSOI set-up The Governor of Punjab should be complimented on prevailing upon the two warring factions to dissolve their governing bodies and pave the way for a new set-up to run the DSOI. (Defence Services Officers Institute). The best course will be to request the Western Command to take over the institute and run it on the lines of other DSOIs in the country. But if this is not possible, then it should be run by an elected managing committee (with no nominated member) like other clubs in the city. For this a general body meeting should be convened by the Governor, to be conducted by a neutral person appointed by him. The general body, can then, decide on the modalities of holding a fair election. This option, however, may not fit into the scheme of a group of some retired senior officers who want to grab power without facing an election. They had almost succeeded by getting themselves nominated by the previous Governor and then getting a managing committee “elected” by the show of hands in a sham election attended by about 250 members (out of a total of about 1800). The attempt failed because the matter became the subject of litigation in a local court. Since 1996, the members of the DSOI have been denied any say in the day-to-day running of the institute, since the court decided to appoint a Receiver to run it. Let there be no repetition of the past. Now either Western Command headquarters should run the DSOI or hand over its control to an elected managing committee. Maj S.S. KANG (Retd) Vivek School This refers to the report, “Court notice to Sector 9 Vivek School Principal,” (Chandigarh Tribune, Jan 25). Some doubts remain in the minds of the parents after reading the report. The report mentions that the appointment of a receiver for the school has been sought and also that the Principal and her aunt should be restrained from dealing with the property of the school. Does this mean that the school is going to close down? If so, does the Principal not owe it to the parents of the students that she should inform them about it so that they can get their children admitted in some other school? The position should be made clear so that the parents and the children are not harassed. PREM KUMAR |
Residents continue to pay more for
petrol CHANDIGARH,
Feb 2 — City residents continue to pay more per litre of petrol and diesel than their counterparts in neighbouring Panchkula and SAS Nagar, while an oil company which was allotted prime land at concessional rates in Sector 25 about six months ago to set up a depot, seems to have
forgotten the whole thing. Had the depot come up, city residents would have been paying approximately Rs 1.50 less per litre of petrol, than the present Rs 30.28 per litre. The depots would have prevented the Chandigarh Administration from paying any Central Sales Tax (CST) on petrol or diesel to neighbouring Haryana or Punjab, where oil depots are based and products are presently sourced for consumption in Chandigarh. The adjoining states have refused to allow any concession on this front, after the uniform sales tax structure came into being in July last year. Since then, UT has been asked to pay its own CST on petrol and diesel, while also paying the 4 per cent CST at the pricing point, that is presently in Haryana or Punjab. The point of pricing is fixed from the place where tankers fill in oil for transportation. The land was allotted with the sole purpose that it would change the point of pricing and billing. This would have meant a saving of Rs 10 crore on CST alone, say sources while explaining the need to set up depots. Now even after six months since land was allotted to an oil company for setting up a depot, nothing has happened, while Chandigarh Administration has had deposit CST on petrol and diesel twice. Once, from the point of pricing and secondly, on sales. The extra costs are being borne by the customers, thus the price of petrol and diesel continues to be on the higher side in the city. The disparity has also triggered a shift in business. When asked why similar depots could be set up for LPG, popularly known as cooking gas, to avoid taxation, sources in the Chandigarh Administration said that for this an LPG bottling plant is required and it entails an investment of several crores, whereas this was not so in the case of oil depots. The benefit from a LPG cylinder, which costs around Rs 250, would not justify such a big investment. |
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PSIEC staff hold rally CHANDIGARH, Feb 2 — Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation (PSIEC) Staff Association today held a rally opposite Udyog Bhawan. The employees demanded regularisation of services of those working on a daily-wage basis, filling of vacant posts by promotion, implementation of promotion policy, stoppage of deputation and reduction in wasteful expenditure. Association leaders Mr Chaman Lal, Mr Joginder Singh Rana, Mr Jatinder Kausal, Mr Dalbir Singh, Mr Gurmail Singh, Mr Mansa Ram, Neelu, Mr K. Sivadasan, Mr G.S. Oberoi and Mr Gurdip Singh addressed the rally. The leaders condemned the management and said that the setting up of focal points on political considerations should be stopped and old focal points should be transferred to local bodies to save the entity of the corporation. Members of the association said that the corporation was already facing a financial crisis and the expenditure should be judicious. |
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Jacob stresses need for water management CHANDIGARH, Feb 2 — There was a need for evolving a collective strategy to promote water harvesting and check unrestricted felling of trees in Shivaliks hills, opined the Governor of Punjab and UT Administrator Lieut Gen. J.F.R. Jacob, (Retd.), while releasing a book entitled “Fifty Years of Research on Sustainable Resource Management in Shivaliks” here today. The book has been edited by Mr S.P. Mittal, Mr R.K. Aggarwal and Mr J.S Samra. The General said that Shivaliks of the North-West states spread over an area of 300 million hectares, perhaps represented the most fragile eco-system in the country. Shivaliks which had been covered with lush green cover a decade ago, were suffering from unrestricted felling and overgrazing. He said we should promote plantation of trees on Shivaliks and check the spread of obnoxious weeds like lantana, ageratum and parthenium, which had ruined our forests. The Governor appreciated the strategy of the Central Soil and Water Conservative Research and Training Institute and said that watershed management approach adopted in Sukhomajri in 1975 had proved to be quite effective in involving local communities. He said we would have to extend the Sukhomajri experiment to sub-mountainous areas, as involvement of community was a must to ensure the success of any new experiment. Mr S.P. Mittal explained that the publication was an outcome of valuable contributions made by leading scientists, researchers, teachers, institutes and organisations that have been closely associated with the development of Shivaliks in one way or the other. The books deals with the fields of geology, soil, forest management, watershed management people participation, hydrology and soil conservation water resource development, land-use planning, grassland management eco-system. The publication would serve as reference material for those concerned with rehabilitation and regeneration of Shivaliks for posterity.
Daljit Singh dead CHANDIGARH, Feb 2 — Mr Daljit Singh, former Deputy General Manager, Punjab and Sind Bank, and founder secretary, Punjab State Cooperative Land Mortgage Bank, died at Chandigarh yesterday. Mr Daljit Singh served as Joint Secretary, Rural Electrification Corporation, Government of India, and was instrumental in expediting electrification of rural areas of Punjab, particularly the kandi areas. The funeral procession will leave house no. 2230, Sector 21-C, Chandigarh at 10 a.m. on February 3. The body will be cremated in his native village, Chandiani Khurd in Balachaur
Tehsil, Nawanshahr, district at 2 p.m.
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‘Disrespect shown to National Anthem’ CHANDIGARH, Feb 2 — BJP and Akali councillors had allegedly shown disrespect to the National Anthem at the special meeting called by the Mayor of Chandigarh on January 29, to decide the fate of some committees. According to the minutes of the meeting, which are to be forwarded to the Administration, BJP and Akali councillors caused a ruckus when the National Anthem was played, after the Mayor called the meeting to an end. According to sources, as the Mayor announced the dissolution of the committees, the National Anthem started playing immediately after. The agitating councillors’ contention was that though they respected the Anthem, it was a ploy on the part of the Mayor to keep them from presenting their views on the issue. They were demanding that the decision to dissolve the committees should be done through voting. |
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MC panel meeting
postponed CHANDIGARH, Feb 2 — The Finance and Contract Committee meeting of the Municipal Corporation has been postponed to February 9. According to information available, the agenda of the meeting, which was to be previously held on February 6, remains the same. |
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Andhra Craft Bazaar
inaugurated CHANDIGARH, Feb 2 — Mr Raj Kumar Goyal, Mayor, Municipal Corporation, inaugurated the Andhra Craft Bazaar at Panchayat Bhavan, here today. The programme has been organised by the Andhra Pradesh Handicrafts Development Corporation Ltd and the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, and will remain open for 16 days from February 3 to February 18. No Plaza Carnival today CHANDIGARH,
Feb 2 — The Centre for Carnival Arts on Friday announced that Plaza Carnival would not be held on Saturday, February 3, due to the horrendous natural disaster in Gujarat. Ms Maniki Deep, president of the centre, however, added that Plaza Carnival would be back in town on February 10.
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One held for theft, money recovered CHANDIGARH,
Feb 2 — The city police solved a theft case today and recovered almost the entire booty. According to a press note issued here today, the Industrial Area police arrested Younis, servant of the complainant, Ms Ina Sachdeva, for theft. The woman had alleged that Rs 90,000 had been stolen from her office on January 31. A case under Section 386 of the IPC was registered in this regard at the Industrial Area police station. The accused was arrested by the police on the day of the theft. Later, he was sent to the police custody. The accused also revealed the place where he had hidden the booty. Rs 85,000 was recovered from the first floor of the cold storage from where it had been stolen.
Hoax call A person called the Principal of the Sector 32 SD School today and said a bomb had been planted in the school. The Principal of the school received the call at about 8.45 a.m. when the school had just begun. The police control room was immediately alerted and a team of 30 policemen, including the bomb squad, anti-sabotage squad and dog squad, led by the DSP, Mr S.C. Sagar, rushed to the spot. Students were asked to assemble in the school grounds till the search for the bomb was over. It proved to be a false alram and the normal routine was resumed soon afterwards.
Cheating case The police has registered cases against two persons, including a property dealer, for cheating and criminal conspiracy. According to an FIR registered under Sections 420 and 120-B of the IPC, the complainant, Roshan Lal Khurana, was cheated by a person called Gurmukh Singh and a property dealer named Sukhdev Singh. They had received an advance from him for a piece of land that had already been sold to a man called Harbans Lal. The accused, Gurmukh Singh, was fighting a legal battle for the ownership of the plot.
Car stolen A Maruti car (DL-1-CC-1462) was reportedly stolen from the residence of Mr K.S. Sehgal on January 31. A case under Section 379 of the IPC has been registered.
Eve-teaser held The police has held a youth, Mohit Kumar for eve-teasing, from near the Sector 31 market. A case has been registered against him under Section 294 of the IPC.
Liquor seized Fifty pouches of liquor were seized from a man called Som Dutt, near the 66 KV substation in the Industrial Area here past night. The police has registered a case against the accused undere Sections 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act. |
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