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| Tuesday,
April 9, 2002, Chandigarh, India
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Colony plots ‘sold twice’ Zirakpur, April 8 This project was of Prem Chand Singla, a Panchkula-based real estate developer, who sold plots at Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500 per square yard each. He had bought 53 bighas owned by six brothers — Mr Jaswant Singh, Mr Mohinder Singh, Mr Amrik Singh, Mr Nirmal Singh, Mr Jagjit Singh and Mr Ranjit Singh — all of Himmatgarh village, in 1999 at Rs 3.71 crore. He paid for 25 bighas and 12 vishvas and assured the brothers that he would make the full payment by March 31, 2001, according to one of the brothers. The brothers alleged that Singla had not made the full payment even after the given date, in spite of repeated representations. In February, the brothers forcibly took over the land for which the coloniser had not made payments. They ploughed the land after erasing the plinths and the boundaries of various plots with the help of earth removers and camped there for over a month. The brothers even closed the main entrance to the colony by putting up a barbed-wire fence and digging a ditch around the area to cut its road link. The plot holders formed a Shalimar Enclave Welfare Society here on Sunday. They alleged that the coloniser had sold the plots twice by altering the plan approved by the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA). Some plots were sold to two purchasers allegedly with the connivance of the local Revenue Department. Mr Sham Sunder Arora, president of the Shalimar Enclave Welfare Society, alleged that the colonisers had sold the plots first as per the PUDA-approved map and, then, according to a changed site plan. According to Mr Gurcharan Singh, general secretary of the society, the purchasers have been waiting to take physical possession of their plots for the past one year. Prem Chand Singla, Managing Director of Shalimar Enclave, was not available at his office or home. The investors were not sure whether the colony was PUDA-approved or not and whether they were the actual owners of the plots or not. “PUDA is also responsible for this situation,” Mr Surinder Pal Singh Chahal, vice-president of the society, said. Ms Jugnoo, a plot holder, said the coloniser had failed to provide all basic civic amenities at the colony. There is no road, electricity, drinking water or sewerage system here. However, Mr Harinder Singh, director of the enclave, said all plot holders would get physical possessions within a week. He said, due to some reasons, they had to change the first PUDA-approved map of the colony. The new map has been submitted to PUDA for approval. He also said the allotment process had been delayed due to the ongoing dispute with the persons from whom the land had been purchased.
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New site for treatment plant SAS Nagar, April 8 Officials of the Punjab Housing and Urban Development and the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority say that the objective of changing the site was to save Rs 6 crore that the state would have had to spend on acquiring 15 acres for laying a 7 km sewer trunk line upto Dairi village. It has now been decided that a new 40 acre site at Papri village near the proposed Sector 81 be acquired for the 15 MGD plant. Earlier, about 60 acres were to be acquired at Dairi village along the Landhran-Banur road. When contacted, the Chief Administrator of PUDA, Mr D.P. Reddy, said the land south of the town was mostly marshy and its natural gradient was being studied. Recently, the Chief Administrator and several other officials of PUDA had visited the site. Sources said it was being considered that
instead of setting up a 30 MGD treatment plant, as planned initially, a 15 MGD plant be set up. At present, about 8 MGD of sullage was being generated at residential areas of the town. The Punjab State Industrial Export Corporation (PSIEC) has already been asked to set up a separate treatment plant for treating industrial discharge. In future, if the sullage increases, another plant will be set up at another location. Various sewerage treatment plants of small capacity could be set up instead of one big plant. The new site at Papri village would be a short distance from the site near Jagatpura village, south east of Sector 48, where the Chandigarh Administration plans to set up an independent treatment plant. The Punjab and Haryana High Court has already told PUDA to set up a treatment plant. |
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School buses to ply on permit Panchkula, April 8 According to sources in the State Transport Department, it has now been decided that school buses in Chandigarh, SAS Nagar and Panchkula will have to seek a permit from their respective transport offices and later get these permits countersigned by the departments of the other states , in order to operate there. It has been decided that all heavy transport vehicles ( HTV) , with a seating capacity of 52, will be required to pay a fee of Rs 625 annually to the states where they get their private service vehicle permits countersigned. A fee of Rs 450 will be applicable to all light transport vehicles for operating in areas other than the ones the bus has been issued a permit for. Following the MoU between the two state governments and the UT Administration , the directions were recently sent to district transport offices in Haryana and Punjab. This has come as a boon to residents of Chandigarh, SAS Nagar and Panchkula, whose children are enrolled in schools located in places other than their place of residence. These people had to either arrange private autorickshaws for their wards for commuting to school or drop them on their own. It may also be noted that school buses now require a permit from the respective district transport office in order to operate in a particular district, following amendments in the Motor Vehicle Act . This was , however, not required earlier as per the provisions of Section 66 I (h) of the Act. It may be noted that earlier the Motor Vehicle Act did not require vehicles owned by, and used solely for the purpose of any educational institution , which is recognised by the Central or state governments , or whose managing committee is a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, to have a permit . Meanwhile, the Transport Department also proposes to make the township and its peripheral areas into a” permit-free zone “for plying of autorickshaws. The sources informed TNS that a draft policy in this regard had been prepared and would be soon submitted to the state government for its final approval .With this, the illegal plying of hundreds of autorickshaws in Panchkula and its peripheral areas will be regularised with autos from neighbouring Chandigarh and other areas of Punjab and Haryana being able to ply without a permit. As of now, autorickshaws having permits for Chandigarh, SAS Nagar, Kalka and Zirakpur have been plying illegally in the township. With the UT Administration having imposed a ban on the plying of autorickshaws that are more than 15 years old, these autos have now found their way into Panchkula. |
Fire officials identifying
commercial buildings Chandigarh, April 8 According to sources in the Fire Department, Sunday’s fire at the health club could have been controlled “real fast” had the five tenders, immediately dispatched to extinguish the flames, succeeded in reaching the spot. Sources added that the fire-fighters were forced to scale the wall to reach the site as the tenders could not be taken there. Confirming the information, UT Chief Fire Officer
G.S. Bajwa stated that an extensive survey was being carried out by officials of his department to identify other such buildings with narrow approaches because of which it was difficult for the fire tenders to reach the spot and act on time. The fire officer added that his staff had been specifically instructed to go around the city and physically verify the buildings before submitting a detailed report on the matter as expeditiously as possible. The staff, he added, had also been instructed to look for buildings and places where bottlenecks, created due to the haphazard parking of vehicles, were making it almost impossible for the fire tenders to pass through. One such place, the Chief Fire Officer added, was the Punjab and Haryana High Court. “As a result of improper parking of vehicles all around the place, it would be impossible for the tenders to reach the spot if, unfortunately, a fire was to break in the court premises”. Another out-of-access place, the Chief Fire Officer asserted, was the Sector 17 piazza. “Due to massive concrete slabs in front of the showrooms, it would be very difficult for the tenders to act on time in case of fire. At some places, the vehicles can luckily position themselves next to the wall and control the flames with the help of water jets, but at some spots even this was not possible”. Sources, meanwhile, added that the issue was raised earlier also during a civil suit filed in the district courts by an advocate against the holding of Divali mela in Sector 17 piazza. He had claimed that the stalls being set up were prone to fire and the structure of Sector 17 would prevent the fire tenders from reaching the spot. Sources also claimed that after the completion of the survey, notices would be issued to the defaulters. In case the problem was created due to the inherent fault in the planning, the feasibility of carving alternate access routes would be explored.  |
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Use of green belts for
functions banned Chandigarh, April 8 At its maiden meeting chaired by Mr Dildar Khan and attended by Ms Pushpa Sharma, Major-Gen A.S. Kalhon, Mr Jatinder Bhatia, Mr P.C. Sanghi, Ms Kamlesh, among others, the committee increased the charge of park use from Rs 300 to Rs 500, from Rs 500 to Rs 800 and from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 for different types of parks. It decided to invite works related to the committee up to Rs 2 lakh from each councillor for development in their areas. Nominated councillors can recommend committee’s works up to Rs 1 lakh in any part of the city. The committee also decided to convert the space in Ram Darbar created after demolition of a public toilet into a park at a cost of Rs 3.5 lakh. It also decided to construct a park in Sector 47. This park will be dedicated to a Kargil martyr of the city. |
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Teacher graduates get
degrees Chandigarh, April 8 Prof K.N. Pathak, Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University, was the chief guest on the occasion. Addressing the gathering, he coaxed the fresh teacher graduates and postgraduates to keep abreast of international trends of globalisation and advances in information technology. He expressed his desire for teachers education courses to change with the changing times to meet the challenges of modern world and to nurture creativity. He also talked about a three-fold path to be followed by teacher education courses, and that was providing knowledge of necessary skills in teaching, in-service teaching and uplifting the status of the profession. Prizes were awarded to the toppers of the last session. The winners included Shikha Merken in M.Ed, Meena and Jyoti, Sunita, Rubina Nakai and Navita Bhatia, while Ritu Aggarwal won prizes in B.Ed and Richant Batish, Isha Verma and Pritpal Kaur won prizes in B.Ed Yoga. Earlier, Dr Surinder Kaur Tangri, Principal, presented the annual report of the institute and highlighted the achievements of teachers and students while welcoming the guests. A vote of thanks was proposed at the end of the function by Prof
A.S. Dhaliwal, vice-principal of the college. |
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Panel pulls up MCC officials Chandigarh, April 8 The committee asked the corporation to maintain a register in which each of the complaints and their handling with reasons was given, the committee chairman, Mr Jitender Bhatia, and its members, Mr Gian Chand Gupta and Mr Harpreet Kaur Babla, informed. It also invited electricity work proposals up to Rs 1 lakh from each of the 20 councillors in the their wards to the committee. Sending out a punishing signal for those who do not allow the corporation to remove encroachments for the repair of a line, the committee decided to seek the help of the police in dealing with such cases. It felt the poles of the corporation were damaged in accidents with no recovery in accident cases. The committee decided that the corporation would either recover the money of damage in accidents or arson or should explore an insurance cover for the Electricity Department’s property. The corporation would write to the police in this regard. The members also asked the department to prepare an inventory and deployment and number of personnel in it. The committee decided that the purchase of a hydraulic machine approved earlier had to be immediately made for augmenting the serevice network of the department. The committee was informed that there was a shortage of staff to attend to complaints of the people. The corporation-Administration tiff again resurfaced with the committee forwarding two issues to the Administration to help the local body. The committee decided to bring a resolution in the House for extending nine posts of the department for two years after their term ended in June this year. The committee decided that electricity works worth Rs 10 lakh ordered by different courts be sent to the Administration as the corporation was only responsible for maintenance and not providing electricity infrastructure. These works ordered by courts pertained to the absence of electricity infrastructure and none of them was for maintenance. Rest of 12 agenda items were not even considered by the committee, which will again meet in the month. |
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Marble market to be shifted by
month-end Chandigarh, April 8 Successful bidders will get a week before the unauthorised market is removed, according to sources. The Administration will allow shopkeepers to build two-storey shops with basements. The present market on both sides of the road dividing Sectors 51 and 52 has to go because the Administration needs the land for a Sector 51 Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) scheme. The CHB has already advertised the scheme and received applications as well. This has been a positive shift from the earlier policy of giving away alternative sites for such markets at throwaway rates. The rate this time will be Rs 24,000 per square yard and the bidding is not restricted to only those who have shops in the present market. The president of the Marble Traders Association, Mr Narata Mal Gupta, said, “Traders should be given alternative sites as promised two years ago. The Administration has developed grain market, fruit market, furniture market, timber market, iron market, cloth market and several other such markets on allotment basis, so, why should we be discriminated with.” The market caters to the needs of people of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, north Haryana and Chandigarh. Traders give the government crores of rupees in sales tax and income tax. They also give employment to about 1,000 persons directly and about 2,000 persons indirectly. Meanwhile, the Administration, has verbally given them an ultimatum to vacate the space. Members of the traders’ association say that marble is not something that can be shifted to a small space. “The 58 sites on auction in Sector 39 should be allotted to shopkeepers of this market before we are asked to vacate the present space,” they say. Big marble traders of Sectors 7 and 26 and the Industrial Area Phase I, have been protesting since long that traders of the unauthorised market are spoiling the business environment because they have no shops. The Administration says that poor men don’t buy marble, so, it won’t matter much if the auction increases the traders’ overheads and jacks up the price of marble by a few rupees. |
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FAUJI BEAT “There is not to reason why; there is but to do or die”. This moto of a soldier of the days of yore is still captivating the mind of the Indian soldier of today. Taking only one example of the Kargil operations in which, despite the inferior equipment and lack of acclimatisation to the high altitude of the troops who were suddenly taken there from the plains, they proved their mettle beyond doubt. Let us not forget that today’s jawan is not only well educated and well informed but he also knows what is happening in the Army and the country. Besides, he knows what example his leaders are setting for him. Now think of the Tehalka, purchases during the Kargil war and diversion of funds by the Eastern Command, which were earmarked for combating militancy, for the purchase of vehicles, TVs, VCRs, computers and generators etc. While scrutinising the allocations for the first time, the Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) has said that the Eastern Army command purchased consumer goods worth Rs 6.79 crore from 1998 to 2001 out of Rs 10 crore annual fund given to Army Commanders. The CAG has also said in the report that out of the purchases, military stores and equipment worth over Rs 3.12 crore were found to be substandard and defective. Notwithstanding the misdemeanours of his leaders, the jawan still sacrifices his life on their orders and is the “cutting edge” of the Army. But for how long will he continue to do so? Purposeless border deployment The Indian Army moved to the borders in December last to fight a war with Pakistan which the USA did not allow to come off. That there is no possibility of a war, at least, in the near future cannot be denied. War or no war, India is determined to keep its forces at the borders because of the strange logic that until Pakistan stops cross-border terrorism and hands over 20 terrorists to India, our forces will stick to the borders. What we need to understand is that it is India which is suffering more than Pakistan due to the border deployment. As far as Pakistan, it stopped taking border deployment seriously since the first week of January when our 2 Corps had to come back 50 km from its war posture on America’s intervention. Besides, Pakistan has received so much economic aid from the West and overseas Pakistanis that its economy has become much healthier, so much so that a noted Pakistani economist has said: “The costs of the border tension, 2 to 3 billion Pakistani rupees a month, have been erased by the tidal wave of foreign capital”. Our deployment, apart from adversely affecting the economy, is tiring the troops, ruining the equipment, interfering with training schedules and is also upsetting the relief programmes of units. Undoubtedly, Pakistan will step up its proxy war in Jammu and Kashmir in the summer months. Not only that, the ISI is also trying to revive militancy in Punjab. Have we forgotten that when the Punjab militancy was at its peak in 1991-92, we had as many as nine-Army divisions in Punjab to quell it? Where will the troops come from this time to control militancy? Over to Mr George Fernandes. Usefulness of NCC The only way to halt the continuing decline of discipline in the country is to start some kind of compulsory military training for the youths before they opt for any other vocation. Since this proposal has not found favour with the government so far, we have to think of other avenues that are already open to us. The National Cadet Corps (NCC) which is an old organisation, has proved to be very useful in inculcating discipline in the minds of our youths. At present, we have about 13 lakh cadets in the NCC out of the 40.2 million youths between 13-24 years of age in the country. While it may not be possible to increase this number due to financial constraints, the revival of auxiliary cadet corps can enlarge the number of youths under this training. The NCC training programme also needs to be brought on the modern lines so that 13 lakh cadets can contribute more usefully to the national effort during an emergency. Recently, the Director-General NCC Lt.- Gen. B.K. Bopanna said at New Delhi, that more than 400 Army officers had to go back to their units when the Army was deployed on the borders three months ago and they had still not returned. While this has to be accepted when the Army is mobilised for war, the only way to tide over such a shortage is to encourage more teachers and lecturers to come forward to become NCC officers. Pritam Bhullar |
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Police stations to get
facelift Panchkula, April 8 This was stated by the Superintendent of Police, Ms Charu Bali, while addressing a press conference here today. She said that her main aim was to ensure the trust of the people in the police. While conceding that the people were still wary of going to the police stations in case of any law and order problem, she said that the police stations would will be provided with new furniture, water coolers and air-coolers for the convenience of the
public there. Ms Bali, while reiterating her resolve to curb burglaries and thefts, said that the patrolling by beat staff would be reorganised and strengthened. “The electronic beat monitoring system using electronic tags and readers would further augment the patrolling in the township,” she said. The SP said that they had already test-run the e-beat monitoring system and were trying to implement it before the beginning of the Navratra mela. Ms Bali also said that they proposed to extend the system of allowing Home Guards jawans to work as watchmen in various sectors. It may be noted that the system was introduced in Sector 2, with the residents themselves paying for the two Home Guards jawans working there. |
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Post-mortem confirms
death in accident Panchkula, April 8 The body of the child, who was killed in Old Panchkula on March 28, was exhumed from Bhainsa Tibba village on April 4. The post-mortem was performed at General Hospital, Sector 6, on April 5. It may be noted that the child had been put to sleep under the shade of the road-roller by his mother, Veer Wati, who was employed as a labourer. The driver of the road-roller, Rajwinder Singh, without realising that the child was sleeping there, started the vehicle and the child was crushed. Some aides of the contractor, sensing trouble, talked the child’s mother into hushing up the matter and quietly buried the body. However, the Superintendent of Police had ordered an inquiry into the incident and a case under Sections 279, 304-A and 201 of IPC was registered against the contractor and his aides and the mother, Veer Wati. |
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Rare cactus in bloom Chandigarh, April 8 Col Bewli, who was the general secretary of the National Cactus and Succulent Society of India, Chandigarh, informs that the place of origin of this cactus is Chihuahua in Northern Mexico, which normally is found at an elevation of 4500 feet. The species was first collected by Henry
Galeotti, director of the Botanical Garden in Brussels. Its stem ramifies from the base sometimes from above ground is oval- cylindrical, 6 to 8 inches high, with about 20 ribs that are wide at the base. Aeroles are oval and close set. It has 20 to 25 white or pink radial spines. The reddish violet flowers are 6 to 8 cms long and have short tube and felted spiny
aeros. Col Bewli, who has a collection of over 400 species of cacti in his garden at home, says that this
particular cactus is easy to grow and is tolerant of cold if the temperature stays a little above freezing. This plant was brought by him from Delhi and has been with him for the past eight years and has flowered twice since. |
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Meter reader assaulted SAS Nagar, April 8 Mr Sukhwinder Singh said as part of his official duty he had gone to inspect the number of sewer connections in house 34 in Phase 9. He found that there were more sewer connection than sanctioned. This reportedly enraged the owner of the house who bashed up the employee. The general secretary of the Punjab PWD (Public Health) Revenue Employees Union, Mr Pawan, has sought protection for the employees who perform the duty. |
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Bee-hive scare Chandigarh, April 8 Last Thursday, a Sector 15 resident, Mr J.N Suri, and a regular evening walker in the garden, was stung by scores of honey bees and he was taken to the General Hospital, Sector 16, for treatment. Mr Suri, while talking to Chandigarh Tribune claimed that on that day, three to four other evening walkers were stung by the bees. He urged the authorities concerned to remove the hive at the earliest. |
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Fraud case against couple Kharar, April 8 Dr S.K. Aggarwal had sent a complaint to the SSP, Ropar, that he was constructing a hospital in Mohali and the accused took Rs 1.50 lakh from him for supplying hardware material cheaper than the market price. They promised to supply the material within seven days. But they did not supply the material and a cheque issued by the accused bounced on December 14, 2000. They alleged that the accused had already closed their account on September 27, 1997. They alleged that a fraud had been committed. |
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Man commits suicide Chandigarh, April 8 Police sources add that Khoob Chand had been ailing for the past more than five years and as a result he was depressed. He used to work as a white-wash labourer and was suffering from asthma. He tried to commit suicide when his wife had gone out and he was alone in the house. The police has initiated inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Kidnapped Knocked down Cases of theft Sector 23 resident Rajkim has reported that his Maruti car (CH-01-R-0426) has been stolen from his residence. The police has registered a case. Sector 15 resident Amul Pardhan has reported that his Maruti car (CH-03-C-8638) has been stolen from the Rose Garden parking lot. A case has been registered. Sector 31 resident Renuka has reported that her car tarpaulin has been stolen from her residence. The police has registered a case. PANCHKULA Burgled |
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Kajheri resident injured in attack Chandigarh, April 8 The victim, with injuries on his arm and finger, was rushed to the Sector 16 General Hospital. According to sources in the Police Department, Anil Kumar claimed that he was attacked with
sharp edged weapons. Old animosity is being cited as the reason behind the incident. The police was looking into the matter, sources added. |
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Business enquiries at
Coolex-2002 Chandigarh, April 8 More than 11,000 people visited the fair which concluded today . Coolex is an annual event organised by the CII and leading multinational and domestic companies participated in the exhibition. More than 15 companies, including Daewoo, Voltas, Whirlpool, Amtrex Hitachi, Bluestar, Godrej, Diakin Sriram showcased their products in the exposition which was sponsored by the LG. |
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MARKET PULSE Chandigarh, April 8 Upholding this tradition, each community expresses its identity through rituals evolved out of specific aspects of history, migratory patterns and contact with surrounding people and environments. These rituals, however, seem incomplete without appropriate adornment and ornamentation, which also change according to one’s own sense of aesthetics, colour, preferences and motifs. It is this diversity in cultures and the need for apt ornamentation that has inspired Asha Kamal Modi of Art Karat to come out with her new range “Suhagin”... for the bride and the groom, which covers jewellery for almost all ceremonial occasions in a wedding and offers ornamentation that strings together the most holy of the marriage vows. “Suhagin” (bride) announces the deep ethnic membership of a bride or groom, by the design and layout of the jewellery that matches their dress and comportment to every ritual. Asha Kamal Modi has given special attention to detail, marking special occasions such as Maang Bharai — an affirmation to hold time-honoured vows in the highest tradition. Where the ornaments like the maang tikka, maang patti, jhoomar, shesh phool, jhumka, laung and choker come to light and enhance the bride’s make-up. The giving away of the rice given to her by her brothers to the groom, telling him ritually, that she is now his responsibility. The entire range such as bajuband, chudi, kangan and hath phool come into an exquisite display. Grah Pravesh — While crossing the threshold of her new home, she prays for prosperity and overturns a pot filled with rice. Payal, pazeb and bichwas adorn the blessed feet of a bride as they behold all eyes. Muh Dikhai — On the wedding night the groom lifts his bride’s veil as the first gesture of his abounding love. The first real moment when he privately admires her beauty fully enhanced by all her adornment. Right from the maang tikka on her head to the bichwas on her toes, she endears him to her. Asha Kamal Modi showcases this rich heritage in jewellery created for the Suhagin at the four-day exhibition at Kidar’s Gallery in Sector 7-C, Chandigarh. |
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BIZ CLIPS Chandigarh BEDROOM PACKAGE: The Home Store (THS) has come out with an economy bedroom package and a dining set package for its customers. This includes a bed, side tables, lamps, vanity set, coffee set and curtain treatment for Rs 14,999. THS, which has 27 stores across the country, has key product lines for kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, lighting, curtain treatment etc. THS also offers a range of gift items, including designer and scented candles, dry and artificial flowers, potpourri and fragrances, paintings and picture frames, artistic lamps and designer shades and various other items. TNS |
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