 |
|
| Tuesday,
November 12, 2002, Chandigarh, India |
|
||||
|
Traders’ lobby cries foul over rent Act amendments
Chandigarh, November 11 The traders said they should be dealt with compassionately. Members of the mandal while addressing a press conference said all taxes had been paid by the traders and it was due to the hard work of the trading community that Chandigarh enjoyed such a high place in economy and social structure of the region.
The mandal also announced that traders will organise a rally on Wednesday in front of the Neelam Cinema in Sector 17. According to a notification issued by the Chandigarh Administration a few days ago properties rented out for a sum of more than Rs 1,500 per month have been removed from the ambit of the East Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act, 1949. This implies that such properties will be strictly governed by the contract between the two parties thus giving sweeping powers to the landlords, who otherwise have to knock at the doors of various courts. Fearing repression from the building owners, the Traders Association, Sector 17 D, has gone in overdrive. Close to 90 per cent of the businesses in the city are run from rented
accomodations.
All this, according to the mandal, has been done to benefit less than one per cent of the city population who are owners of commercial properties. The mandal said small and medium traders would be suddenly uprooted and long established business establishments would be hit. In the present economic crunch the traders will not be able to pay any kind of enhanced rent to the landlords to avoid eviction. The expenses incurred by the traders on furnishing and furniture will go waste once he is evicted. All traders have taken one or the other type of loan pledging their stocks and properties. This amendment will result in a situation where it will be extremely difficult for them to repay such loans. The traders are providing revenue claimed the mandal while adding that even those market associations which are not members of the mandal have pledged support to the agitation.  |
|
Private operators lose sleep over BSNL service Chandigarh, November 11 Most of the customers still feel that Spice’s incoming call rates at Rs 1.90 per minute and outgoing calls at Rs 2.90 per minute during peak hours will make it unviable service for heavy users. Though Spice was offering outgoing calls at Rs 1.46 per minute and incoming calls at Rs 0.96 per minute during peak off hours ( 11pm to 6am). BSNL is offering free incoming calls for Rs 325 monthly rental package and outgoing calls at Rs 2 per minute during peak hours and at Rs 1.60 per minute during peak off hours (10pm to 8am). The other cellular operators are also reportedly considering their tariff plan, considering good response to the BSNL service. Market observers felt that had the BSNL launched its service about 15 days ago, it would have already exhausted its capacity of 20,000 connections in Chandigrah, Panchkula and S.A.S. Nagar, due to purchase of handsets on the eve of Divali. new service of BSNL has attracted good response and about 1,000 connections were released by BSNL. The special attraction is the facility of free incoming calls in a particular tariff package of Rs 325 monthly rental. The customers are reportedly approaching higher officials of the corporation, even to get a form of the newly launched service, fearing that the capacity of 20,000 connections would be some come to an end. A visit to the various counters in the city revealed that the customers were attracted by the BSNL’s offer of special packages and credibility of network. As it has set up about 150 towers in the Punjab and Chandigarh circle, including 27 towers in the city, S.A.S. Nagar and Panchkula. Officials of BSNL are claiming that due to more number of towers, the connectivity of the network would be much better as compared to private operators. According to information available from BSNL officials, the BSNL today provided 800 SIM cards under post-paid plan and 130 SIM cards under pre-paid plan, on first come first serve basis. |
|
New BSNL landline numbers next week Chandigarh, November 11 He claimed that the BSNL would soon take a decision about Mohali whether it should be granted a separate STD code of 01888 or an extra digit of 2 like in the city network. The new system is already in operation in some of the states. It means that from now onwards any outside customer would have to dial a eleven digit number to contact any person on the BSNL network. For example, any person from Delhi, who wants to call at The Tribune reception number ( 0172- 655066), would have to dial 0172-2655066, by adding 2 to the original number. According to instructions of the Telecom Department, all telecom operators will have to shift to a 10 digit number, which will also include STD number without zero. BSNL has been allotted ‘2’ and ‘4’ level. The customers will have to add an extra digit to dial a number to the BSNL network in Assam, Gujarat, Maharashtra, MP, J&K, and Orissa. The system has been implemented from November 9 and 10 in some states including Punjab. |
|
NRI remanded
in custody Kharar, November 11 Mr Jatinderjit Singh Punn, public prosecutor, and Mr Pritam Singh SHO, SAS Nagar, appeared in the court and pleaded to extend police remand. They said $ 42,220 and Rs 6.5 lakh were recovered from his possession. But the magistrate remanded him in judicial custody. The police has already informed the CBI about his arrest so that Interpol and the Ministry of External Affairs be informed about his arrest. |
|
No let up in illegal mining
by HUDA contractors Panchkula, November 11 Illegal mining by contractors of HUDA within 500 metres area downstream of new Ghaggar bridge is rampant. A number of pits on the river bed, within this area can be seen , from where RBM has been lifted for the construction of guide bundhs. It is learnt that two contractors of HUDA , who were earlier awarded contract for construction of guide bundhs have been illegally mining sand in the river bed. Their operations
reportedly take place by night, when surveillance by Department of Mines is reportedly negligible. One of the contractors, who has offices in Sector 9 here, was caught by the officials of Department of Mines a fortnight back, while lifting sand here. A JCB was also seized. However, after the said contractor flaunted his political links , he was let off the hook. The mining officials, however, raised the matter with the HUDA authorities and SDO, Division No. III , was reportedly asked to ensure that the practice was not repeated. The HUDA authorities, meanwhile, expressed ignorance about mining from within the restricted area near new Ghaggar bridge for construction of guide bundhs. Sources in the Department of Mining and Geology informed TNS that mining from Gumthala to
downstream of the river, till it reaches Punjab, is banned. However, an agreement was made between the Commissioner, Town and Country Planning and Director Mines last year, allowing lifting of RBM (mainly sand) from the river bed. However, material can be lifted at upstream distance of 250 metres and downstream distance of 125 metres from a small bridge and at 1 km upstream distance and half-a-kilometre downstream distance from a big bridge. It was then decided that HUDA will have to first procure a permit from Department of Mines and also pay a royalty at the rate of approximately Rs 19 per metric tonne for the amount of RBM lifted. A senior official in Division No. III, HUDA, on condition of anonymity, however, said they had applied for a permit for lifting of sand outside the restricted area. “ We will pay royalty to the Department of Mines as per the rates decided by the department, “ he said. Sources in the Department of Mines say that HUDA had sought permits for mining sand only for construction of 11 spurs. No permits for construction of guide bundhs have been issued or applied for by HUDA, said a senior official in the Mining Department. In fact, the department has now fired letters to the Administrator, Panchkula, asking him to check this illegal mining. |
|
Rape ‘victim’ seeks
action against police Chandigarh, November 11 In her petition, the alleged victim claimed that the Chandigarh Police had earlier stated that the petitioner was not required to be arrested following which the petition was disposed off with a direction to the police to serve seven days’ notice before her arrest if necessary. However, police officials were sent to Shimla for arresting the petitioner. Arguing on behalf of the petitioner, her counsel had added that the respondents were, thus, liable for punishment as they had allegedly disobeyed the Court orders. Taking up the case, Mr Justice M.M. Kumar of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice to a Deputy Superintendent of Police, along with an Assistant Sub Inspector. The case will now come up for further hearing on February 7 next year. The alleged victim, in an earlier petition, had sought directions to the Chandigarh Administration and other respondents to protect her life and liberty. Claiming to be just 21, the petitioner had then submitted that she had boarded the car of a Sector 8 resident from Sector 20 on August 14 but had lost consciousness after consuming a cold drink purchased by him. On regaining consciousness she had found herself in Sector 16 General Hospital where she came to know about the incident of violence against her. Giving background of the case, the petitioner had added that her search for a part-time job and quest for knowledge about computers had brought her in contact with the accused, running a computer institute. The accused, after alluring her with the promise of a job, had taken her in his car from his Sector 20 office, she further added. The police, on the other hand, had claimed that it was a frame up and had initiated proceedings against the alleged witness. |
|
RadioBuzz has flying start in city Chandigarh, November 11 “There has been an overwhelming response from the people and the phone started ringing the moment the number was announced in the programme”, says Charanjit Singh, Director, Musitainment Network. “It did not come as a surprise that 65 per cent of the response is for English numbers, while the rest for the latest Hindi chartbusters and a few Punjabi ones”, he adds. From amongst the listeners who called up included Army men, lecturers, businessmen and doctors, who were all praise for Hardeep Chandpuri for his excellent presentation. Dr Maheep, an ophthalmologist from the PGI remarked, “I was waiting for something good to happen to Radio in the city and it has really happened now”. Inder Mohan Oberoi of the ICICI bank termed the presentation “remarkable” and so were the words of commendation from a teacher from Ajit Karam Singh Public School. Jaikaran, an industrialist from Panchkula, said “I could not believe my ears first that I was listening to such an exciting presentation on radio, even much better than Delhi”. “Catch the Buzz” show kicked off with the immortal song “Radio Ga Ga” by Queen with a hint of techno beats in it. Next came the song “Yaar mangia si” from the coming film “Kaante”. Sanjana’s request for her fiance Vishal brought a whiff of freshness into the show with her dedication from the film “Saathia”. Creatively produced, click promos and special effects were a treat to the ears. The icing on the cake was however the techno remix of Bryan Adams’ classic “Heaven”. The show invited responses on “How can we keep Chandigarh evenmore beautiful?” from the listeners. |
Commuters may have to carry identity
slips Chandigarh, November 11 The proposal is significant as, according to sources in the police department, it will go a long way in not only identifying accident victims, but also in informing the relatives. This, in turn, would enable their relatives to provide adequate medical help to the victims without unnecessary delay. Sources in the police department add that the slips are essential as in a large number of cases the licences being carried by the drivers mention wrong address. Moreover, telephone numbers are not specified on the licences. In case of cyclists and pedestrians, it is sometimes impossible to identify the victims, they assert. Sources further claim that directions for making the carrying of slips mandatory cannot be passed under the rules and regulations. As such a “massive campaign to educate the masses will be launched”. A senior police officer adds: “Modalities are being worked out. We will, however, begin from schools so that the little ones could teach their elders a thing or two”. The Chandigarh Parents’ Association had earlier appealed to all road users in the city and its vicinity to carry identity slip bearing their latest address and contact number so that their relatives could be immediately contacted in case of eventuality. This, the members had added, would help the social workers and police personnel to immediately inform the families in case of any emergency. The members had claimed that it took long time to trace the correct address of the victims in a large number of cases as incorrect addresses were mentioned on the registration certificates and the driver’s licences. This was causing lot of difficulties for good Samaritans, police personnel and social workers. The association chairman, Mr Bhim Sen Sehgal, added that eyewitnesses should also be encouraged to immediately inform the police control room giving the correct details, including the place of accident. They should also be taught to request passing vehicles to remove accident victims and take them to the hospital without waiting for police to arrive on the scene. Doctors on emergency duty in the hospital should also be asked to promptly attend accident victims as any lapse in time would cost precious lives. “It is the sacred duty of every resident to help the accident victim in the time of emergency,” Mr Sehgal had added. “Registration number of the offending vehicle should also be noted down by the eyewitness and passed over to the police authorities”. “Police personnel should be directed to deal sympathetically with the accident victims and not to act in a rude manner. They should also handle the accident victims in a proper manner”, he had added. |
|
FAUJI BEAT EX-servicemen are the only Central Government pensioners in the country whose medicare is not the responsibility of the Central Government. They, about seventyfive lakh in number, get treatment at military hospitals on an ad hoc basis only if the existing resources at these hospitals permit this. For no extra staff or equipment is authorised to military hospitals for their treatment. This step-motherly treatment has been affecting the moral of not only the ex-servicemen, their families and widows but also serving soldiers for the past many years. A new scheme called the Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) has now been introduced by the government to cater to the medicare of ex-servicemen, their families and widows. On retirement, every military man, by contributing his share, will become a member of this scheme. The existing ex-servicemen can become its members by making one-time payment which will vary with age and pension. The thrust of this scheme is on maximum utilisation of the existing service facilities by augmenting them by a one-time capital expenditure of Rs 122 crore and recurring expenditure of Rs 350.50 crore, annually. The ECHS is likely to cover 86 per cent of ex-servicemen. Military hospitals and medical inspection rooms (MI Rooms) will be augmented at 104 stations and new polyclinics opened at 123 non-military stations, having a population of more than 2500 ex-servicemen. The areas, having a population of less than 2500 ex-servicemen will either be taken care of by the new polyclinics or by the military hospitals, having augmented facilities. For any specialised treatment at the empanelled hospitals,60 per cent of the amount spent will be reimbursed. For this, Rs 200.85 crore has been earmarked annually. Since the ECHS is based on the augmented medical cover of the Army, it has a good chance of success. The reimbursement to the tune of 60 per cent for the treatment at the empanelled hospitals is, however, considered too low.
Medical camps For the past many years, the Army has been holding medical camps for villages in remote areas under “Operation Sahyog”. Recently, one such camp was held in a border area of Punjab. It seems the Army will have to continue to hold these camps even after the introduction of the ECHS because it will not be possible for this scheme to cover civil population. Besides, the population of ex-servicemen, not covered by the ECHS, will have to be provided medical cover by holding such camps.
Forward policy Many old soldiers have given us a first-hand account of their traumatic experience of the 1962 debacle. What we also need to know is that the humiliating defeat in the October 1962, conflict against China, was thrust upon the Army by politicians. In 1961, the Army Headquarters had sent a note to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), stating among other things, that if China tried a strong incursion, the Indian Army would not be able to hold. The note had clearly brought out disadvantages, including poor equipment,
out-molded weapons and lack of road communications to maintain a large force, that the Indian Army in Kemeng division was suffering from. Contrary to the general feeling at the Army Headquarters that the note would evoke a positive response from the MoD and the government, it came back after having been seen by the Defence Secretary, the Defence Minister and the Prime Minister, without any remarks. The then Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and the then Defence Minister, Krishna Menon, were absolutely sure that China would not attack India. This assurance was given to them by our intelligence agencies. And this assurance encouraged the government to adopt what was called a “forward policy” towards China by establishing small posts of five to six men each. It was this foolish forward policy that instigated the Chinese to attack us. The rest is history.
Army helps villagers In the recent heavy rains at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir, a large stretch of the Uri-Kamalkot road at Dachhi and Basgiran villages was totally blocked due to landslides. This brought the life in a number of villages to a virtual standstill. Despite its operational deployment, the Uri Brigade took upon itself to help villagers in clearing the road of large rocks and debris by using heavy machinery and bulldozers. All ranks of 15 Maratha Light Infantry worked round the clock until the road was cleared and life in the affected villages restored to normal.
Pritam Bhullar |
|
Tributes paid to Capt Kaushal Panchkula, November 11 Col. Mahesh Kumar from Western Command, Subedar Rattan Chand, officers and others from 18th Punjab Regiment and officers of 14th Punjab Regiment paid floral tributes at his memorial. The Panchkula, SDM Mr Inder Singh and Mr DPS Budhwar, Secretary, Zila Sainik Board from the District Administration and Ms Saroj Sheoran, Principal, Shaheed Rohit Kaushal Government High School, Jalauli and Kanwar Shankhla father of martyr Major Sandeep Shankhla also paid floral tributes. The parents of martyr Mr S.S. Kaushal and Mrs Veena Kaushal also paid tributes Captain Rohit Kaushal was born on August 5 ,1968 at Ambala
Cantonment. He was commissioned in June1990 and opted for infantry and he was allotted 18 Punjab Regiment. Later he was deputed to 12 Rashtriya Rifles and he was posted in the Gandoh area of Doda district in Jammu and Kashmir. On the fateful night of November 10-11, 1995, Capt Rohit raided the hideouts of Afghan militants along with his
contingent, taking front position himself. In the ensuing encounter, he laid down his life. Even when he was bleeding profusely, he wounded two militants before succumbing to his injuries. The govt honoured him posthumously with Sena Medal his gallant action . The Haryana Govt has raised a memoral in his ancestral
village-Jalauli. |
|
Central Govt pensioners seek justice Chandigarh, November 11 Mr G.S. Oberai, president of the society, claimed that the Centre had made the announcement on December 17, 1998, but its later order on May 11, 2001, had created resentment among the pensioners. The government had tried to reverse its earlier commitment, he added. He urged the government to withdraw the order to provide justice to lakhs of pensioners. |
|
Villagers
‘rough up’ contactor’s men Panchkula, November 11 |
Landlord held in currency racket Panchkula, November 11 One of the accused in the racket — Raj Kumar — was arrested by the police yesterday, while the kingpin, Ashok Kumar, and Harman escaped. A sum of Rs. 7000 in fake currency was recovered from him. Superintendent of Police Ranbir Singh said the accused had recently shifted to this house in Sector 15 here. Earlier, they had been staying in the house of Mr Ranbir and Mr Ghanshyam in Sector 19. These two persons are also suspected to be involved with the accused and are now on the run. Meanwhile, it is learnt that the accused had passed on some fake currency to a person in the Muktsar district of Punjab for circulation. However, this person was nabbed by the Muktsar police, who in turn led the police to Raj Kumar, Ashok Kumar and Harman. Accused Raj Kumar was today sent to police remand by a local court, while efforts are on to arrest the other accused. |
|
Key man in hawala racket nabbed SAS Nagar, November 11 The accused, Sarbjit Singh alias Rick who is a US citizen had been declared a proclaimed offender in the USA . Later a red alert was sounded by Interpol to arrest this key person involved in drug peddling in Houston. According to information provided by the police, Rick was mainly trafficking a drug named ‘Ecstasy’, hugely popular in USA and many European countries with the help of a strong international group supported by Israeli smugglers. Rick also ran two clubs — ‘The Hub’ and ‘The Spy Club’ — in Houston from where he operated. Rick was helped by his brother Amrik Singh alias ‘Spirow’ in this work, who has already been arrested by the US police in September this year. The drug which is manufactured clandestinely in the Netherlands was being peddled by Rick and his gang to youngsters across Europe and the USA. Mr M.S. Bhullar, Director-General of Police, has informed through a press note that before the US authorities moved in for his extradition, information about Rick had been gathered by his team. The ADGP Crime, Mr K.K. Attri came to know from his sources abroad that Rick had slipped out of Spain and was now in India and likely to surface in the Chandigarh/SAS Nagar area. Private sources confirmed that Rick had arrived in SAS Nagar and the SP here, Mr H.S. Bhullar was put on the task of tracking down Rick. Following the arrest warrants issued by the Kharar Courts, Rick was arrested yesterday from Phase IX. According to the police, Rick has revealed that he came to India with a foreign lady Sonja Irena who is said to be one of his active contacts. Mr Bhullar also informed that the Punjab police had intimated Interpol regarding rick’s arrest and the recoveries made from him. He would be handed over to the American authorities under an extradition treaty. Rick was produced before the Judicial Magistrate,
Kharar, and has been sent to judicial custody till November 25. |
|
Flesh trade racket busted Panchkula, November 11 The police had received secret information that the accused were running a flesh trade racket. A decoy customer was set up and a raiding party was set up by DSP Headquarters, Mr Desh Bandhu. A trap was laid and the three accused a 19-year-old girl from Ambala, another 19-year-old girl from Abheypur village here and Naveen , a resident of Sector 12-A, were arrested. All of them have been booked under the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act. |
|
Pocket picked at Jagat cinema Chandigarh, November 11 Stolen: Mr Vikram Singh Kang, a resident of Sector 21, reported to the police that his Maruti Zen car (CH03C 5672) was stolen from a parking lot at the Leisure Valley, Sector 10. Bolero jeep (CH03H 2150) of Mr Sanjiv Verma, a Sector 20 resident and spare wheel from scooter of Mr Sarwan Singh, a resident of Sector 24 were reportedly stolen. Thieves held: The police claims to have arrested two persons allegedly stealing bicycles. On the complaint of ASI Sayabir Singh, Jugan, a resident of Mauli Jagran Complex has been arrested. The accused had allegedly stolen a bicycle from Prachin Shiv Mandir, Mauli Jagran Complex yesterday. Leela Dhar, a resident of Sector 17, Panchkula, was also arrested allegedly for stealing bicycle from Mani Majra yesterday. Both the stolen bicycles have been recovered. Injured: Mr Dharam Singh, a resident of Sector 41, was injured and admitted to the Command Hospital, Chandi Mandir after he was allegedly hit by a scooter on the dividing road of Sectors 45 and 46. A case under Sections 279 and 337 of the IPC has been registered. |
BIZCLIP
Chandigarh |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 122 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
