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Tribune Impact Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 25 The CHB suddenly changed its rules in January this year and in turn, this brought to a halt the housing plans of several hundred city residents who were allotted flats through group housing cooperative societies in Sectors 50 and 51. UT Administrator O.P. Verma who took note of the report in Chandigarh Tribune, has asked the chairman of the Chandigarh Housing Board to sort out the matter at the earliest. Sources within the CHB said matters would be sorted soon and a decision would be taken in the next few days. The Chairman of the CHB, Mr S.C. Poddar, has asked the legal cell of the CHB to explain how permission to mortgage was given before January this year and why was it stopped. The reasons for doing so will be recorded on file before the CHB takes a decision. Without the permission to mortgage, banks have refused to give out loans to members, who are in no position to complete the flats in the absence of funds. The CHB, while changing its rules, had said permission to mortgage the flats would be given only after each society submits a detailed affidavit stating that where the loan would be raised from and the name of the bank etc. The societies are in no position to say where the loans would be raised from as they cannot stand any kind of surety on behalf of members. The same was conveyed by the Vayu Bharti Cooperative Society to Administrator. This was not the case earlier, as members of cooperative societies were free to take loan from financial institutions, banks, or even their employers by mortgaging their flats. The society had also told the Administrator that it cannot ask members to take loan from a particular bank collectively. The society had asked who would be liable for repayment and could the president of a society stand surety on behalf of other members. In reality, the CHB is just an agency facilitating the allotment of land and also for carrying out development works against payment made by societies. It has no role in how allottees repay bankers. Normally, each member has his arrangement for loan. Some who are working in banks may desire to take loan from their employer. Others working in good private companies get loans from their office. Someone may get it from LIC against some policy.
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Where’s admin when lights go out? An oasis in darkness
Sector 22, one of the most-populated sectors seems to be an oasis in the darkness in the southern part of the city. With new streetlights, including sodium lights in several markets being installed during the past over two years, the residents can heave a sigh of relief. An amount of over Rs 40 lakh had spent on the augmentation and maintenance of streetlights to make the sector “fully-lit”, claimed Mr Pardeep
Chabbra, Senior Deputy Mayor and area councillor. Chandigarh, September 25 In fact, the neglect of the streetlights is a classic example of lack of coordination between the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) and the Chandigarh Administration. The duality of control ensures that the southern sectors, which have grown by leaps and bounds in the recent years, are left to fend for themselves. At present, the streetlights with underground cables are the responsibility of the MCC and these included those on the V-3, V-4 and V-5 roads. The streetlights in front of the residential area (V-6 roads) and some areas along side the V-5 roads are maintained by the administration. To top it all, the MCC pays Rs 7 crore per year to the administration for the maintenance of the streetlights. Moreover, there seems to be no mechanism with the MCC to check the maintenance work done by the administration. However, a random survey of the city revealed that recent power crisis had taken its toll on the functioning of the streetlights. With the supply always falling short of the demand of 220 MW, switching off the streetlights at night seems to be an easy option for the authorities concerned. While a majority of the streetlights on the V-6 road were functioning, the working of those on the other roads left much to be desired.The darkness on the roads had made them accident-prone. The stray cattle menace only makes the things worse for the residents. The absence of any foothpaths for the pedestrians and encroachments on both sides of the roads also complicate the situation for road users. On the other hand, officials blamed the problem on the acute shortage of staff at the disposal of the electricity wings of the MCC and the administration. While the city has grown with the addition of the third phase sectors, numerous greenbelts and parks and parking lots, the staff strength had remained same over the years. The MCC is virtually working with a skeleton staff having an Executive Engineer and an SDO with a few lower-level employees. The situation in the UT Electricity Wing is reported to be only slightly better. The recent repatriation of middle-level staff from various wings of the MCC, including the Electricity Wing, to the administration has seriously hampered the augmentation and maintenance works. The recent stand-off between the Central Government and the administration over the release of more power to the city had had an adverse impact on the functioning of the streetlights in recent weeks, admitted an official. However, he claimed that the situation was better than the other cities of the country.
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Residents sore over poor upkeep of streetlights Chandigarh, September 25 In a letter to the Finance Secretary, Mr Karan A Singh, the federation said nearly 50 per cent of the streetlights on V-5, and V-6 roads, especially in the southern sectors, were not functioning. The letter written by the federation president, Mr P.C.
Sanghi, adds that the residents had started feeling insecure and don’t venture out of their home at night for fear of thefts. He said the officials, when contacted, had stated that material for carrying out repairs was not available with the department. Mr Sanghi had urged the Finance Secretary to intervene.
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Goyal, Sharma, Kang elected to Senate
Chandigarh, September 25 A former president of the Panjab University Campus Students' Council, Mr Malvinder Singh Kang, was among those declared elected to the Senate. Dr Sharma, a faculty member of PU, and Mr Goyal, a trade union leader of the State Bank of India, were the only ones who cleared the quota of 3021 votes while the remaining seven Senators were declared elected through the elimination process. Candidates with the lowest number of votes were eliminated in subsequent rounds of counting till the required number remained. BJP candidates, Mr Dhirender Tayal and Mr Ashok Sachdeva as well as Mr Dr Hardiljit Gosal, a lecturer of Khalsa College, Hoshiarpur, were elected for the second consecutive term. They got 2254, 2805 and 2286 votes, respectively. The new entrants elected to the Senate include Mr Malwinder Singh Kang, president of the PUCSC last year, Mr Ajay Pal Singh, Dr Ravinder Kumar, a faculty member of PU. In all, only five candidates from the graduate constituency managed to clear the quota this time due to poor voting percentage in the Senate elections. The new Senate would be constituted with effect from November 1.
While elections to all the constituencies have been held, names of 36 eminent personalities from all walks of life, to be nominated to the Senate, remain.
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Chandigarh Club: 411 were ‘not eligible to vote’ Chandigarh, September 25 These 411 members were not among the ceiling of 5,000 members, which is laid down as per the Article of Association of the Chandigarh Club. These members were actually given old membership numbers to make it seem that they were within the list of first 5,000 members. This means there were 411 vacancies and those outside the list of 5,000 were actually eligible for voting. The Principal Bench of the Company Law Board will take up the case on September 27 to give a hearing on the matter. Already a stay has been granted on the counting of votes. The Company Law Board had appointed Mr Neeraj Chaudhary, an advocate of the Supreme Court, and Mr Sameer Soni, a chartered accountant, to examine the records of the club.
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Travel agent, 2 accomplices booked Chandigarh, September 25 Siksha Devi, a resident of Bapu Dham Colony, Sector 26 in her complaint said that T.C. Thakur, a resident of Sector 15, Shri Kant Gore, president of USA Airport Communication Company, and Shri Niwas Rao, chairman of the above said company had taken money from her to send her son Ravinder Singh abroad. According to the police the woman deposited the money partly in cash and cheque in the Hyderabad based office of the company at Kirloskar Hospital, Bashir Bagh in Hyderabad city. She added that the accused had taken her son with two other boys to Bangkok on August 30, 2004. There they demanded $ 2000 more from her son to shift him to the USA. As her son told them that the deal was settled for Rs. 3.25 lakh and he could not afford more money they told him that they could not shift him to the USA. Thereafter, the accused took her son back to Bangalore on September 16 and left him there. Ravinder reported the matter to the Hyderabad police and the police arrested Shri Kant Gore and Shri Niwas Rao taking action on the complaint made by Ravinder Singh. Ravinder last met T.C. Thakur in Delhi on August 30. When he tried to contact him in the city he was not traceable. The Chandigarh police has registered a case in this regards under Sections 420 and 120-B of the IPC against the accused in Sector 26, police station. The city based accused T.C. Thakur has not been arrested so far.
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Four held for immoral trafficking Panchkula, September 25 The ASI struck the deal for Rs 2000 with the four girls when SHO Ashok Bhakhsi of Sector 5 police station here made the raid and arrested the four girls. According to the police the girls hail from very poor families. While two of them belong to Jalandhar, one is from Panchkula and another is from Manimajra. After the arrest of the girls, sister of one of them, Asha Rani, after learning about the arrest of her sister visited the police station and allegedly tried to bribe SHO Aswini Bhakshi by offering Rs 20,000. DSP Headquarters Deshbandhu was informed and a case under the Prevention of Corruption act had been registered.
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Dhaba owners use lock-up as store Panchkula, September 25 Superintendent of Police, Ms Mamta Singh, has ordered a probe how the contractor got the keys of the lock-up. Material stored by the contractors in the lock-up — furnaces, furniture items, raw eatables, crockery and even refrigerator—last night was reportedly confiscated by the police yesterday, and the contractor was being questioned. It is alleged that the contractors have been using the judicial lock up for over a month. Initially they were allowed to use the lock up at night by cops and the lock up would be opened early in the morning so that they could take away the goods before the court timing. However, one of the contractors was later provided with duplicate key of the lock up, so that they could themselves store the goods, and get them out early morning. Police sources say that they are also questioning the eight cops on duty at the judicial lock up, to know about their involvement in the incident.
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Dharna by BJP activists Chandigarh, September 25 They were on way to submit a memorandum to UT Administrator O.P. Verma, against the continuation of tainted ministers and the removal of Veer Savarkar’s plaque from Andaman Cellular Jail. They were stopped by the police. They were released in the evening. Earlier, addressing workers, Satya Pal Jain former Member of Parliament, said that cost of living was very high and rising prices and increasing rate of inflation had become a cause of concern. Mr Jain categorically stated that the UPA Government headed by Dr Manmohan Singh had inducted ministers involved in criminal cases into his Cabinet. “Some of these ministers have also been lodged in jail at some point,” he added. The procession marched towards Punjab Raj Bhavan to hand over the memorandum to Governor. The police stopped them and did not allow them to proceed after which the leaders courted arrest. Earlier, at the BJP office, a programme on the birth anniversary of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhaya, the propounder of “Ekatmmanavad” was held. Addressing the party workers, Mr Yash Pal Mahajan, local president of the BJP, said that following the path shown by Pt Deen Dayal Upadhaya would be a homage to him in the real sense. Party workers started from BJP office (Kamlam), Sector 33, and passed through Sectors 21, 18 and 7.
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Brahma Kumaris’ programme on tension management Mohali, September 25 Brahma Kumari Prem, in charge of the local centre, said that Brahma Kumari Shivani, an expert on management from Om Shanti Retreat Centre, Gurgaon, would be reaching Mohali to conduct these programmes. During her three-day stay in the town, she would address various industrial and educational organisations on tension-free life, self-management, personality development, art of right thinking, living values, exploring inner powers, self-realisation and practical techniques of Rajyoga meditation. She would be addressing at the Centre for Management Training and Research, Kharar, senior officers of the Punjab School Education Board, officers of Ranbaxy Laboratories and members of Mohali Industries Association on September 27. On September 28, she would address principals of senior secondary schools of Ropar district, managers of Bharti Mobiles (AirTel) and residents of the town. Brahma Kumari Shivani would address managers and officials of Tynor Orthoticks, students of Gian Jyoti Institute of Management and Technology, medical staff of Fortis and managers and officers of Punjab Tractors on September 29.
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Air Marshal releases book
Chandigarh, September 25 On his arrival at the school, he was received by the Station Commander, Gp Capt P.P. Khandekar. Air Marshal Chaturvedi was shown an X-ray model of a trainer and briefed about animation packages for aircraft systems developed by the school, a statement issued here said. He also released a book on automatic replacement scheme of MIG-27 spares, prepared by the school.
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Book of Urdu poetry released Chandigarh, September 25 The book is an attempt to inspire English knowing readers to understand Urdu. Anthologies of 10 poets are included in his work. These poets are Chand Narain Raina Chand, Naubahar Sabir, Rishi Patialvi, Prakash Nath Parvez, Prem Warbartoni, Rajinder Nath Rehbar, Azad Gulati, Prem Kumar Nazar, Surindra Pandit Soz and Dr Naresh.
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Chandigarh, September 25 In case of any difficulty, the matter may be brought to the notice of Food and Supplies department or on telephone no 2703956 or 2709000, DC Arun Kumar said. TNS
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Admn to celebrate World Tourism Day tomorrow Chandigarh, September 25
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Enraged man pours hot oil on wife, held Chandigarh, September 25 He had sustained injuries in the accident and was admitted to the PGI where he died. The police is yet to ascertain his identity. The body of the victim is lying at the PGI’s mortuary. A case under Sections 279, 337 and 304-A of the Indian Penal Code has been registered at Sector 31 police station. Woman burnt: A husband allegedly burnt his wife by pouring oil on her when she objected to his illicit relations ship with a woman, late last night in Mani Majra. According to the police, Jamana (25) of Shashtri Nagar, Gawala Colony, was burnt by her enraged husband Bhajan Lal, after an altercation when his wife objected to his illicit relationship with the woman. She received 90 per cent burns. She was admitted to the GMCH, Sector 32. The Mani Majra police has registered a case under Section 307 of the IPC. The accused was later arrested. Liquor seized: The local police yesterday arrested Mohamed Irfan of Sector 52 from Nehru Colony for illegally possessing liquor. The police seized 10 cartons of Officer’s Choice whisky, three cartons of Hulchul country wine, two cartons of Hero whisky, one carton of Director’s Special whisky, one carton of Aristocrat whisky and one carton of Surma country wine from his possession. A case under sections 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act has been registered against him in Sector 39 police station. Vehicle theft: Ramesh Kumar of Sector 20 lodged a complaint with the police that his scooter (CHT-1249) was stolen from his residence on September 23. A theft case under Section 379 of the IPC has been registered against him in Sector 19 police station. Meanwhile, Jameel Ahmed of Maloya Colony lodged a complaint with the UT police that his scooter (PAN-7884) was stolen from Sector 22-D parking lot. A case of theft has been registered in Sector 17 police station.
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Traders complain against weights and measures inspectors Chandigarh, September 25 The Inspectors were not stamping weighing scales and machines of certain traders as the work had been done by people who complained against an inspector in June. Explaining how the system works the association said traders hand over their weighing machines to one of the repairers for repairing and stamping by the Inspectors of Weights and Measurers. The assignment is completed when machine is stamped and verification certificate is issued. However, in the past three months the cases being handled by five repairers who had complained against and Inspector Amarjit Singh, are not being processed. No stamping is being done. Inspectors are issuing verification certificate but do not stamp the machine which is against norms and rules. But in case of other repairers who did not complain against Mr Amarjit Singh, the process is completed. Inspectors are prejudiced , the association said. The Inspectors are enjoying unlimited
powers.
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Exhibition on printing begins Chandigarh, September 25 Over 75 companies are displaying their products and services at the exhibition, which was inaugurated by the Additional General Manager, The Tribune, Mr O.P. Arora. The exhibition is being organised by Press Ideas, publishers of a specialised graphic arts magazine on printing and packaging. According to, Mr Jacob George, CEO of Press Ideas, the exhibition is expected to usher in a new era of productivity and profitability for the printing, packaging and signage industry. In this region, there are over 7,500 printers, 5,000 individual entrepreneurs who take printing jobs on contractual basis, 10,000 screen printers and 700 advertising agencies. It is estimated that production costs incurred in this region are 15 per cent higher than more advanced units in New Delhi. This is because of low volumes, wastage of consumables and paper and inefficiencies in the production process. At North Print 2004, there are a number of companies who can advise print professionals on how to increase productivity while cutting down costs by investing in the latest technology. Companies like Alfa Therm Limited, Dominant, Ess Dee Nutek Infinities are among known names which have set up stalls at the exhibition.
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