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Stage set for VAT implementation in UT
Chandigarh, November 24 The implementation of VAT had been held up in Chandigarh, as it was, so far, governed by the Punjab General Sales Tax Act, 1952. To implement VAT the latter had to be repealed. In case of Chandigarh — a Union Territory governed directly by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs — the powers to repeal an Act are with Parliament. Since the Chandigarh Administration could not work with two different sets rules, one had to be repealed. The file to repeal the Punjab General Sales Tax, 1952, had been sent to the MHA some time in March this year. Interestingly, the matter was also listed for discussion during the last Parliament session. However, no discussions were held. Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, the local Member of Parliament, speaking after the session today said: “The matter was listed for discussion in parliament on top of the agenda. It was likely to be decided in favour of VAT because the clearance was a mere formality.” Parliament had to be postponed on the first two days because of differences on the floor of the house. The matter pertaining to VAT did not come up for discussion. VAT has been implemented in a majority of the states as an effort to have a uniform tax policy all over the country. Reliable sources said that Chandigarh had submitted papers to the Finance Ministry and the Law Ministry regarding the implementation of VAT in the city. Mr Bansal said the issue of bringing in VAT has been listed as ‘repeal of the Punjab Sales Tax Act’ which will automatically mean implementing VAT. VAT is a positive step in making a uniform tax policy. The issue is likely to come up in the coming week, he added. Financial experts feel that VAT had come in as an effort by the Centre to have a uniform tax policy in all states. The matter was earlier a state subject which meant each state had a different tax policy. Except in certain ruled-BJP states, the policy has been implemented in other states. The tax rates for general items varied from state to state as did the tax on luxuries and other items. Thus VAT was introduced. The Centre had also assured the states that in case they suffered any losses under the new taxation policy, in overall revenue, the Centre would compensate them. There have been no complaints from any of the states regarding any loss because of VAT, as yet.
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Multiplex plan hits roadblock
Panchkula, November 24 According to senior HUDA officials, any promotor must be granted prior approval in the form of licence for conversion of a cinema hall into a multiplex, before initiating any formal or informal booking. “In this case, the cinema hall management or their Delhi-based promoters have applied for the conversion, but this has not been granted to them so far,” the officials said. However, the two Directors of the cinema hall, when contacted, made a categorical statement that,” a fair and impartial probe by HUDA , or any other independent agency would prove that no booking of retail space was being done. The only activity on the site so far has been a Bhoomi Poojan, ceremony on October 23, announcing the project”. They added that the advertisements issued by them mentioned these facts. On the other hand, HUDA officials are now examining the advertisements published by the promotors to find out if any violation has been made. The authorities are examining the matter following complaints to the Estate Office, Panchkula, regarding the alleged informal booking by the multiplex promoters. HUDA officers have been receiving phone calls claiming that 40 persons have already booked space in the multiplex stated to come up along the Chandigarh-Shimla highway. “As many as 37 shops on the ground floor (at the rate of Rs 29,000 per sq. feet), 35 on the first floor (at Rs 25,000 per square feet) and 36 shops on the second floor (at Rs. 22,000 per sq. feet) were available for pre-launch booking,” said a HUDA official. Even the sale deed registration of the sprawling property is in the name of the previous owner, and it has not been transferred to the Directors. The cinema hall management had applied for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from HUDA for the transfer of the property, to furnish it in the Tehsil office. Senior officials in HUDA confirmed a General Power of Attorney (GPA) of the previous owner, dated 1998, was received for procuring an NOC. “However, NOC has not been issued. We will verify the GPA, as it is quite old, before the NOC is issued,” said a HUDA senior official.
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Software export from tricity touches Rs 200 cr
Mohali, November 24 According to the information provided by the local Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), which monitors and regulates all software exports from the tricity, at least two new IT companies are joining the bandwagon each month. “It has never been so good for the IT in Punjab and Chandigarh and we are expecting a bigger export figure before the end of this financial year when many of these companies would become operational. However the biggest jump would be witnessed when the larger companies like Wipro and TCS set up their plants here,” said Dr Sanjay Tyagi, Director, STPI. Quark has overtaken Infosys Technologies in software export. Both these companies are based in Mohali. Till now, Quark has accounted for Rs 63.5 crore worth of export in 2005-2006 compared to Infosys accounting for Rs 58.37 crore worth of the total exports. In the last financial year, Quark had been responsible for Rs 40.94 crore of export while Infosys had contributed Rs 49.67 crore to the total figure. More than 230 IT units have registered with the STPI. Over 30 of these were approved between October, 2004, and September, 2005. “There is a general increase in every parameter by which these figures can be analysed. Other than the fact that new units are chipping in, leading to an increased export, there is also an increase in the export capacity of the existing companies. The IDS export has risen from Rs 13 crore, in the last financial year, to Rs 15 crore,” said Dr Tyagi. The top five software technology park units include Quark, Infosys Technologies, Dell Computers Private Limited, IDS Infotech and Second Foundation Private
Limited.
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Panchkula resident dies in accident
Banur, November 24 Sources in the Banur police station said the accident occurred around 3 pm when a rashly driven truck rammed into the car while overtaking a bus near Azizpur village about 7 km from here. The truck (PB-11-K-4165) loaded with sand was coming from Zirakpur side while the car was going towards Panchkula. The occupants of the car were returning to their home at Panchkula after attending a marriage at Patiala. According to eyewitnesses, the truck crossed over to the wrong side of the road while overtaking a bus and rammed into the car. After hitting the car, the truck driver lost control over the vehicle and it went off the road into the fields. Both vehicles were completely damaged in the accident. Passers-by rushed to the help of the accidents victim and worked hard to extract them from the mangled car. The police said 62-year-old Kulwant Rai of Sector 12, Panchkula, died on the spot while his wife, Krishana Devi, and 14-year-old grandson, Navin Gupta, suffered minor injuries in the accident. They were discharged after first aid. The body was shifted to the Civil Hospital, Rajpura.
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Bomb hoax in Sector 26
Chandigarh, November 24 At around 4 pm a passerby raised an alarm after spotting the suitcase lying in the middle of the Madhya Marg. Within minutes, shopkeepers and passers-by rang the police up. A bomb disposal squad was despatched for the spot. In the meantime, Gurmail Singh, realised that his suitcase had fallen from his car. He reached the spot looking for it only to witness mayhem among the crowd there. He told the police that the suitcase belonged to him and it had fallen of his car. The police then opened the suitcase in his presence. Satisfied, they allowed him to leave the place, along with it.
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45 structures demolished in Khuda Lahora
Chandigarh, November 24 The structures had been raised on around 10 acres of land that had been acquired by the Administration in February last for raising a complex. The demolition squad accompanied by a strong posse of police started the drive by pulling down four godowns, including two gas godowns. A junk dealer, Mr Ajay Kumar, said no prior notice about the demolition had been given by the officials. Another victim, Ms Neelam Walia, said she had taken education loan for her son against a 12-room structure raised on the land and she was paying her monthly loan instalments from the money she got as rent.
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Unique pledge on marriage anniversary
Chandigarh, November 24 Ajay, a recipient of the 14th Godfrey Philips Bravery Award, and Saroj, a PhD, had long thought of going in for voluntary donation of their bodies and this year they formally did it. Ajay works with the Verka milk plant. He also been an ardent social worker and sportsperson, while Saroj is into teaching profession. Inspired by another couple that had taken a similar step, Ajay said it was a common decision of theirs. The couple today completed the formalities at the PGI. According to the pledge, after their death the bodies would be at the disposal of the institute. The pledge or the will form further states that there will be no dispute regarding it and their heirs will not have any objections regarding the disposal of their bodies. Saroj said they would even inform their seven-year-old daughter about the donation when she grew up and motivate her to do a similar act. The couple has also reportedly motivated their 10 friends to do the same. Meanwhile, doctors at the PGI say it’s a good gesture but many a times the siblings or relatives refuse to honour the decision of the deceased.
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E-Governance Solution Centre set up
Chandigarh, November 24 As a special effort, the centre is also equipped with Linux Support Desk that focuses on providing any technical support on Linux Operating System to users in the region. The help desk is available on call centre telephone number “0172-5071954” from 9 am to 5 pm during working days and at e-mail: Linuxsupport@spicindia.com. The departments of UT Chandigarh may also take technical help or suggestions for setting up Linux-based solutions like mail messaging solution, proxy setup, database on Linux, portal solutions, office productivity solution, centralised authentication and data storage for heterogeneous type of environment meaning both Windows and Linux based clients in the office and having Linux as a server. The SPIC-IBM e-Governance Solutions Centre has also announced to carry out proof of concept of such solutions initially free for test trials, which can be then upgraded to a complete solution as per the requirements of the departments.
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‘Super Fuzz Big Muff’ rock
Chandigarh, November 24 Joint Family, another band from Delhi, finished second. Super Fuzz Big Muff will now compete with winners of other regional finals at the final to be held in Goa on December 16. System House 33 and Radio Activity, bands from Indore, and Scraphin and Wasted Souls from Chandigarh competed for winning a trip to Goa. In the afternoon, the regional event saw six bands from the city display their talent. Excitement and anticipation was visible on the faces of the members of the audience. People were still pouring in when the first band started its performance. Continual pauses to fine tune the equipment to there liking had them a little skeptical. Still undeterred, they continued to support their bands. For the second year, this amateur rock band contest with participation from students of various colleges has shown that the city has some amazing young musicians with the finest of musical talent and original composition capabilities. The event was part of a series of 12 regional events being held across the country and part of the three regional events for the North Zone.
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Martyrdom Day of Guru Teg Bahadar observed
Chandigarh, November 24
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SBI gives 1 cr for quake-hit
Chandigarh, November 24
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Chandigarh, November 24
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Milk Samples collected
Panchkula, November 24
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Married woman commits suicide
Chandigarh, November 24 According to the police, she held no one responsible for her extreme step and her sister also ruled out any foul play behind the death. So far the police could not find out the reason behind the death. They said the victim was depressed and was of sensitive nature. Her mother-in-law was bedridden and had been operated about twice and was not mentally sound. The Station House Officer (SHO) of the Industrial Area police station, Baljit Singh
Chadda, said the incident came to light when Mr Tejbhan, the father-in-law of Sunita, called her to make tea for his friend. When he did not get any response from her, he went to her room and was surprised to find the same bolted from inside. After his repeated calls went unanswered, he pushed opened the door and found Sunita hanging from ceiling fan hook. On seeing her struggling for life, he raised the alarm and his friend rushed into the room. They lowered Sunita off the hook and tried to revive her. In the meantime, Tejbhan informed his son Sanjeev about the incident and the latter came back home. The police was also informed. Sanjeev along with his friends rushed Sunita to a private clinic before taking her to the Sector 32 Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where the doctors declared her dead on arrival. The police reached the spot and by that time Sanjeev came back from the GMCH. Later, the body was sent to the mortuary of the Sector 16 General Hospital. Sunita, mother of a two- year-old daughter, had married about four year back. Her husband Sanjeev Kumar, who sells pharmaceutical instruments, was not at home at the time of the incident, the sources in the Industrial Area police station said. The SHO said, "We have examined the spot and are looking into every aspect in this matter. We will get the postmortem examination conducted to ascertain the exact cause of death and the viscera of the deceased will be examined to get to the bottom of the truth."He further added that the police has taken the statements of the neighbours and one of the sisters of Sunita also. So far nothing incriminating has been found in this regard.
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Gang selling underweight LPG cylinders busted
Chandigarh, November 24 Giving details sources in the operation cell said Jalbir Singh, an employee of Vijay Gas Agency, was arrested from near Colony Number 5 along with four others while transferring gas illegally. The raid was conducted on the basis of secret information gathered by the operation cell. A team of Food and Supply Department’s officials also accompanied the raiding policemen. During the raids the policemen seized 12 under weight gas cylinders, five empty cylinders besides the one which was used to transfer the gas. The police also recovered the instrument that the culprits used in transferring the gas. The sources further added that during interrogation the accused told the police that they used to transfer the gas from two cylinders three and then sold these. A case under Section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act and Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code has been registered in this regard.
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Four fresh cases registered against Aman Verma
Chandigarh, November 24 Giving details Inspector Satbir Singh, a member of the Special Investigating Team (SIT), said the police has registered four cases of cheating against Aman Verma for forging documents, getting certificate and passports issued in his name by furnishing false details. In three out of the four cases the police has also booked Manoj Kumar and Honey Sharma for allegedly forging documents of the three stolen cars in connivance with Aman Verma. Manoj Kumar and Honey Sharma have been remanded to the police custody till November 25. About the identity of the accused the Inspector said the efforts were on to trace Aman Verma but so far the police had not got any success in this regard. He said whatever information the SIT has gathered so far has been sent to the various agencies active in nabbing the mastermind.’
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