TREND MILL
Modernity meets tradition

Patialvis welcome township culture with open arms. UMESH DEWAN takes a look at projects coming up in the city

WITH lush green parks and gardens, clean environment, adequate sports and medical facilities, prominent educational institutions and a rich cultural heritage, Patiala is one of the most prosperous and progressive areas of Punjab. With several major township projects coming up in Patiala, it is being considered one of the most conducive cites for inhabitation.

Residents are eager to welcome township culture in Patiala and all eyes are on two major township projects — Tricone City and Omaxe City. Tricone City is being developed as a township equipped with state-of-the-art amenities supported by extensive infrastructure. It will offer a well-planned mix of commercial space, plots, independent homes and luxury villas. Omaxe City, on the other hand, will be an integrated township offering a world class IT park, biotech park, plotted development, institutional area, educational campuses, shopping mall and a modern club.

“Situated in the rich agrarian belt of Punjab and populated by the educated, Patiala presents a fine blend of modernity with tradition. With its beautiful bouquet of lifestyles, the princely state is home to our first project,” says vice-president (coordination and operations) Tricone Projects India (TPI) Limited Col (retd) K.J. Singh. He further said that their aim would be to complete the project by 2011-12.

Spread over 85 acres on the Sirhind road, just seven km from main city, Tricone City will offer the dual convenience of being close enough to the city centre yet comfortably away from the hustle and bustle. The township will have well-planned parks, open green spaces, 100 feet wide roads, tree lined avenues and jogging trails. “Lush landscaping around the club with a garden restaurant, tennis courts, swimming pool, play area for kids, table tennis, badminton, billiards, card room, modern gymnasium, health club and multicuisine restaurant will be there,” said company officials, while speaking to The Tribune.  

The township will also have a commercial and retail complex, a dedicated clubhouse for the residents, school, health centre, post office, bank, cafeterias and restaurants. The variety of living options includes plot sizes varying from 250 square yards to 1,500 square yards with maximum plots facing parks and open green spaces.

 Some of the highlights of Tricone City would be motorised metal entrance gate with vehicle movement sensors, high speed optical fibre connectivity, underground water storage tanks, and modular fabricated sewage treatment plant and rainwater harvesting across the complex.  

PDA Omaxe City is an integrated township, on public-private partnership basis. Patiala Development Authority (PDA) has entered into joint development agreement for development of PDA Omaxe city with Omaxe Limited. “Spread over a sprawling 336.5 acres, PDA Omaxe City is first of its kind in Patiala strategically located at Sirhind Road, Baran, which will be a four-lane highway, connecting GT Road with Ludhiana and Amritsar,” said senior manager, sales and marketing, Omaxe Limited, Manoj Suri.  

Omaxe City will comprise of world class IT Park, Bio-tech Park, plotted development, expandable villas, expansive commercial areas, Institutional area, educational campuses, shopping complex, state-of-the-art club and many more international standard infrastructure of its own, complemented by green and pollution free environs. Regarding the completion of the project, Suri said that project is progressing on good pace, while adding, “As assured, the possession of 1,600 plots would be given in January 2010, whereas another 200 plots will be given in 2011.”

A whiff of fresh air
Anshu Seth

Ludhiana residents leaving city homes for better quality of life

IT’S all because of landscape design, a rather impressive term! Puzzled? Okay, just take one look at the lush green lawns, flowering trees and boulder-bordered fountains in multi-acre townships in Ludhiana and its periphery and you will know why residents are giving up ancestral houses in narrow lanes.

The hybridisation of natural landscape and modern housing is fuelling demand for apartments in panoramic environs. Picture this: Nature unveiling its enigma amidst the cascading leaves of palms, amaltas, pilkhan, ficus, benjamina and legerstonia planted on the sides and in the middle of pristine lanes of walled urban dwellings that enable colonisers to justify “fancy prices” even for studio apartments!

A breath of clean, crisp, healthy, fresh air is perhaps the most wanted commodity in smoggy Ludhiana. And it is the doctor’s prescription, too, for the elderly and the young, especially those suffering from bronchitis and asthma.

Geetanjali, an MBA working with a multinational, believes that the need to own a stylish apartment in modern yet natural surroundings is simple, because the rest of the world fits into it. Having booked an apartment in one of the townships, she says, “Seeing butterflies flutter in the flower beds and listening to birds chirp is indeed a luxury that can only be enjoyed in these environment-friendly colonies.”

Developers, in order to keep their promise, have engaged local nurseries for the upkeep of green cover. Neelam Kapoor of Technocare Nursery in Baddowal said that Country Homes, Janpath Estate, Sukhmani Enclave and Victoria Farms and Homes were some of their regular clients. “There is a huge demand for palms priced between Rs 5,000 and Rs 15,000. We have supplied scores of these trees to townships developed in the city,” shares Neelam.

Smaller nurseries are thriving on small colonies that can’t afford to engage fancy landscape consultant. Ram Saroop, a gardener by profession who now has a nursery on Pakhowal Road, supplies plants to colonies on Ludhiana’s periphery and also tends to the green cover.

Dr Ramesh Sadavrati, head of Punjab Agricultural University’s department of floriculture and landscaping, says their PG students are being absorbed at high salaries by MNCs building these townships.

Take the example of Rajgarh Estate spread over 70 acres with its imposing citadel-like architecture. What makes it more alluring is the landscaping. And now we know why! “We have hired DLQ, Singapore, as the landscaping consultants. Over 5 lakh plants and trees will dot the township,” says Manish Bhasin from Bhasin Infrastructure Developers Pvt Ltd. “Some rare varieties of trees like Exocaria Bicolour, Euphoria Mettalica, Torch Glory flowers and trees of ultra dwarf Chandni, Kachnar and Chaerecia have already been planted and a brigade of 30 gardeners is looking after them,” he adds.

S. Maheshwar, a PAU passout and now senior manager, horticulture, at IREO (the group building a township outside Ludhiana) is cultivating 40 different varieties of trees. “Gulmohar, amaltas and pilkhan are preferred, but we are going in for some rare ones such as bamboo, curisia and champa as well.”

GREEN HOUSE
Beauty with Brains!

If you thought medicinal plants were a sore sight in your garden, think again. SATISH NARULA finds some sure shot winners – plants high in aesthetic and medicinal value

The medicinal plants garden at the residence of then vice-president, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.

WHEN plants were first brought into our gardens from the wilderness, the only consideration was their medicinal benefits. With the passage of time, plants that had no known medicinal use but offered ornamental beauty were added. It was only later that we learnt to use them for a purpose, going by their nature and style of growth. Little wonder then that over the years plants with medicinal properties were forgotten and more and more ornamental species were discovered and multiplied for decorating gardens.

Due to space shortage, plants that combine ornamental value and utility are the winners now. Some people condemn certain plants and label them as ‘harmful’ for one reason or the other. But let me tell you one thing — for sure, nature has not produced anything that does not have meaning or use. It is only putting these plants in a wrong place or to a wrong use that they may cause some trouble. However, it would not be out of place here to mention that even plants once considered weeds have tremendous potential, ornamental value and above all, amazing medicinal properties! Their medicinal use is known to this part of the world for ages.

Fortnightly Alert IT will soon be time for deciduous trees and vines like peach, plum, pear, grapes, almonds and mulberry to shed leaves and go dormant. This action is meant to ward off the ill-effects of the vagaries of weather. Your role as a gardener would be to restrict irrigation and aid their winter nap — stop watering deciduous plants around the end of the first week of November so they can shed leaves and go to sleep. Dormant plants don’t need water and usually winter rains supply enough water. However, keep a watch that roots don’t dry out too much and if the rain plays spoilsport, give a light irrigation. At the end of winter, new leaves will begin to sprout. This will be your signal that the plants are awake and need water and nutrition.

The Sarpgandha plant is now on the red list — on the verge of extinction — courtesy unabashed removal from nature by greedy traders. However, botanical gardens and conservatories are now taking pains to preserve and multiply such plants to restore their lost glory. See the flowering and fruiting of this plant in the accompanying photo. The white and red combination flowers appear in hanging clusters and later bear a green capsule that turns jet black.

Similarly, the catharanthus or Sadabahar — it flowers all-year round — is another very ornamental bush plant that bears white and purple flowers. It now comes in a wide range of colours like red, pink, violet and many more. Diabetics use the leaves of the plant and research is also on to use this plant to control malignant growths. There are many more like Keo Kand, Asparagus, Echinacea and Rudbechia that bear amazingly beautiful flowers.

Most gardeners have now started using medicinal plants as a part of their garden, especially those that have ornamental value. Even exclusive medicinal plants gardens are being developed in various institutes and organisations. This trend got a boost after former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam showed his interest and developed one such garden at Rashtrapati Bhawan during his tenure. On his instructions, I developed another such garden at the residence of the then vice-president, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.  The biggest challenge in developing such a garden at a residential premises at the cost of a lawn was that it should be tastefully decorated. See accompanying picture, the garden was so designed that once you enter it, you could not leave it without visiting each and every bed! The side beds were geometrical (triangles and rectangles) whereas the central beds were lined with the low-edge golden Duranta. Low headed pergolas were made to support medicinal plant vines like antmool and giloye — both are ornamental, too.

Now that some trees with medicinal properties have been planted as avenue plantation in Chandigarh, it has become a source of trouble for both trees and the public, which definitely needs to be educated about their benefits. Sages, who advocated the use of medicinal plants collected them from hills, woods and virgin lands even difficult to reach. Ignorant people, excited by daily television education, try to source medicinal plants from any source — city residents are often seen scratching the bark of Arjun trees on Dakshin Marg or the road passing between sectors 27 and 28.

Let me warn you against doing so — you are consuming nothing but poison! Trees by the roadside are exposed to vehicular pollution and are laden with toxic elements like lead, mercury, ferrous and other heavy metals depositions. See the damaged part of any of such tree and it will be black!

This column appears fortnightly. The writer is a senior horticulturist at PAU and can be reached at satishnarula@yahoo.co.in

TAX TIPS
Plot transfer: It’s a short-term capital gain
S.C. Vasudeva

Q. I purchased a residential plot in SAS Nagar U.E Sector 68 from its allottee for Rs 6 lakh. As per policy of Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority, the allottee got this plot transferred in my name from the Mohali estate officer, who issued reallotment letter in my name on 7-12-2006, asking me to make balance installment of the plot amounting to Rs 97,000. Further, a condition also existed in the reallotment letter asking me to execute a deed of conveyance after full payment. In compliance to these conditions, I paid Rs 97,000 to the Mohali estate officer and got the conveyance deed executed in my name on the market rate of Rs 30 lakh that was fixed by the revenue authority. The stamp duty of Rs 2.4 lakh was charged on the market price of Rs 30 lakh.

I sold this plot in May 2008 for Rs 30 lakh. I read in your column of September 12, 2009 that in accordance with provisions of Section 50C of the Income-tax Act 1961, the deemed value noted in the sale deed for the calculation of the stamp duty shall have to be taken for the purpose of computing the capital gain. Kindly advise whether I am liable to pay income tax in the above sale and purchase.

— Sajjan Singh

A. Section 48 of the Income-tax Act 1961 (the Act) provides that income chargeable under the head ‘capital gains’ shall be computed by deducting from the full value of consideration received or accruing as a result of transfer of the capital asset, the expenditure incurred wholly and exclusively in connection with such transfer and the cost of acquisition of the capital asset and the cost of any improvement thereof.

Accordingly, on the basis of the facts given in query, the capital gain will be computed by deducting the cost of the plot from the full value of consideration. The cost of the plot being Rs 9.37 lakh (6,00,000+97,000+2,40,000), the same will be deducted from Rs 30 lakh, being the sale consideration. The amount of capital gain would thus work out at Rs 20.63 lakh. It appears from details in the query that the plot was purchased in December 2006 and, therefore, held for a period of less than three years as the sale took place in May 2008. The capital gain arising on the transfer of the plot would thus be a short-term capital gain.

It may be added that provisions of Section 50C of the Act are applicable for ascertaining the full value of consideration received or receivable for the transfer of the capital asset. These provisions are not applicable for determining the cost of the capital asset. In your case, therefore, the full value of consideration will be determined by taking into account the circle rate applicable for payment of stamp duty on transfer of the plot. In case the full value of consideration as per applicable rates in May 2008 is higher than that at which the plot was sold, the value arrived at on the basis of such applicable rates would be adopted instead of Rs 30 lakh, the sale price of the plot indicated in the query. 

CGT saving bonds not available at post offices

Q. Thank you for the detailed reply through the column dated 26.09.09. Kindly send me bifurcation of Rs 3,37,836. I hope bonds would be available through post office?

— B.K. Rattan

A. The computation of the amount of Rs 3,37,836 is as under:

Sale consideration = Rs 5.91 lakh

Less transfer expense = Rs 11,820

Net consideration = Rs 5,79,180

Less indexed cost (purchase cost (including stamp charges and commission) + construction),

(86,400 x 632/331) + (40,000 x 632/331), Rs 1,64,969 + Rs 76,375 = Rs 2,41,344

Long-term capital gain = Net consideration – indexed cost = Rs 3,37,836

Capital gain tax saving bonds are not available at post offices. National Highway Authority of India as well as Rural Electrification Corporation Limited issue these. You should, therefore, get in touch with these entities or a bank that provides facilities for the acquisition of such bonds.

If there’s no will, all kids are inheritors

Q. Who are heirs for mutation of a house? I live in this house with my mother and father. The house is in my mother’s name and I have one sister, who is married. Can she ask for share from property?

— Baljeet Singh

A. Your mother has the right to make a will in favour of any person. However, in case she chooses not to make a will and dies intestate, the property in her name will be inherited by the sons and daughters (including the children of any predeceased son or daughter) and the husband. This is in accordance with the provisions of the Hindu Succession Act 1956. On the basis of the facts given in the query, in case your mother dies without making a will, the house property will be inherited by you, your sister and your father. The mutation in revenue records will, therefore, be made accordingly. 

Defining urban land

Q. I understand urban land is chargeable to wealth-tax. What does the aforesaid mean?

— Vir Singh

A. According to the provisions of section 2(ea)(v) of the Wealth-tax Act 1957 ‘urban land’ means land situated in the following areas:

• Land situated within municipality: Land in any area that is within the jurisdiction of a municipality and which has a population of not less than 10,000 according to the last preceding census of which relevant figures have been published before the valuation date.
• Land situated outside municipality but within notified area: Land situated in any area within such distance (not being more than eight kilometre) from local limits of any municipality referred to above, as the Central Government may, having regard to the extent of, and scope for, urbanisation of that area and other relevant considerations, specify. For the above purpose, “municipality” includes municipal corporation, notified area committee, town planning committee, town committee or a municipality known by any other name.