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Tuesday, December 15, 1998
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Councillors to give new ward lists
CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — The councillors of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh will submit fresh lists of names to the Mayor for inclusion into the ward committees to be constituted by the Chandigarh Administration.

Work on bridge near completion
CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — The traffic on one of the roads linking SAS Nagar with Chandigarh, which was disrupted in August after the collapse of the causeway, is likely to resume by month-end.
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City's roads to nowhere
CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — The problem of traffic congestion on important and busy roads notwithstanding, the number of completed roads thrown into disuse has been on the rise in Chandigarh.
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Nursery wing at Sec 34 school inaugurated
CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — A nursery wing in Government Model High School, Sector 34, was inaugurated today.

Rally against IRA Bill
CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — Members of various trade unions of the local insurance sector today held a rally to protest against the decision on tabling of the Insurance Regulatory Authority Bill in Parliament.
Campus beat
MFC I contact programme put off
Crime file
Accused demands probe against SHO

Plea to regularise vacant plots
CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — The Anti-Periphery Act Action Committee has demanded the regularisation of all vacant plots in the periphery area of the city.

6 illegal constructions demolished

Prabhat pheris

  Top





 

Councillors to give new ward lists
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — The councillors of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) will submit fresh lists of names to the Mayor for inclusion into the ward committees to be constituted by the Chandigarh Administration.

This decision was taken at a meeting of the councillors called by the Mayor, Mr Gian Chand Gupta, here today. The councillors have been given 15 days for sending the revised lists.

The councillors expressed concern at the delay in the constitution of the ward committees. It may be recalled that the issue of the constitution of the ward committee had been hanging fire for the past over two years despite assurances from the administration from time to time.

At the meeting the councillors were of the view that since they were to be chairmen of the ward committees only the lists sent by them should be accepted by the administration. The wards committees could not be constituted as the local MP, Mr Satya Pal Jain, had reported written to the administration saying that the lists should not be finalised without his consent.

The Congress councillors — Mr Raj Kumar Goyal and Mr Gurcharan Dass Kala — wanted a change in the lists since at the time of the sending the earlier lists, they owed allegiance to the SJP.

Mr Bachan Singh (BJP), Mr OP Goyal (expelled BJP councillor) and Mrs Satinder Dhawan (SJP) were not present at the meeting.

The councillors also felt that more representation should be given to them at various advisory committees constituted by the administration.

The meeting also urged the administration that various post laying vacant at the civic body like the Assistant Commissioner-I, the Superintending Engineer (Construction Circle), the Executive Engineer (Roads) and the SDO should be filled up immediately. In the absence of these officials the work of the civic body had been severely affected, the councillors felt.

Lok Shakti procession: To highlights the problems of Ward No 19 comprising Indira Colony, parts of Mani Majra and Mauli Jagran, members of Lok Shakti marched in procession from Indira Colony to the MCC Office, Mani Majra. Later, they submitted a memorandum to the Assistant Commissioner, Mr SM Sharma.Construction of school building and dharamsala in Indira Colony, regular water supply, repair of roads, and removal of encroachments from parks and roads were main demands listed in the memorandum.Top

 

Work on bridge near completion
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — The traffic on one of the roads linking SAS Nagar with Chandigarh, which was disrupted in August after the collapse of the causeway, is likely to resume by month-end.

According to sources, the work on the construction of box-culvert-type bridge at the site of the causeway had almost been completed. No date, however, has been fixed for the inauguration of the bridge.

The change in the design of the bridge, which has been constructed at a cost of over Rs 60 lakh, had kicked up a row earlier with some councillors, particularly the nominated councillor, Mr RK Aggarwal, who is a former Chief Engineer of Haryana, expressing reservations regarding the change in the design.

A five-member committee of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) is now probing the change of design.The MCC had earlier okayed the construction of high-level bridge at the site at a cost of Rs 1.71 crore.

Meanwhile, the Chief Engineer, Mr Puranjit Singh, defended the change in design and said the box-culvert-type design was as good as the high-level one. Infact, technically it was better and cheaper, he added.

He claimed that Mr P C Bhasin, an expert on bridges and a former President of the India Road Congress, had advised the Chandigarh Administration to go in for a box-culvert-type bridge on the Chandigarh-Kalka highway also.Top

 

City's roads to nowhere
By Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — The problem of traffic congestion on important and busy roads notwithstanding, the number of completed roads thrown into disuse has been on the rise in Chandigarh.

Constructed at a huge cost, these roads were planned to ease both vehicular traffic and parking space in and around commercial areas, especially along important V-1, V-2 and V-3 roads.

For example, a slip road constructed along Himalaya Marg in Sector 35 has been closed after the main road was widened last year. The slip road, more than 500 metres long, now lies covered with earth work, debris and other construction material. Wild vegetation, too, has started to cover what was a usable road until last year. This area, known as Hotels Zone, is facing an acute shortage of parking space.

It was on the demand of vehicle owners that this slip road was provided to facilitate movement as the parking area is usually packed to capacity. The officials point out that the slip road must have cost the state exchequer several lakhs of rupees.

In fact, engineers point out, Himalaya Marg is a part of the National Highway. Upto the intersection of Sectors 21, 22, 34 and 35, it is maintained by the Engineering Department of the Administration. A portion of it comes under National Highway and is again maintained by the Engineering Department. The southern portion is with the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation.

No official version is available for the abrupt closure of this slip road.

Continuing northwards on Himalaya Marg, another slip road along Sector 17, has been in disuse for the past several years. A second portion of this slip road was cleared of debris, repaired and opened and is now used for inspection of vehicles. But the first half was never put to use. As a result, a dual carriageway from the Chandigarh Fire Brigade and Inter-State Bus Terminus side comes to an abrupt end and vehicles are not allowed to turn left. The slip road, constructed several years ago, is now under several feet of earth, debris and other waste building material. The traffic on Himalaya Marg on this stretch is very heavy.

Early last year, the Administration felled several trees near the Sectors 17 and 18 intersection to widen Himalaya Marg but little was done either to open this closed slip road to ease vehicular congestion or replace felled trees.

Besides Himalaya Marg, a large number of roads running behind the commercial blocks on Madhya Marg are similarly disused.

For example, roads in Sector 26, which runs parallel to Madhya Marg, have even been fitted with sodium vapour lamps while some busy roads remain without street lights. But this road, a dual carriageway, now serves as an extended storage space for showroom owners.

The same situation continues on through Sector 7 along the back of Madhya Marg where one of the owners has stacked glass and other material even beyond the road reaching up to the boundary wall of government houses.

No effort has ever been made to maintain these side roads which could be used to ease traffic on Madhya Marg. Even on Himalaya Marg, back roads, especially along the Hotel Zone, are in shambles.

Similarly, a few other roads have also been in disuse.

(To be concluded)Top

 

Nursery wing at Sec 34 school inaugurated
From our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — "The government sector in short of resources and ideas. The idea of opening nurseries will enable government schools to compete with private schools. Our attempt will be to open one such nursery wing every month in a government-run school.'' This is what Mrs Anuradha Gupta, Home and Education Secretary, said while inaugurating a nursery wing in Government Model High School, Sector 34, here today.

With the inauguration of the wing a whole new world of fairytales, cartoons on television and indoor games has opened up for the tiny tots.

The brainchild of Mr D.S. Mangat, DPI Schools, this nursery will use the playway method to teach the little ones.

The nursery wing of the school will have a provision for 80 children — 40 for pre-nursery and 40 for nursery classes. The students of the school presented songs and Christmas carols on the occasion. This was followed by prize distribution.Top

 

Rally against IRA Bill
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — Members of various trade unions of the local insurance sector today held a rally to protest against the decision of the government on tabling of the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) Bill in Parliament.

The protesters alleged that the opening of the insurance sector to private and multinational companies will entail an irreparable loss not only for the employees but the nation itself. The government is going ahead with the Bill in spite of the reservations expressed by the major opposition parties and certain coalition partners.

Leaders told the protesters that the Joint Front of trade unions of the General Insurance Corporation (GIC) and the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) would observe a nationwide strike a day after the IRA Bill was tabled in Parliament.

A decision to this effect was taken in New Delhi today, they added.Top

 

Plea to regularise vacant plots
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — The Anti-Periphery Act Action Committee has demanded the regularisation of all vacant plots in the periphery area of the city.

Dr G.S. Jammu, convener of the committee, hailed the decision of the Punjab Government to regularise structures built outside the lal dora. He said the government should now honour its commitment of regularising the plots adjoining built up houses. Mr I.S. Bindra, Vice-Chairman of PUDA, had assured a delegation that plots up to one kanal would be regularised after charging development costs from the owners, he added.Top

 

Prabhat pheris
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — Parbhat pheris from various parts of Chandigarh, Panchkula, Zirakpur, SAS Nagar, Pinjore, Sohana and other nearby areas will converge at the Sector 28-B power colony on December 27 at 4 a.m., this was announced here today.

This congregation of parbhat pheris is being organised to celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh as part of tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa.Top

 

6 illegal constructions demolished
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Dec 14 — In a demolition drive by PUDA as many as six ongoing illegal constructions were demolished at Karoran village today.

A team led by the General Manager (Regulatory), demolished the structures and told the people about the policy of the government regarding the regularisation of unauthorised constructions in the periphery. Villagers agreed not to take up any new constructions.Top

 

Campus beat
MFC I contact programme put off
From our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — The Personal Contact Programme for M.F.C. I of the Department of Correpondence Courses, Panjab University, which was scheduled to be held from December 17 to 24 stands cancelled. The new date for the programme will be notified shortly, according to the Co-ordinator, Mr R.K. Gupta.

Elections held: The following have been elected members of the Indian Geologists' Association: President — Prof P.K. Mehta (Chandigarh): Vice-President — Prof B.L. Dhar (Jammu) and Prof Ravindra Kumar (Chandigarh); Secretary — Prof Naresh Kochhar (Chandigarh); Joint Secretary — Dr Gurdev Singh (Chandigarh); Coordinating Secretary — Prof M.S. Mannikeri (Dharwar); Treasurer— Dr Naval Kishore (Chandigarh); and Editor — Prof L.N. Gupta (Chandigarh).

Course inaugurated: A one week course on "Teaching of Quantitative Methods and their Application in Economics" was inaugurated today by the Secretary to the Vice-Chancellor, Dr Iqbal Nath Chaudhary, at the Department of Economics, Panjab University.

Dr. S.L. Kansra, Chairman of the Department, spoke on "Use of Quantitative Methods in the Development and Appraisal of Economic Theories" on the opening day.

A number of lecturers from various colleges of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh are attending the course.

Orientation programme: The Centre for Women's Studies and Development, Panjab University, in collaboration with the State Government and the British Council organised a three-day orientation programme for elected women representatives of Punjab at ICSSR complex in Punjab University, from today.

The programme consisting of 11 sessions, aims to promote the political well-being of these newly elected councillors, develop their confidence and equip them to play their roles with more authority and assertiveness. Time management and financial management are the other important aspects the programme will touch upon.

Mrs Hemlata Swarup, former Vice Chancellor of Kanpur University said the women councillors needed to rise above party politics and should aim to solve problems of women. Mrs Kanwar Singh, representative of the British Council, encouraged women to come forward and contest seats in the legislature and Parliament.Top

 

Crime file
Accused demands probe against SHO
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — The case relating to alleged assault on Mr Jaswant Singh, SHO of Police Station (North), on the intervening night of December 12 and 13 has taken a new turn with one of the accused writing to the SSP and demanding a probe into the matter.

Both parties have taken opposite stands blaming each other. While Mr Mukesh Chopra, a resident of Sector 44, whose car hit the SHO's car on the premises of a hotel here on Sunday, alleged that the police officer under the influence of liquor slapped him and used abusive language.

In a complaint to the SSP, he alleged that the SHO snatched the keys of his car.

However, according to an FIR lodged by the SHO, he said he had received a message that some boys were trying to "kidnap" two girls from a discotheque in Sector 9. From there he followed Mr Chopra's car to the hotel where at least five boys beat him up.

Meanwhile, the police has registered a case against the occupants of these two cars.

Seven held: The police has arrested six persons following a complaint of Mr Jaswinder Singh, a Punjab police personnel, for assault and trespassing into his house in Dhanas village.

The arrested are Vikas, Amit, Mohit Kumar, Basi Dhan Bhath, Sanjeev Kumar and Prem Kumar, all residents of the village.

Theft: Mr Navjot Singh Sidhu, a resident of Sector 38, has alleged that two colour television sets, a VCR and some ornaments had been stolen from his house. A case has been registered.

Gas cylinders taken away: Soma, a resident of Sector 19 has said that two unidentified boys took two cooking gas cylinders from her house for exchanging them for the refilled cylinders but did not come back.

Cop assaulted: A traffic police constable, Jitendar, was allegedly assaulted by two youngsters near Sector 22-21 traffic lights.

According to the police, the boys — Sumit and Sanjay — were riding the scooter without helmets and assaulted the police man when he signalled them to stop. Both have been arrested.

Two injured: Two persons, Ranjit Singh, a resident of Manimajra & Davinder Singh, a resident of Sector 21A, were admitted to the PGI with bullet injuries. According to the police they were injured in a fight at a marriage party at Karoran village late on Sunday night. The condition of both is reported to be stable. A case has been registered.Top

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