& V I C I N I T Y
Thursday, December 31, 1998
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C H A N D I G A R H & V I C I N I T Y |
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Thursday, December 31, 1998 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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S-I, family booked for
assault 'Apni
mandis' in grip of 'phariwalahas' |
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UGC-sponsored
course concludes Award
for choosing young sarpanch |
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S-I, family
booked for assault CHANDIGARH, Dec 30 — In the unending series of criminal cases against Chandigarh Police personnel, a Sub Inspector, his wife and two sons were today booked for allegedly beating up a person. A case was registered under the Sector 26 police station today following an enquiry ordered by the SSP. The incident took place in March. The SI, Dharam Singh, his wife and two sons, Sanjay and Sushil, have been booked under Sections 147, 149, 323, 452 and 427 of the IPC. According to the police, the family of Dharam Singh had allegedly beaten up Vinod Kumar, who lives in the Sector 26 police lines. Vinod is a son of constable Kashmiri Lal, also of the Chandigarh Police. Dharam Singh and his family members had approached Vinod and put pressure on him to withdraw his complaint against a person named Manjit Singh, who is a brother of a woman Sub Inspector of the Chandigarh Police. Manjeet had allegedly shot at Vinod. Dharam Singh and his family members resorted to blows when Vinod refused to withdraw his complaint. In the ensuing melee, Vinod pushed aside one of the sons of Dharam Singh, injuring him in the process. Dharam Singh managed to get a case registered against Vinod. The family of Vinod, then
approached the higher authorities, who ordered an
enquiry. |
'Apni
mandis' in grip of 'phariwalahas' CHANDIGARH, Dec 30 — 'Phariwalahas' continue to dominate 'Apni mandis', conceived with a view to eliminating middlemen and facilitate farmers to directly sell their produce to consumers in absence of proper check on the part of the authorities. The situation has come to such a pass that the number of non-farmers or 'phariwalahas' selling an array of items ranging from 'off season ' vegetables to underwears is often more than genuine farmers. This results in a loss to farmers as well as the authorities in terms of sales and revenue, respectively. Even as, according to norms only farm produce such as vegetables could be sold in the 'apni mandis', but one can buy anything from plastic buckets to soaps at these places. According to sources, the situation is bad because of alleged collusion between 'phariwalahas', officials of the Punjab Mandi Board, which is responsible for organising 'Apni mandis' in the city, and officials of the local police. Another factor which is said be contributing to the problem is that a majority of farmers prefer to sell their produce in bulk to 'phariwalahas'. During a visit to the Sector 15 'Apni mandi' here today, it was found that the entrance to an open place serving as 'apni mandi' was virtually 'usurped' by 'phariwalahas' from both sides. The situation in the Sector 40 'Apni mandi' was even worse as a number of unauthorised sellers were operating from within the place last week. Even as the 'Mandi supervisor' on duty, Mr Gopal, said that the ' phariwalahas' were sitting outside the 'area' of the 'Apni mandi', however, there was no indication to separate the area of 'Apni mandi' from the rest of the open space from where the 'phariwalahas' were operating. When pointed out, Mr Gopal said in future a sign board would be erected at the place for the purpose. He asserted that no non-farmer was selling items in the 'Apni mandi'. On the other hand, this correspondent found that a number of such persons busy selling items like 'aggarbattis', soaps, 'cheese' and 'out of season' vegetables inside the place. Besides, a number of 'farmers' were selling items without the mandatory identity cards and entry slips. Mr Gopal, however, said the Punjab Mandi Board had been unable to check the menace of 'phariwalahas' as the power to remove them was with the local municipal corporation. He said board officials had raised the issue a number of times with the civic body officials during the bi-monthly meetings but nothing had been done to solve the problem. Though, Mayor Mr K.K. Adiwal, and Mr GPS Randhawa, the person in charge of 'Apni mandis' were not available for comments, officials of the Punjab Mandi Board on condition of anonymity admitted that the 'phariwalahas' who pay no tax to either the board or to the municipal corporation were thriving owing to 'patronage' by enforcement officials. As a result of this genuine farmers were at a disadvantage. According to officials,
the problem becomes acute after twilight as
'phariwalahas' selling items 'outside' creep into the
'area' of 'Apni mandi', taking advantage of darkness.
They confided that another thing which prevented them
from acting against the 'phariwalahas' was the ganglike
manner in which they act. "So much so that a vehicle
belonging to the Estate Office, which was brought by
enforcement officials for removal of 'phariwalahas' was
stoned by them about two months ago in Sector 40",
they said. |
Cases of
AIDS, TB rise in city CHANDIGARH, Dec 30 — The incidence of TB and reported AIDS cases have gone up in the city in the year 1998 while several cases of measles were suddenly detected from colony no 4. However, thankfully, dropsy, that had caused a national scare, did not have any impact on the public health in the city. The Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, was at last recognised by the Medical Council of India while the retirement age of PGI doctors was raised to 62 years. In the middle of the year the dropsy scare shook the country. The UT Health department banned the sale of loose mustard oil immediately and raised several shops and filled samples of oil to test for argemone poisoning. Luckily, no case from within Chandigarh was reported. The PGI organised an impromptu conference to educate doctors in the region about dropsy. This was chaired by Director, PGI, Prof B.K. Sharma , who was among the few doctors in the country to have seen dropsy cases around two decades ago. The burgeoning migrant population helped push up the number of TB cases. The spread of TB was mostly reported from the crowded labour colonies that dot the city. Doctors in the city have expressed concern at the growing incidence of TB and that too multi-drug resistant TB. The number of TB patients are going up, opine doctors. It was AIDS that spread the real terror. As many as 30 positive cases were reported till November. The total number of AIDS cases since 1993 had been around 35. For the first time in the city an HIV positive pregnant woman was detected. The UT AIDS cell organised a two day conference about AIDS and its impact. As usual the PGI organised a few big conferences and the one on chest diseases was probably the most relevant of them all for members of the public. After almost four years of no fresh appointments the PGI was nearly 40 per cent short of staff. However, a judgement of the Supreme Court and later the approval of the ministry, enabled the PGI to advertise for nearly 125 vacant posts. The recruitments are likely to be made by early next year. The announcement in an extension in retirement age of doctors and administrative staff was well received by employees. Just two days ago the PGI was involved in controversy. Due to an error of some unidentified employees an arm of woman that had been amputated some days ago was found in a garbage bin outside the institute. The authorities immediately ordered an enquiry. The long winding controversy about the recognition of the GMCH ended in October this year after the MCI gave a nod for its recognition. The hospital also organised a nutrition camp at Palsora village. The Director-Principal of the GMCH, Prof V.K. Kak, was re-employed after his retirement on October 31. Thus continuity was not affected. Several new appointments
were made after the court allowed the doctors selected by
the UPSC to join. |
Children
interact with Armymen CHANDIGARH, Dec 30 — Children attending a week-long winter school organised by the Durga Das Foundation here, were today recipients of Army hospitality at 119 Assault Engineer Regiment, Chandi Mandir. The seven-to-14-year-olds were a curious lot as they saw the live demonstration of various Army equipment by the Assault, Air Defence and Signals units. It displayed the children's amazing quest for knowledge. A ride on the tank was received with thunderous applause by the little visitors. By the end, the children expressed a keen interest in joining the Army. Parting is always sad. But to make it exciting the children were taken to the Indus Valley Country Club for assorted games and play. The week-long programme included a day of gliding at the Pinjore Aviation Club, horse riding at the Campa Cola factory, trekking from Sanawar to Sabathu, overnight camp at the foundation and face to face with the tiger cubs at the Chhat Bir Zoo. The bumpy drive to Nepli
Forest Reserve on Tuesday did not dampen their spirits
from organising a barbecue.
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UGC-sponsored
course concludes CHANDIGARH, Dec 30 — The 28-day 41st general orientation programme sponsored by the University Grants Commission conducted by the Academic Staff College, Panjab University, concluded at the ICSSR complex, here today. The course was attended by 31 college and university lecturers from different institutes in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa and Chandigarh. Delivering the valedictory address, Prof Pam Rajput, Dean, Faculty of Arts, emphasised that such courses break the monotony of the routine of professional life. Prof H.S. Shergil, honorary director of the Academic Staff College, highlighted the benefits of such courses to achieve broader perspectives. Dr Jayanti Dutta of the Staff College was the course co-ordinator. Lectures and workshops on
environmental education, teaching effectiveness, stress
management and administrative problems of teachers were
held during the course. |
Nagar kirtan
procession CHANDIGARH, Dec 30 — A colourful nagar kirtan procession will be organised on January 2 in connection with the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh. According to Maj (retd)
N.S. Rangi, president of the Sector 34 gurdwara
committee, the procession will start from Sector 34
gurdwara and move through sectors 33, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
before terminating at the Sector 15 gurdwara. A special
khalsa band and school children will be the major
attraction of the procession. |
"Dhitkar"
year CHANDIGARH, Dec 30 — The local unit of the Lok Shakti will burn an effigy of 1998 here tomorrow. Incidence of dropsy,
unprecedented hike in prices of essential goods and daily
use commodities, especially onions, train disasters, roof
collapse in Sector 32 Government Medical College
Hospital, and cracks in the BJP-SAD alliance in the local
municipal corporation have forced the party unit to bid
farewell to 1998 as "dhitkar" year. |
Award for
choosing young sarpanch CHANDIGARH, Dec 30 — The Chandigarh Territorial Youth Congress Committee has decided to give a cash award of Rs 5,100 to any gram panchayat of Chandigarh for electing a youth below 35 as its sarpanch, Mr Chander Mukhi Sharma, President of the CTYCC, announced here today. He said sarpanches so elected would be felicitated at public functions after the elections. Mr Sharma said the step
had been taken to encourage villagers to repose faith in
young leaders and encourage the leders of tomorrow as the
panchayati raj system was the foundation of our
democracy. |
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CHANDIGARH, Dec 30—In a trend-setting experiment, residents of Ram Darbar in the Industrial Area, Phase II here, have taken upon themselves the task of developing parks in the area. Tired of the unfulfilled promises of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) regarding the development of parks, the residents, mostly from poorer sections, have taken the initiative by pooling resources and removing encroachments from the land earmarked for parks. A majority of households in a block of 40 houses contributed Rs 300 each and raised an amount ranging from Rs 6,000 to Rs 9,000 for the development of the park. Those who could not afford monetary contribution, put in labour and helped in cleaning the encroachments , levelling of ground and erection of barbed wire in the 15-odd parks. The area Councillor and spirit behind this novel experiment, Ms Kamlesh, said for the past over two years she had been impressing upon the authorities to develop the parks but to no avail. In the absence of a positive response from the corporation, she, with voluntary contributions from the residents, started the developmental work on a couple of parks. The residents of other blocks have also followed suit and started the developmental work in the parks in their areas. A visit to these parks revealed that encroachments had been removed from there. Meanwhile, the residents said that with the development of the parks cleanliness had improved in the area. Mr Ram Sundar, whose house faces a newly developed park, said the parks could now be used for functions and enjoying the sunshine. Ms Kamlesh claimed that after the success of their experiment in Phase II residents of Phase I of the Industrial Area were coming forward to develop their parks on own. Already the residents had shown interest in the development of five parks in Phase I, she added. She, however, rued that even after the initiative taken by the residents the corporation had been slow in undertaking the development of the other parks in the area. Meanwhile, it is learnt
that the MCC has cleared the rough cost estimates
amounting to Rs 2.82 lakh from the Ward Councillor's
development fund for the installation of the iron
railings in the parks. |
CHANDIGARH, Dec 30 — The proprietor of a local small unit and his friend from Ludhiana have been arrested by the Chandigarh Police for allegedly siphoning off a sum of Rs 6.40 lakh from a local bank by using a stolen bank draft. The duo, Manpreet Singh alias Mintu, who runs the M.S Engineering works in Industrial Area, and his friend Parampreet Singh alias Pumpy of Ludhiana, were arrested yesterday after the Economic Offences Wing of the Chandigarh Police found out how they withdrew a sum of Rs 6.40 lakh from the Sector 47 branch of Punjab and Sind Bank (PSB). They were produced in court today. They have been remanded in police custody till January 2 and booked under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120--B of the IPC. The duo deposited around 10 days ago a draft for Rs 6. 40 lakh that had been stolen from the Punjab National Bank (PNB), Faridkot, into an account operated by Manpreet Singh for his business purposes. Manpreet, who makes nuts and bolts, was approached by Parampreet Singh for depositing the draft. Both were classmates at one time and knew each other. Parampreet told Manpreet that he was now running a construction company under the name of Parmar Construction company and he needed to deposit the darft. Parampreet reportedly promised Manpreet that he would also buy nuts and bolts required by him and work together, according to the police. Taken in by the words Manpreet deposited the draft in his account. In the next few days the money was withdrawn in phases through cheques and withdrawal forms written by him. Meanwhile the Senior Manager of the PNB's, regional collection centre, lodged a complaint with the police on December 25 saying the money had been withdrawn on stolen draft leaves from the PNB, Faridkot branch. A total of six draft leaves had been stolen from the bank. The police had reportedly been tipped off about a gang operating in this way in Faridkot and Ludhiana areas. While Manpreet was arrested from Chandigarh, Parampreet was nabbed from Ludhiana and a sum of Rs 90,000 that he had withdrawn from the PSB, Sector 47 was recovered from him. Three cars stolen: Three Maruti cars have been stolen in the city in separate incidents. A car (CHC-8151) owned by Mr Rajinder Singh was stolen from Sector 34. Car number DL-2C-2529 owned by Mr Ashwani Narula has been stolen from Sector 15. Mr Akashdeep's car ( CHC-4838) was also stolen. Succumbs to burns: A woman, Nawaljeet Kaur, who had received 95 per cent burns and admitted to the PGI succumbed to her injuries on Tuesday night. She had set herself on fire two days ago in her Mani Majra house. Meanwhile, Gyan Kaur, a pedestrian, has sustained injuries when she was hit by a scooter on the road dividing sectors 12 and 14. Scooter stolen: A
scooter (CH-01-D-0858) owned by Harinder Singh of Sector
44, has been stolen from Hallo Majra village. |
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