& V I C I N I T Y
Wednesday, September 9, 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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Wednesday, September 9, 1998 |
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today's calendar |
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EC
move on I-card defaulters 4,500
litres of oil seized |
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Minister's assurance on roads’
repair |
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PUDA earns 3.02 crore in
auction HCS
officer not to join Administration BSP
urges Administration to withdraw notices Blood
donation camp
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EC move on I-card defaulters CHANDIGARH, Sept 8 — The Election Commission is contemplating deleting the names of those voters of the Chandigarh parliamentary constituency who have not got their photo identity cards made till now. An indication to this effect was given by the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr M.S. Gill, during his recent visit to the city. As a result the CEC wants that at the time of next parliamentary elections only those persons in Chandigarh will be allowed to cast votes who carry photo identity cards. Till date, nearly 71 per cent of 5.3 lakh electorate in the union territory have been issued these cards. The election department had been running 11 centres in the city to prepare photo identity cards. Since the turn-out at these centres has virtually gone down to zero, these centres have been wound up. Instead, a permanent centre has been set up at the Sector 17 Estate Office where any registered voter could get his card made. Several reasons have been advanced for low attendance these days. Left-out voters have moved to other parts of the country, some have died or are bogus voters. Till now, 3.8 lakh cards have been issued. According to Mrs Anuradha Gupta, Chief Electoral Officer of Chandigarh, every attempt has been made to woo voters to come and get their cards made. Incentives to panchayats, non-government organisations, publicity, advertisements in newspapers and various other methods have been used during the past few years to issue the cards. "All this has been explained to Mr M.S. Gill and he expressed satisfaction over the progress. The Election Commission wants to make Chandigarh the first parliamentary constituency in the country where cent per cent voters have photo identity cards. We will give the left-out voters a couple of weeks more, after which the process of deleting the name of defaulters will start. "The Commission may also impose a nominal fee for every photo identity card at the expiry of this period. So far, the cards are issued free of cost to voters, adds Mrs Gupta. She says that the Commission has also allowed Chandigarh to start issuing cards to new voters. In the rest of the country, only existing voters are being issued cards. Besides, form 6 for registration of a new voter will be available at the permanent photo identity card centre at the Sector 17 Estate Office, where after verification, the name of applicant will be included in the voters' list and he would be immediately issued a photo identity card. The centre would work on all seven days of the week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Chandigarh Election Office, she said, had asked the remaining voters to get their cards made within a fortnight, failing which the process of deletion of names from voters' lists will start. A decision about levying of a nominal fee for photo identity card will depend upon the Election Commission, she added. |
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Police vehicles flout norms CHANDIGARH, Sept 8 — Hundreds of police vehicles that do not display registration number plates are once again back on city roads and pose a serious threat to other road users. Around a year ago, the Chandigarh Traffic Police started a drive to nab police vehicles that did not display registration number plates and broke speed limits. However, the drive seems to have fizzled out with several Punjab Police vehicles plying in the city without displaying any registration number. Same seems to hold true for over speeding of these vehicles seem to enjoy immunity against challaning for over speeding . A number of security vehicles break speed limits when not carrying a "protected" person. In Sectors 37, 38 and 39 the problem is more pronounced as a large number of Punjab Government officers live here. Even during special drives to check late night drunken driving, police vehicles are rarely stopped. In a hit-and-run case involving a vehicle without a registration plate, no one can be caught or held responsible. At night most of these vehicles are driven by these men in civilian clothes. Interestingly, none of the Chandigarh Police vehicles are seen without a registration number plate, while their Punjab counterparts seem to unconcerned about the risk this poses for the public. A traffic cop on condition of anonymity said that drivers of police vehicles are not even reprimanded for their mistakes what to talk of challanging. An adverse entry about their error should be made in record books by the authorities concerned, added the cop. Even though the drive
launched a year ago, acted as a deterrent the problem has
resurfaced due to lack of any follow-up action. SSP
C.S.R. Reddy however claims that police vehicles are
challaned regularly for traffic violations. |
Minister's assurance on roads’
repair PANCHKULA, Sept. 8 — The Local Government Minister, Dr Kamla Verma, who is in charge of the District Grievances Redressal Committee, has assured that all roads in the township would be repaired within the next two months. The minister said this while talking to the mediapersons after conducting the monthly meeting of the committee at the mini-secretariat here today. Admitting that the condition of the internal roads and cleanliness in the township was not satisfactory, she said HUDA officials had been told to initiate steps in this direction. She said the 85-odd staff with the sanitation wing of HUDA was insufficient to handle the sanitation of the township.She saw constitution of a municipal council as the way out of the problem but stopped short of commenting about the time period in which the council would be formed. She said complaints pertaining to the Telecom Department were not solved on time as officials of the department fail to turn up during the monthly committee meeting. The complaints sent to the department were not replied, she said, adding that she would write to officials of the department in this regard. On the steps being taken
by the district administration to check the cases of
dropsy, the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Mr
Anurag Aggarwal, said two teams —each headed by a
Sub-Divisional Magistrate He said vigorous checking would be done during the coming festival season so as to keep a tab on the shopkeepers who try to dispose of their stored stocks of mustard oil. Meanwhile, of the 13 complaints received at the meeting, 10 were solved on the spot. In a complaint the sarpanch of Joluwal gram panchayat said he had written to the SDO, Public health( Kalka) for installing a tap at a government school in Tanda Joluwal village on January 21,1998, for the convenience of the school children but nothing had happened. The Sarpanch of Boonga gram panchayat said the PCO installed at their village had been out of order for the past two years. Moreover, at least 10 residents of the village had deposited security for the installation of telephone connections. Other complaints pertained
to the police, public health, electricity department and
HUDA. |
PWD store a source of nuisance Place: Backside of showrooms on the Madhya Marg in Sector 8-C. Problem: A PWD store at the Sector 8-C market parking area, which is used for pre-mix by burning bitumen. It causes pollution and has been a source of insanitary conditions in the area. Besides, it is eating up scarce parking area. History: The problem of haphazard parking of vehicles due to the use of parking lot as a store. The purpose of the store was to provide the department a temporary place for storage of empty bitumen drums and to enable labourers to gather at a nodal place before the distribution of work in the morning. But as the store has not been shifted, it has become a perennial source of nuisance for residents, who have been trying to get it shifted but without success. The major problem is the pollution caused due to the burning of bitumen drums, resulting in a nauseating odour and smoke, forcing residents to stay indoors, particularly during morning hours. A number of complaints by residents have been made in this regard. Labourers also use the open space to defecate. The store has turned the area into an accident zone. Dumping of empty barrels on the edge of the road block the view of vehicle drivers. Officials of the PWD, however, maintain that there is no encroachment. They say that the store has been set up to facilitate the construction work on the Madhya Marg. Public response: Residents
vehemently plead for the removal of the store to some
less populated spot, so as to put the parking are to
proper use. They say that for want of proper parking
space, shopkeepers and visitors park their vehicles
outside their houses, located at the back of the market.
Road-rollers and other heavy vehicles belonging to the
PWD also remain parked in front of their houses. They
also complain against their continuous exposure to
poisonous gases which come out of the burning of bitumen.
Besides, the area has been reduced to a big open latrine,
thus exposing them to the danger of an epidemic. They
also want the health and pollution departments to act. |
4,500 litres of mustard oil
seized PANCHKULA, Sept 8 — At least 4,500 litres of mustard oil was seized from a godown of a Chandigarh-based firm in the housing board colony at Kalka, near here, today. The oil had been stored in 305 canisters. No traces of any toxin causing dropsy was, however, found in the preliminary tests carried out on samples of the oil. The seizure was made after a surprise raid conducted by a party comprising officials of the District Food and Supplies Office, Tehsildar (Panchkula) and police officials. The S.P., Mr Alok Mittal, said the oil was meant to be transported to Himachal Pradesh. At the time of the raid no person was found in the godown. The possibility of evasion of sales tax by the firm was being explored, he added. The Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Mr Anurag Aggarwal, said the tin containers had no brand name. Besides this, the batch number, manufacturing and expiry date were also not mentioned on the tins. He said samples of the oil
had been sent for laboratory tests to Chandigarh and the
report of the tests was expected in a week. Action was
being taken against the firm under the Prevention of Food
and Adulteration Act. |
PUDA earns 3.02 crore in
auction SAS NAGAR, Sept 8 — A sum of Rs 3,02,62,000 was earned by PUDA at the auction of eight freehold commercial sites here today. In all 16 SCF sites in phases III A, IX, X and XI were put to auction. Although no site in phases III A and IX could be disposed of, all the sites in phases X and XI were sold. The maximum price was that of SCF site in Phase X Rs 45,11,000 against the reserve price of Rs 42,59,200 and the minimum for a site was Rs 43,09,000. However in phase XI, where the reserve price for an SCF site was Rs 30,70,500, the maximum revenue earned for one site was Rs 32,06,000 and the minimum Rs 31,27,000. According to Mr G.S.
Ghuman, Estate Officer, all the sites had been disposed
of today had been unsuccessfully put to auction twice
earlier. |
HCS officer not to join
Administration CHANDIGARH, Sept 8 — Mr Ashok Vashisth, an HCS officer, selected by the Chandigarh Administration for deputation, has expressed his inability to join here. A communication to this effect has been conveyed by the Haryana Government to the Chandigarh Administration. Mr Ashwani Kumar, another HCS officer, selected along with Mr Vashisth, too, is not joining the Administration as he is yet to be relieved by the Haryana Government. The Chandigarh Administration has requested the Haryana Government for a fresh panel of names of HCS officers to select a substitute for Mr Vashisth. No panel has been received
so far. |
BSP urges Administration to
withdraw notices CHANDIGARH, Sept 8 — The local unit of the Bahujan Samaj Party has cautioned the Chandigarh Administration against issuing notices under Section 9 of the Land Acquisition Act to the residents of pockets 7 and 8 of Mani Majra. According to Mr Mata Ram Dhiman, president of the party unit, a majority of residents of the two pockets have constructed houses on this land after getting their building plans approved by the erstwhile Notified Area Committee of Mani Majra. He said the residents were
being harassed now as the sword of Damocles was hanging
over their heads. He demanded immediate withdrawal of
these notices. |
Blood
donation camp CHANDIGARH, Sept 8 — The Tribune Employees Union will hold its 10th annual blood donation camp on the Tribune premises tomorrow to mark the death centenary of the Founder, Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia. A team of doctors of the Blood Transfusion department of the PGI, Chandigarh, led by Dr (Mrs) S.K. Agnihotri, will conduct the camp. The Editor of The Tribune,
Mr Hari Jaisingh will inaugurate it at 9 a.m. |
CHANDIGARH, Sept 8 — Protests against the paid parking system in Sector 17 notwithstanding, the system functioned partially with the help of the police today. Contractors at the two of the seven parking lots auctioned by the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh (MCC), issued parking slips since morning under a heavy police bandobast. They were forced by the protesters comprising activists of political parties, traders and government employees to suspend the operation for couple of times briefly in the forenoon. The president of the Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee, Mr Pawan Bansal, who also joined the protesters, alleged that it was the failure of the local MP, Mr Satya Pal Jain, to get adequate funds for the city from the Central government which was making the civic body to resort to levying taxes such as the parking fee. With failure of talks by representatives of the Punjab State Ministerial Services Union with the Mayor today, the union has decided to organise a rally tomorrow. A meeting of the Punjab and UT employees joint action committee will also be held tomorrow to formulate the future course of action. Meanwhile, the Mayor, Mr Gian Chand Gupta, while calling the agitation as "politically motivated" said the paid parking facility had been provided for the safety of the vehicles. He said a number of free parking zones, in different parts of the sector, had been earmarked for the vehicle owners who did not want to pay. It was not for the first time that the parking fee was levied in the city, Mr Gupta claimed, adding that the protesters should rather oppose the parking fee in other places like the PGI, in hospitals, and in educational institutions. Alleging that employees
were being misused by political parties for their selfish
interests, he appealed to the employees to refrain from
participating in the agitation. |
CHANDIGARH, Sept 8 — The executive committee of the Punjab Federation of University Teachers Associations (PFUTA) at a meeting today held detailed deliberations on the failure of the teachers' movement to get the UGC pay scale recommended by the Central government. The meeting criticised the Federation of Central University Teachers' Association(FEDCUTA) for its reluctance to associate the teachers of state universities for forming a stronger front of varsity teachers. The meeting was of the view that the Central government had misled the teaching community by "unilaterally" pushing the grades on the teachers. Dr S.P. Gautam, convener of PFUTA, said that the executive committee decided to explore forms of protest other than going on strike. Teachers of four universities of Punjab and Panjab University would wear black badges on September 11 in protest against the agreement between the Central government and AIFUCTO. The meeting felt that the present arrangement proposed by the government would prove disastrous for research work in the universities. Results out: Panjab University today declared the results of four examinations conducted by it in April-May. The examinations results of which have been declared are M.A. part I (philosophy), MA part II (philosophy), MA part II(dance) and the diploma in forensic science and criminology. Copies of the result gazettes will be available at the enquiry counter of the university at the gymnasium hall from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on all working days. Date extended: The
university has extended the last date for admission to
different courses in arts, science and commerce in the
affiliated colleges and teaching departments of the
university with the permission of the Vice-Chancellor
with a late fee of Rs 400 from August 21 to September 29.
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CHANDIGARH, Sept 8 — A constable of the Chandigarh Police , Dewa Singh, has been arrested for allegedly stealing LPG cylinders. Four LPG cylinders have also been recovered from his possession. According to police sources he used to steal cylinders as the LPG delivery boy goes inside a house to deliver an LPG refill. A case under sections 379 and 380 of the IPC has been registered. **** Stolen: A resident of Uttar Pradesh has allegedly decamped with Rs 35,000 kept under the pillow of a patient admitted to a private nursing home in Sector 21. Rajesh Kumar alias Dharam Rai of Pratapgarh in UP was working as a domestic help in the house of Mr Balwinder Singh , resident of sector 20. The money was lying under the pillow of Mr Balwinder's father. A case has been registered. **** Two held: Two persons have been arrested for allegedly stealing utensils from Industrial Area phase I. The stolen utensils have been recovered from them. Salinder Singh of Ambala and Anil Kumar of Sector 24 have been arrested after Mr Vipin Kumar, owner of unit in the industrial area, lodged a complaint. **** Scooter stolen: A scooter and a motor cycle have been stolen in separate incidents in the city in the past 24 hours. A scooter ( CH-01-D-3826) owned by Mr J.L. Khanna has been stolen from his Sector 47 residence while a motor cycle (CH-01-H-1261) owned by Rakesh Bhatti of Modern housing complex, Mani Majra, has been stolen from his residence. **** Arrested: A
resident of Amritsar, Rupinder Singh , has been arrested
for allegedly indulging in eve teasing in Sector 17. |
CHANDIGARH: While the celebrations of the 50 years of India's Independence have come to an end, this part of the country will always commemorate Independence with a certain pang of remorse and grief. For generations to come, the Partition would be viewed as a heavy price paid for Independence. This was the theme of the Punjabi play, 'Parinde jaan hun kithe', on Tuesday evening at the Tagore Theatre. Based on Gurbaksh Singh Preetlari's story, 'Kehron dus numbari', the play was presented by the Adakar Manch, Mohali. Written and directed by Dr Sahib Singh, 'Parinde Jaan Hun Kithe' told the tale of Partition through the story of a crook. Kehar Singh, Dus Numbari, who buys a Muslim woman named Inaiti, marries her, is reformed as a 'respectful farmer', has a son from her and even changes her religion and re-christens her as Harbans Kaur. Life takes a turn when the nation is segregated into India and Pakistan and his Habans Kaur Banso is forced to cross the border. The fast-paced story line and a substantive acting by the entire cast made the audience relive the frightfully bloody experience of Partition — an occurrence which left no room for human sensitivity and tenderness. The fight-scene between Kehar Singh, who does not want his dear wife to leave Hindustan, was brilliantly performed. The poignant scenes between the husband and wife who have to be separated on the basis of religion were also finely composed. Fine acting by Rajinder Rosy as Inaiti and Harbans Kaur and Sahib Singh himself as Kehar Singh, along with Jasbir Dhillon as the village sarpanch left many a moist eye in the audience. Sat Pal Jain, MP, was the chief guest on the occasion. —
Sonoo Singh |
Stress on literacy by plays CHANDIGARH, Sept 8 — The message to wipe out illiteracy from the country before entering 21st century was put across through plays staged by the students of different schools in connection with International Literacy Day which was celebrated at the Working Women's Hostel in Sector 11 today. The function in which students of 11 schools of the city participated was organised by the management and staff of the local YWCA, Chandigarh. All plays were either on the theme of illiteracy and its removal from rural as well as urban areas of the country. Another theme on which the plays were enacted was the teacher-student relationship and the ways they could contribute in transforming the 48 per cent illiterate population of the country into a lot of literate people. Another highlight of the programme was a play "Shiksha ki jyoti jagaaen" by students of Carmel Convent which highlighted the exploitation of illiterate people by leaders of political parties. The play also laid stress on the need to educate women. The programme in which a number of parents also participated was sponsored by Dr A.R. Arora, a noted philanthrophist. A message by a former Punjab Chief Secretary, Mr P.H. Vaishnav, was read out. Students of St Stephens School bagged the first prize for exhibiting their prowess as actors in plays category, while Yadavindra Public School and Baptist School won the second and third prizes, respectively. A special prize in this category was accorded to Sri Aurbindo School. Similarly, Vishnu of
Baptist School and Nimit of the St Stephens School, and
Amrinder and Zoey Dhillon of Yadavindra Public School
were adjudged winners of the first and second prizes in
individual acting. |
Songs of innocence CHANDIGARH, Sept 8 — A musical show sans rehearsal and back-breaking practice doesn't sound realistic, but this is exactly what parents of tiny tots of Strawberry Fields were witness to on Tuesday morning at Nehru Bhavan in Sector 24. The ambience at the school library created an intimate bonding between the little performers and the audience. The music morning was a celebration of all things innocent, fresh and exciting in the growing pre-schoolers' life. Children of nursery and lower KG sang delightful songs relating to their environment, their relationships and things which related to their daily life. It was an extension of their daily music lessons. The lively backdrop painted by teachers was neither flashy nor ostentatious. The three-to-four-year-olds were confident, happy and articulate as they spoke of the animals, traffic signals, clouds and many such innocent and wonderful facets of their life. They were quick to take their cues and synchronise completely with the piano notes. Their happiness and natural expression confirmed that music has the power to brighten the dullest of the days and the gloomiest of spirits. As the parents sat moist eyed, one could see that the children of Strawberry Fields had sung their way to their papa's and mama's hearts. Sister Gloria, Principal of Sacred Heart School, was a special invitee on the occasion. Rimi Garcha school,
coordinator, introduced the event to the parents. |
Make eye
donation a 'mass movement' CHANDIGARH, Sept 8 — Mr Gobind Singh Kanjla, Minister for Youth Services, Punjab, said today that eye donation should be made a mass movement. He was speaking at the concluding function of the national fortnight on eye donation organised at the local Dev Samaj College of Education. He said politicians and
religious leaders must help educate people on the
importance of bequeathing eyes. |
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