Wednesday, December 15, 1999
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N E W S Wednesday, December 15, 1999 |
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weather spotlighttoday's calendar |
City to
have flood-lit golf range CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — The city will soon have a golf range spread over six acres which will provide state of the art training facility. It will enable the golf enthusiast to practice and perfect every shot in the game. And soon the range will be flood-lit. Nestling in the Shivalik hills and located just behind the Sukhna Lake it is the endeavour of the Chandigarh Golf Association. The foundation stone of the range was unveiled by the Adviser to the Administrator, Mrs Vineeta Rai. The model of the upcoming golf range gives a complete picture of the shape of things to come in the next four months when the range is expected to be come operational. The range will provide a two-tier golf driving practice bays, chipping and putting practice greens, sand practice area as also nets for practice. It will also be equipped with a gym and health club, a cafeteria and a golf library. The range is being designed by the Golf Management Group, a professional golf course designing company which is associated with a US-based company, Golfplan. I buttonholed Col K.D. Bugga, consultancy designer and superviser. He said by March the contouring and fencing would be completed. Bermuda selection I grass was the choice for the greens. Col Bugga was hopeful of making the golf range operational by March. He is just back after remodelling the nine-hole golf course in Phillaur. He is also associated with the Delhi Golf Club where he is remodelling the greens hold-by-hole. Mr C.S.R. Reddy, General Secretary of the Chandigarh Golf Club, said there was a plan to make the driving range flood-lit so that the practice facilities could be availed of any time of the day. Quite a number of golf enthusiasts had come for the foundation stone unveiling ceremony. And, according to the CGC President, Mr Desh Prem Azad, over 200 forms had been filled. By evening there was demand for more. The Tribune team spotted Parnita Garewal, just back after winning the Eastern India Ladies Golf title in Calcutta. She was happy that she had managed to come out of the black patch. The golf range will be
open to members. And with Chandigarh having produced the
cream of golf like Jeev Milkha Singh, Amritinder Singh,
Harmeet Kahlon, Irina Brar and Parnita Garewal, the rush
for membership is expected to swell in the coming days. |
Vacant
plots PANCHKULA, Dec 14 — A large number of vacant plots and partially-built houses in the township has become a cause for concern not only for the administration but also for the residents. Over 4,700 plots are lying vacant. Most of these were purchased reportedly as an investment for re-sale gains. According to the policy in this regard formulated in 1997, during the tenure of the Bansi Lal government, the vacant plots could be resumed along with penalty on failing to attain a completion certificate from the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA). After that, about 15 per cent of the owners of such plots got the partially completion certificate. These semi-built houses are mostly rented out and thereby, contributed to a lot of problems in the sectors. Residential areas are fast becoming commercial houses, much against the guidelines of HUDA. These semi-built houses are available on low rentals, far below the market price and suffice the purpose of profits through reduced fixed costs. This has caused dissatisfaction among the shopkeepers who feel discriminated against on paying additional rental costs in the market. They feel it has retarded the commercial development of the township. Shuttering outlets, departmental stores and other commercial establishments in these houses are not a rare sight. Many houses are being used for agricultural purposes. Seasonal crops could be seen planted in vacant portions. Many people use them as warehouses for stocking material. Besides, some companies are using these houses for parking of light commercial vehicles and tractor chassis. A large number of such
houses are occupied by migrant labourers whose
antecedents have reportedly not been verified by the
police. Farmers seek payment for acquired
land PANCHKULA, Dec 14 — In a representation to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.K. Monga, proprietors of Ramgarh, Bana Madanpur and Jai Singh Pura have said that they are yet to get payment for the land acquired by the government some years ago. The representation states that the land acquired by HUDA from villagers was primarily agricultural land and the only source of income in most cases. After the acquisition, the people are left with no source of income, while HUDA is making part payment only. They have appealed to Mr
Monga to direct HUDA to make the entire payment in one go
so that alternative arrangements to generate income can
be made. |
Punjab to
get drilling rigs from Japan CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — The Punjab Government has entered into an agreement with the Government of Japan to procure two drilling rigs under the Japanese Debt Relief Grant Assistance of 220 million Japanese yen (Rs 9.25 crore). The rigs, which operate with the open hole technology, would be handed to the Punjab State Tubewell Corporation (PSTC). A formal agreement to this effect would be signed by Mr Masami Fukuda, Senior Manager, Mitsui and Corporation, Japan, and Mr Bikramjit Singh, Principal Secretary, Irrigation and Power, Punjab, tomorrow. The assistance comes to India twice a year to compensate the Central Government for the excess interest paid by the it on the loans taken from the Government of Japan in the past. As per the agreement, the Japanese company would also provide the PSTC with accessories like resistivity meter, geologger, a submersible pumping set and a diesel genset. “Besides this, technical manpower would also be trained by Japan for three months,” says Mr R.P. Sharma, Superintending Engineer, PSTC and adds that the rigs would be installed in Talwara block initially. The-state-of-the-art rigs would be used for drilling deep tubewells. No casing pipes would be required for this purpose and a 7.2 metre bit would be used during drilling operations. “Geologically speaking, the equipment would be of great utility as aquifers can now be pinpointed by normal electrical logging which was earlier not possible,” says Mr Sanjeev Chopra, Senior Hydrogeologist. The rigs would be yet
another feather in the PSTC’s cap. It may be
recalled that the corporation is the only agency in north
India, which possesses a borehole TV camera. |
Very few
NOCs issued ZIRAKPUR, Dec 14 — The Zirakpur nagar panchayat is issuing no objection certificates (NOC) at a very low pace. Only about 100 NOCs have been issued since October 5. Under the bye-laws of the newly formed civic body, it is mandatory for the owners of all commercial as well as residential buildings to obtain these certificates for regularisation of their construction. However, most of the residents do not even seem aware of this requirement. Some are even unaware as to what type of buildings require an NOC. According to Mr Amrit Lal Bansal, Executive Officer of the nagar panchayat, most of these certificates have been issued for residential buildings. A number of shopkeepers in the area maintain that they are not aware of the necessity to obtain the NOCs, and the small number of applications for the commercial buildings show lack of enthusiasm among the people. A resident of Dhakauli said: “I got my house constructed about three years ago and I am not aware if I have to obtain an NOC. The nagar panchayat should issue circulars in this regard”. Mr Bansal said that an NOC was necessary for getting power, sewer, water connections. The EO further said that there had been cases where wrong maps had been submitted. The licence of an architect has been cancelled for preparing wrong maps”. “One of the main problems is the lack of information regarding the ownership of the land on which construction activities have been done”, he said. Mr Bansal added that the
applications had to deposit a fee along with a copy of
the map to get the NOC. The map should be prepared by an
architect authorised by the civic body. “We have
started getting proposals for the development of about 70
acres of land”, he concluded. |
Bail
denied in Pinky case CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — The anticipatory bail plea of a schoolteacher was today dismissed as infructuous by the UT District and Sessions Judge, Mr B.S. Bedi, in the Pinky suicide case. At the very onset, the police stated that it had no intention of arresting the applicant. The Sessions Judge directed the prosecution to serve three days' prior notice on the applicant if they had intentions of arresting him. The Judge also asked the applicant to join the investigations as and when required. The applicant — Nirmal Singh — was apprehending arrest in the FIR registered on December 3 with police station, Sector 39, under the Indian Penal Code's Section 305 (Abetment of suicide committed by a child) after school student Pinky set herself on fire. According to the prosecution, 12-year-old Pinky was allegedly harassed and beaten up by teachers on allegations of taking out money from a classmate's bag. Seeking the grant of anticipatory bail, counsel for the applicant had stated that the applicant's involvement in abetting the suicide "could not be inferred even remotely from the circumstances of the case." Claiming the applicant
to be innocent, counsel had added that the Director of
Social Welfare, Mr Prithi Chand, while inquiring into the
suicide had not even called the teacher. Moreover, the
applicant was not teaching Pinky's class, counsel had
added. |
‘India
must increase energy level’ CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — Energy will be the guiding light for development in the future. India needed to increase its energy level as availability was scratch as compared to leading nations, said Prof S. Vardharajan, a former director of the Indian National Science Academy, while talking to The Tribune here today. Energy consumption had increased manifold. The country used 1 million units of petrol in 1950. This went up to 100 units. Of the total, 65 units were imported. The price of a barrel was half a dollar in 1973 and went up to 27 dollars. The country was still using coal and other resources, which was a threat to environment, he said. The world was passing through a competitive age, where big agreements and others mergers presented an interesting situation. Indian trade needed between 10 and 15 per cent growth for gearing up the economy, Professor Vardharajan added. Professor Vardharajan
said energy had become a necessity for decent
subsistence. Infrastru-ctural development needed immense
energy. The country would have to work out methods like
natural water dams, ignoring coal. Polluting projects
needed a review in the context of a pollution-free
future. Energy needed to be increased by avoiding burning
wood, coal and excessive petrol, because these factors
were the key to the future. |
Agitators
block road SAS NAGAR, Dec 14 — Vehicular traffic on the road connecting Chandigarh with this township, near Yadavindra Public School, here remained suspended for more than three hours after irate residents of Nehru colony in Kajheri village blocked the road protesting against the plugging of some entry points to the colony by the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA). Hundreds of motorists faced inconvenience as they were forced to take alternative routes to reach their destinations. The blockade began at 9 a.m. and ended with the arrest of over 100 persons around noon. Tension gripped the area when the protesters, who were blocking the road on the Chandigarh side, tried to cross over to Punjab side. The Punjab police had to resort to a mild lathi charge when the agitated mob threw stones at them. Ultimately, they were pushed back to the Chandigarh side. Senior civil and police officials had a tough time in pacifying the crowd. When repeated efforts to persuade them to lift the blockade failed, the Chandigarh police had to arrest over 100 protesters, who were later let off.. Dharna by AITUC men CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — Hundreds of workers belonging to various trade unions under the banner of the All-India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) held a dharna near The Tribune Chowk today in protest against the “anti-worker” policies of the Central Government. Various speakers condemned the government’s move to “destroy the public sector and change it into private sector without bothering about its bad effects on the working class and the nation”. While alleging that new
economic policies of the government would create
large-scale unemployment, the speakers came down heavily
on the government for passing the Insurance Regulatory
and Development Authority Bill. |
Verification time for passports
reduced CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — All passport offices in the country will enter the next millennium with zero pendency of cases. This is among the several constructive measures finalised to streamline the functioning of passport offices. Stating this here, Regional Passport Officer, Dr T. Suresh Babu, said the time for police verification had been reduced from two years to one year. All rules and regulations as well as forms henceforth will be available on the web at http://passport.nic.in. In the case of applicants below 15 years of age, both parents of the applicants will be required to put their signatures in the column for "declaration of parent", while the minor concerned can put his signatures or thumb impression in the appropriate column, as the case may be. Passport application
forms will also be available at select book shops at a
nominal cost shortly. Since there is a shortage of forms
at passport offices, use of photocopies of the forms is
being allowed. |
Winter
school for children CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — The approaching winter break for children has a bonanza in the shape of a special winter school being run by the Durga Das Foundation at Nehru Bhavan in Sector 24. Starting December 23 the winter school has a week full of fun, excitement, thrill and adventure for the 7 to 14 year olds. Breaking the monotony of regular school life, it offers children scope for personal growth, interaction, knowledge dissemination, a lot of stimulation and challenge as they explore the wonder of nature putting their minds and bodies to good use. Each day’s session
will have a spearate schedule which will include air
gliding, camping, horse riding, trekking, adventure
sports supplemented with games, exercises and parties. |
Golden
jubilee celebrations CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — The 140 Air Defence Regiment (SP) is celebrating its golden jubilee at the Chandimandir cantonment. The celebrations were kicked off yesterday with a mandir function organised at the unit lines. Apart from a barakhana and an officers’ mess function later this week, the Director-General and Senior Colonel Commandant, Air Defence Artillery, Lt-Gen A. Mukherjee will address a special sainik sammelan on December 18. The regiment, presently commanded by Col K.K. Singh, was raised as 140 Medium Regiment at Meerut in 1949, then equipped with the fearsome 5.5 inch Howitzer. In the 1965 Indo-Pak war, as part of 7 Artillery Brigade, the regiment took part in the offensive into Pakistan territory, which took Indian forces up to the Ichhogil Canal. The first major change came the following year, when the regiment switched over to the air defence role, acquiring L-60 guns in the process. The 1971 Indo-Pak war saw the regiment’s guns providing air defence cover to the Pathankot airfield, Thein Dam, Mirthal Bridge and the Madhopur Bridge. After being equipped with the 23 mm Schilka twin guns from 1977 to 1983, the regiment underwent further transformation and is currently equipped with ZSU 23-4 tracked self-propelled guns. The unit has many
laurels to its credit in war as well as peace, including
two Shaurya Chakras, two Sena Medals and one Chief of
Army Staff Commendation Card. |
Sahayta
Cancer Sahyog’s appeal CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — Sahayta Cancer Sahyog, Chandigarh, an emotional support group which provides help to the needy cancer patients of the northern region, has asked cancer survivors, or the relatives of such patients, to provide details of ailment, treatment, problems and the way the ailment has been coped with by the patient. On the basis of this, the organisation would award one such brave survivor who has displayed exemplary courage in fighting the disease against all odds with the Jeevan Shakti Award. The object behind instituting this award is to inspire those battling the disease to learn from the experiences of the survivors, according to the president of this organisation. According to the president, the patient himself or herself, or the relatives can supply the details, along with photocopies of the treatment and all relevant papers. All nominations should reach the organisation by the 15th of January, 2000. The winner will be selected by a panel of judges and the awards given at our next Cancer Survivor’s Day on the second Saturday of February, 2000. Survivors must contact the office at # 1820, Sector 34, Chandigarh. Ph (0172) 647385, Fax: 0172-653347 and e-mail:sahayta@ch1.dot.net.in The organisation has also organised a walk which would be held one day before the Cancer Survivors’ Day which will be held from PGI to Sector 17. The volunteers of
Sahatya are available for counselling in the Radiotherapy
Department of the PGI, Chandigarh, on all week days and
in the Paediatric Department on Fridays between 10 a.m.
and 11.30 a.m. |
Telecom
officer convicted for demanding bribe CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — Convicting a junior telecom officer for demanding a bribe for releasing a phone connection, UT Additional District and Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge for CBI cases S.S. Lamba has sentenced him to three years rigorous imprisonment, besides imposing a fine of Rs 1,000. Pronouncing the orders in the open court, the Judge directed the convict — Manjit Singh — to further undergo rigorous imprisonment for another six months in default of payment. He was earlier booked by the investigating agency under Sections 7, 13 (1), (d) and 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act on the complaint of Sector 20 resident Vijay Gupta. According to the prosecution, the JTO had asked for Rs 1,000 from the complainant for releasing “the current and the phone number”. The accused, the prosecution had stated, had told the complainant that the work would not be done without money. The accused, the prosecution had further added, was caught after a trap was laid by the premier investigating agency. The accused, when confronted with the incriminating evidence against him, had denied the allegations. Claiming to have been implicated in the case, he had asked for a trial. After hearing the arguments, the Additional Sessions Judge observed: “The prosecution has been able to prove beyond doubt that the accused Manjit Singh demanded the bribe on June 25, 1996, and accepted Rs 500 as illegal gratification on June 26, 1996 while acting as a public servant for releasing the phone connection”. The Judge further
observed: “Hence, he as such is held liable for
commission of offences punishable under Section 7 of the
Act, as well as Section 13 (1) (d) read with Section 13
(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. He is held
liable for these offences and is convicted
accordingly”. |
CJM
grants bail in accident case CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — Two persons, accused of taking away the watch and a purse of a scooterist after the Gypsy they were driving had rammed into him, were today granted bail by the UT Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr Sant Parkash, following the prosecution’s inability to submit the challan within the stipulated period. The accused — Amrik Singh of Hoshiarpur and Sukhdev Singh of Gurdaspur — were earlier booked by the Chandigarh Police under Sections 325, 382, 365 and 511 of the Indian Penal Code. According to the prosecution, the accused had dislocated two teeth of the victim after he fell down on the road following the accident. The accused, the prosecution had added, subsequently took away the watch and the purse of the victim. Seeking the grant of bail, the defence counsel had stated that the accused were liable to be granted bail. He had added that 60 days had expired since the duo were arrested but the challan had not been submitted. Pronouncing the orders in open court, the CJM observed: “The accused were arrested on October 8, 1999, and were produced in the court of the Duty Magistrate the next day and since then both accused are in judicial custody. Admittedly a period of 60 days has expired and the challan has not been filed...” The CJM further
observed: “Section 382 of the IPC is punishable with
imprisonment up to 10 years and the challan has not been
presented within the stipulated period of 60 days as
contemplated....” |
No
functioning in telecom office SAS NAGAR, Dec 14 —
Due to the shifting of the local offices of the Area
Manager (Telecom), Commercial Officer and Accounts
Officer from Phase 7 to the telephone exchange building
in Phase 4 here, the functioning of these offices will
remain suspended for a week with effect from December 13,
a spokesman of the department said yesterday. |
National scientists for Chemcon
seminar CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — Leading national chemical scientists will be participating in a national seminar of the Indian Chemical Engineering Congress (Chemcon) at Panjab University from December 20 to 23. A press conference in this regard held on the campus today said that researchers and academicians from the Indian institutes of technology (IITs) and leading Indian and foreign universities would present about 200 papers. The Organising Secretary, Dr V.K. Rattan, said that ''chemical engineering and sustainable development'' would be central to discussions at the seminar. Industrial themes, including petroleum and petrochemicals, fertilisers, agro-chemicals, pharmaceuticals, paper, polymers, nuclear, leather and energy conservation, will be the prominent topics. Special lectures will also feature in the event. The pollution control boards of the Central Government and a few states are likely to feature at the exhibition stalls. The deliberations also have ''prospects of chemical engineering during the next century'' on the agenda. The bonanza is being
organised for the third time after 1965 and 1977. Prof
S.K. Sharma, organising chairman, said that Prof M.M.
Sharma, the first Indian to be a Fellow of the Royal
Society, would deliver a special lecture. Mr Darbari
Seth, an industrialist, who died recently, has been given
the Lifetime Achievement award. Rakesh Singh honoured CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — Finance Secretary and Chairman of Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee Rakesh Singh has been nominated by Japan-based Asian ISO 14000 Information Network (AIIN) as second Contact Person for India. Mr. Amrik Mohan Singh has been the first Contact Person for last two years. According to a press release, the honour was bestowed upon Mr Rakesh Singh in his capacity of the Chairman of the Life Cycle Assessment Society of India (ILCAS). The meeting of AIIN
— comprising 14 countries, including Japan, Hong
Kong, Korea, Tiwan and Malaysia — is scheduled to be
held at Stockholm in Sweden in the first week of June,
the release added. |
NSS camp
in PEC begins CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — The annual 10-day camp of the NSS unit of Punjab Engineering College was inaugurated by the Principal, Prof Rajnish Prakash, on the college campus today. The NSS unit of PEC has over the years worked for the cause of social awareness and betterment, said apress not issued by it. Professor Prakash stressed on the importance of the involvement of youth in the uplift of the society. He further emphasised that self-improvement activities be included in the camp. The unit plans to
organise an awareness drive in Ganta Colony and
participate in the national pulse polio campaign on
December 19. |
Night
classes for slum kids from April CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — From the next academic year, beginning April, the Chandigarh Administration will start night classes for slum children in government schools. A proposal was mooted by the UT Administrator, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), today while reviewing the working of Education Department. Such children, who have
to unfortunately work during daytime, will be provided
basic education. These classes will be held in the
schools located in slum rehabilitation colonies and
villages where the population of under-privileged
children is more. |
AIDS
awareness through plays, talks, films CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — More than 1,100 persons today attended the family health awareness camps at the AWHO Labour Colony, Mani Majra, and Hind Motors, Industrial Area, where they were made aware of the sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), reproductive tract infections (RTIs) and HIV/AIDS. At today's camps, treatment was extended to about 2,200 patients and 500 blood samples were collected from suspected patients suffering from STDs. The family health awareness campaign, which was launched on December 2 in Chandigarh with the twin objective to reduce prevalence of STDs/RTIs and create awareness about HIV/AIDS, concluded today with the two camps being organised by the State AIDs Control Society, Chandigarh, in collaboration with the Surya Foundation and the Rotary Club (Shivalik). Seventeen awareness-cum-medical camps were organised in Chandigarh by the society with the collaboration of various NGOs. A population of about 1,20,000 was reached during the campaign through house-to-house visits by anganwari workers. Motivation of the people in the age group of 15-49 years to attend these camps organised at their doorstep was also undertaken. The camps covered Badheri, Attawa, Butrela, Maloya, Janata Colony, Kumhar Colony, Dadu Majra, Burail, Colony No. 5, Mauli Jagran, Hallo Majra, Behlana, Raipur Khurd, Bapu Dham, Indira Colony, Ram Darbar, Colony No. 4, Dhanas, Khuda Lahora, Jassu, Sarangpur, Kajheri and the AWHO Labour Colony (Mani Majra). During the camps AIDS
awareness was created through folk media performance by
Song and Drama Division teams, Government of India,
Street plays, talks, films on AIDS as well as by
distributing pamphlets on HIV, AIDS, STDs and RTIs.
Doctors from the PGI and the Government Medical College
and Hospital examined patients. Senior faculty members
from Nursing College, PGI, counselled the patients.
Medicines and condoms were distributed among the patients
suffering from STDs/RTIs free of charge. The evaluation
of the campaign is being done by the Community Medicine
Department, GMCH, Sector 32, Chandigarh. AIDS camp CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — An AIDS awareness camp was organised by the local Surya Foundation as a part of the health awareness week at Mani Majra here today. Dr Ramneek Sharma,
foundation-director of the foundation, gave a talk on
various means of the spread of the disease, and also
measures for its cure. A song and drama function was
organised on the occasion. Road show on AIDS CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — A road-show AIDS awareness carnival will be organised from December 16, starting from Phase 9, Mohali. It will pass through 60 cities of Punjab. The carnival will
consist of a trawler, a bus and a van that will
distribute booklets, stickers and audio-cassettes to the
general public to educate them about the disease and its
preventive measures. The carnival plans to cover about 5
lakh people for the campaign for AIDS awareness. |
Grievances
panel disposes of three complaints PANCHKULA, Dec 14 — Three out of 10 complaints put before the grievances committee were disposed of, while a committee comprising the District Revenue Officer and the Deputy Superintendent of Police was constituted to look into a complaint of a resident of Morni here today. The complainant, Ram Murti, had alleged that Ram Krishan, along with a few others, had ganged up against him and blocked the path leading to his house, which was causing him undue harassment. He had further stated that he was not satisfied with the manner in which the case had been handled by the police following the complaint. The committee is required to submit its report within a fortnight. The complaints, which were disposed of included cases referring to the Food and Supplies Department. These included cases of bogus ration cards and depot owners. An inquiry into the matter has been marked and the report will be submitted to the DC after an inquiry. Another land-transfer problem in Chandimandir came up for discussion. Mr Monga, said that some of the officials of the Revenue Department seemed to be involved in the tampering of the land-transfer case. The tehsildar has been asked to look into the matter. The closure of a make-shift cremation ground in the residential area of Sector 25 has been a burning demand of the residents of the area. The DC has ordered that the villagers be restrained from using the site as a cremation ground while an alternative site be sought near the banks of the Ghaggar for the same. “Once that is done, the cremation can be carried out at the place earmarked for the purpose. This will solve the problem of both parties,” he said. Speaking of the projects
underway, Mr Monga informed that these would be speeded
up and completed very soon. He further added that the
Administration was trying to work out the problem posed
by the growing cattle menace in the town. |
‘Reconstitute’
city advisory council CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — The Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee (I) has demanded the reconstitution of the Chandigarh Advisory Council, which is headed by the UT Administrator. In a detailed press note issued by the CTCC, the party demanded that all pending applications for the conversion from leasehold to freehold should be cleared. The party has welcomed the initiative of the new Administrator, Lieut Gen J.F.R. Jacob, for carrying out surprise checks. Party spokesperson, Mr Subhash Chawla, demanded complete pruning and overhauling of the Estate Office.The CTCC also demanded immediate provision of electricity and water connections to those persons who have built their houses outside the lal dora. The former Advisor, Mr
Jagdish Sagar, had given an assurance in this regard in
his Republic Day address but till date nothing has been
done. The CTCC also demanded the extension of lal dora,
as the Periphery Control Act had become outdated.The
rejection of the demand to hold Zila Parishad elections,
raised by the local MP, Mr Pawan Bansal, in the winter
session of Parliament, was criticised. The party has
demanded immediate elections to the Panchayat Samiti. |
Contractor’s
bail plea dismissed CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — The UT District and Sessions Judge, Mr B.S. Bedi, today dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of Ludhiana-based railway contractor Suresh Manchanda in the case pertaining to the alleged sale of fake parking tickets at the railway station here. Seeking the grant of anticipatory bail for Suresh Manchanda, his counsel had earlier stated that no offence of cheating or forgery was made out against him. The counsel had added that the Chandigarh Police had no jurisdiction as the contract with the Railways was under the jurisdiction of the Government Railway Police. The Chandigarh Police, it may be recalled, had earlier registered a First Information Report under Sections 420, 468, 471 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code. According to the
prosecution, the two co-accused in the case Ram Vinay and
Naval Kishore, were caught red handed after a decoy
customer was sent by the police. Several fake tickets of
Rs 10 denomination were seized from the accused, the
prosecution had added. The two were subsequently directed
to be released on bail by the CJM after furnishing
personal bonds of Rs 15,000 each, along with sureties of
the like amount. Traders submit memorandum CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — A delegation of the Traders Association of Sector 17 comprising, among others, Mr Kamaljit Panchhi, Mr Jagdish Pal Singh Kalra and Mr Baldev Gulati, today met the UT Administrator, Lieut-Gen J.R.F. Jacob (retd), and submitted a memorandum to him in support of its demands. The association urged the Administrator not to take any action for building bylaws violations till the new bylaws were framed. The sealed buildings should be unsealed so that there was no loss to the traders and the government. Since the Chandigarh Administration had felt the need to change the building bylaws, it should not issue to further resumption notices. The Administration should allow all types of business and declare Sector 17 a free-zone area, the memorandum said. The association demanded that about 50 shopkeepers in the Anand complex in Sector 17-A should be given individual power connections. It demanded that the
problems relating to roads, sanitation and sewerage,
should be redressed on priority basis. |
SNIPPETS BJP-SAD hold meetings CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — With a view to evolve consensus on the candidate for the post of Mayor, election to which is slated to be held on December 23, the local unit of the BJP held a series of meetings today. According to sources, the first meeting was held between the party president, Mr Dharam Pal Gupta, and the SAD chief, Mr Gurpartap Singh Riar. This meeting was followed by a detailed discussion among the district presidents, morcha chiefs and presidents of different cells of the BJP. Sources said councillors expressed opinion on the candidate for the Mayor's post. Since no unanimity could be reached on any name, talks would continue in the days to come. December 17 is the the last date for filing nomination papers. Class XII results tomorrow CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — The results of the supplementary examinations of matriculation and class XII of the Punjab School Education Board will be declared on December 16, according to a press note here today. The result gazettes will be available at district textbook sales depots, according to the board authorities. 1 killed in road mishap ZIRAKPUR, Dec 14 — One person was killed on the spot and four others were seriously injured in a collision between a canter and a Maruti van on the Kalka-Ambala national highway a few kilometres from here, last night. The injured persons were taken to the PGI and the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh. They are said to be out of danger. According to the police, the Delhi-bound Maruti van (DL-1CG-1025) collided with the Shimla-bound canter (HP-51-3672) carrying milk which resulted in the death of Banarsi Das, the driver of the van. The police has registered a case against the canter driver, Satish Kumar, under Sections 279, 403-A, 337 and 427 of the IPC, and impounded the vehicles. Free medicines given CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — Over 200 patients were given free medicines after being examined at a medical camp held by a medical and surgical centre in Mattaur village near S.A.S. Nagar here. According to a press release, several minor surgical operations were also performed during the camp. The medicines for free distribution were provided by some philanthropists, the press release added. 'Millennium countdown watch' on
Lashkara CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — The upcoming Punjabi channel, Lashkara, will beam the "millennium countdown watch" from tomorrow till December 31. According to the Managing Director of the channel, Mr Subhash Menon, the channel will give the second-to-second countdown till the ushering in of the new millennium. Carol singing contest held CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — Students of St Stephen's School bagged the first prize in the English group and those of Chandigarh Baptist School in the Hindi group of carol singing here yesterday. Children from various schools in the city participated in an evening of carols organised by the Young Women's Christian Association. The evening began by carol singing by students of Jesus and Mary School, Sector 33. The second and the third
prizes in the English group were bagged y Chandigarh
Baptist School and Carmel Convent School. In the Hindi
group, St Anne's Convent School bagged the second prize.
Christ High School and St Stephen's School won the
Special prize. |
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