Sunday, May 2, 1999
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N E W S Sunday, May 2, 1999 |
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Shopkeepers protest HUDA eviction
bid PANCHKULA, May 1 — An attempt made by officials of the local estate office of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) to get booths evicted, given on lease in the Sector 15 market, attracted strong protests from the shopkeepers here this morning. As soon the HUDA officials escorted by police force reached the market to get the booths evicted from the “erring tenants” the shopkeepers in the market downed their shutters in support of the affected group. The HUDA officials said the erring lessees had been served notices to vacate the booths. The agitated shopkeepers dispersed only after the drive was called off following talks between representatives of the local Beopar Mandal and the HUDA officials. The Estate Officer of HUDA, Mr N.K.Singla, said the shopkeepers had been given time till Monday to represent their case before senior HUDA officials. The shopkeepers, led by Mr B.B.Kochhar, Mr Kuldeep Chitkara and Mr Mukesh Malhotra — all representatives of the Beopar Mandal, demanded that HUDA should find a mutually acceptable solution to solve the issue, failing which they would agitate. Sources in HUDA say that the eviction drive was launched as the authority had failed to realise rent on booths given on lease in different sector markets during 1988-90 , which amounts to several lakhs of rupees. Following this, HUDA had terminated the rent agreement of the erring lessees. HUDA had constructed the booths in different sector markets during the 80s to give boost to commercial activity in the township. As there were few takers for the booths during auctions, the premises were rented out for Rs 1800 per month. Last year, the defaulting tenants in sectors 2,6,7,8,9,10,15 and 16 had been asked to vacate the booths within a month of being served the notice of termination of the lease deed of the lessee concerned. The HUDA officials maintain that the booths were given on lease for 11 months which was to be renewed on the expiry of the lease period and the rent had to be paid by the seventh of each month. None of the conditions were followed by the tenants, they alleged. The affected shopkeepers, however, contested the claims of the HUDA officials. Mr Narinder Aggarwal, a shopkeeper in the Sector 15 market who is a tenant in a HUDA booth, alleged that each time he received a notice from the authorities he replied back requesting for details of the arrears but did not receive any response. He claimed that he had been regularly paying rent. Another shopkeeper, Mr
Rajiv Dutta, alleged that he had submitted his
application at the single window of the Estate Office to
know about the pending arrears but had not got any
response. |
350
structures demolished CHANDIGARH, May 1 — The UT Administration demolished 350 unauthorised and uninhabited structures in Sector 49 here today. Cases against three local congressmen and several others have been registered for inciting the mob, rioting, preventing and causing injuries to a public servant on duty. While Dr O.P. Verma, a senior congress leader has been arrested, the police is searching for Mr Subash Chawla and Mr Sandeep Singh. Eight policemen, including the SHO of the Sector 34 police station, received injuries when a mob pelted stones at the police and other officials, preventing them from carrying out further demolitions. The incident happened at about 10 a.m. when the leaders allegedly urged the mob to "resist the drive". In the ensuing melee, many policemen and persons were hurt. The drive was, however, continued and all the structures were razed. The structures, mostly pucca one-room tenements, had been constructed on the recently acquired land of Nizampur Kumbra by some land owners who had allegedly taken money from migrants. The operation which began at 8 a.m., continued till noon. The staff of the Enforcement Wing of the Estate Office, with the help of a bulldozer, razed the structures. Most of these were unoccupied while some had a variety of goods stored in them. Meanwhile, the administration, in a statement, said that the one-room tenements were removed following the due procedure laid down under the law. Some unauthorised colonisers had been developing land by raising illegal structures for renting them to unsuspecting persons, especially those from the poorer sections of society. No construction, in violation of the Periphery Control Act or any other legal provision, would be allowed and if found, it would be removed. The administration advised that members of the public should not raise unauthorised structures. On the other hand, Mr Vijay Pal Singh Dimpy and Mr Pradeep Chhabra, General Secretary and Secretary of the Congress, respectively, in separate statements, have said that the action of the police was arbitrary and an attempt to curb the political parties. They said the leaders had only listened to the grievances of the persons regarding the demolitions. They said if the cases
were not withdrawn, the party would launch an agitation
and picket police stations. |
Major cremated with military
honours CHANDIGARH, May 1 — The body of Major J.D.S. Dhaliwal, who was killed in a road accident in the Rajouri Sector on April 29, was consigned to flames with full military honours at the Sector 25 crematorium here today. The body was brought by road yesterday and was placed at the Command Hospital for the night. It was brought to his residence in Phase 7, SAS Nagar, today morning to enable relatives and friends to pay their last respects. The tricolour-draped body, atop which was placed his uniform, was carried to the crematorium in a decorated army truck, followed by a caravan of vehicles. Many senior officers from the army and the civil administration of Ropar district, including Mr Kulbir Singh Sidhu, DC, Ropar, were present. As the last post was sounded, an army contingent reversed arms and fired shots in the air as a mark of respect to the departed soldier. Besides relatives and friends, some armymen were controlling their tears when the pyre was lit. Wreaths were laid by Brig S.K. Gupta on behalf of the Western Command Army Commander, by Brig S.K. Sinha on behalf of the Chandi Mandir Station Commander, by Col K.S. Malhi on behalf of the MGEME, WC, by Lt-Col Jagdish on behalf of the GOC, 39 Division, and by Lt-Col Bhanot on behalf of the Commanding Officer of his unit, 639 EME Bn. A wreath on behalf of the Punjab Chief Minister was laid by Lt-Col R.S. Shergill, Deputy Director, Sainik Welfare. The major was on his way to Kalakote area from Jammu when a Poonch-bound truck hit his vehicle at Potha, on the Jammu - Poonch highway. The vehicle fell into a
200-feet gorge, killing the major and his companion,
Captain K.S. Sheeresh Two jawans travelling with them
also received serious injuries and were admitted to a
hospital. |
Housing societies waiting list
activated CHANDIGARH, May 1— The seniormost eligible member on the waiting list of a cooperative house building society in Chandigarh shall now be eligible for allotment of a plot or flat as surrendered by a regular member of the society. This significant decision, which will benefit a large number of eligible members on the waiting lists of various cooperative house building societies in the Union Territory, has been taken by the Chandigarh Administration. Ever since the cooperative housing societies started getting land for individual plots for members or group housing, there was no provision for the societies to allot the surrendered plots or flats to other eligible members. The latest decision of the administration is subject to the making of a clear set of guidelines by the Registrar of Cooperative Societies to ensure that it is implemented in its right spirit and no irregularities or malpractices are committed by officials of the Cooperation Department in collusion with the office-bearers of the society concerned. It was in the early 80s that the administration started allotting land to societies with provision for individual plots for members. But in the early 90s, the scheme was changed to allot a piece of land for the construction of multi-storeyed flats for members of such societies. Since 1991, as per Clause 4 of the Chandigarh Allotment of Land to the Cooperative House Building Societies Scheme, 1991, the Chandigarh Administration allotted land on a chunk basis to the Chandigarh Housing Board for its further allotment to the eligible societies having sufficient funds and resources to the satisfaction of the Estate Office on a leasehold basis for 99 years for the construction of multi-storeyed structures or dwelling units. The units so constructed are to be allotted to the eligible members on the terms and conditions as laid down in the allotment letter and lease deed. But there have been numerous instances when the Chandigarh Housing Board allotted land for multi-storeyed units to the members, the list of which was supplied by the Cooperative House Building Society concerned and subsequently certain members of the society surrendered their plots or rights in the units to be constructed or allotted to them. Such units or rights had been lying as it is in the absence of any clear policy of the administration on the issue in the allotment of such surrendered plots or units. In some cases, members who surrendered their rights or units have approached different judicial forums to get their surrendered plots or units transferred to other willing and eligible members of the society. Keeping in view all this, a meeting of senior functionaries of the Administration, including Secretary, Cooperatives, Mrs Anuradha Gupta; Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Mr M. Ramsekhar; Joint Secretary Finance, Mr KAP Sinha; Legal Remembrancer , Mr Sanjiv Kumar; and Secretary, Housing Board, Mr M.L. Sharma, was held. HUDA has a provision where the next seniormost eligible member of the society on the waiting list is offered the surrendered unit or plot. It is, however, for the Registrar of Cooperative Societies, to satisfy himself about the authenticity of such a waiting list, and eligibility and bona fides of the members on the list so that irregularities do not take place. It was decided at the meeting that the Registrar should evolve clear guidelines on what should be the length of waiting list and number of members thereon, besides other requirements such as filing of regular returns with the RCS by the society, its democratic functioning and system of enrolling members, etc. Further, it was decided
that the administration's policy should be clear to the
extent that surrendered plots or dwelling units of any
society should be open to be offered to the seniormost
eligible member of a society. |
Six
arrested in murder case SAS NAGAR, May 1—The Sohana police has arrested as many as six persons in the Sekhan Majra murder case, in which Avtaar Singh, a panch, was allegedly shot dead by some armed people over a land dispute involving three brothers and the village panchayat. According to official sources, the accused have been arrested by the police following a number of raids on the residences of relatives of the accused, who had been absconding since the incident, in which four villagers had also been injured. While three of the accused are still at large, those who have been arrested included Dara Singh, Satpal Singh, both residents of Sekhan Majra village and Karam Singh, Nacchhatar Singh, both residents of Kurdi village. Bhajan Singh, one of the
three main accused and a resident of Manimajra has also
been arrested by the Sohana police. Further
investigations are on in the case. |
May Day
rallyists seek better deal CHANDIGARH, May 1 — Trade unions and various employee organisations held largely attended rallies and meetings to celebrate May Day in the city here today. Members of the All-India Centre of Trade Unions held rallies in the Industrial Area and Ram Darbar. Speakers exhorted the gathering to unite in the struggle of getting their dues. The working class should fight unitedly to remove the forces inimical to them and get the anti- employee laws repealed. Also present were members of the Nepal Communist Party (Maowadi). Leaders who addressed included Mr Harbans Singh Arman, Secretary, MCPI, and Mr Kanwaljit Singh, Secretary, FDY. The local MP , Mr Satya Pal Jain, addressed a gathering of workers at a function jointly organised by the UT Building Maintenance Workers Union and the Foot Path Workers Union in Sector 16 here today. Also present on the occasion were the Chief Engineer, Mr R. K. Jain, and Mt Sohan Lal Bansal, Secretary, CPI. The demands discussed include payment of bonus, regularisation of the services of daily wage workers, filling of vacant posts and abolition of the contractual system of labour. The All-India Trade Union Congress also paid tributes to the martyrs of Chicago. A rally was held in Industrial Area in which the workers demanded an increase in wages, implementation of labour laws and scrapping of the contract system of labour. The gathering was addressed by Mr Dev Raj and Mr D D Sharma, Vice-President and General Secretary of AITUC . The local unit of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions and the Federation of UT Employees and Workers held an impressive rally in Industrial Area at 5 p.m. Mr Inderjit Singh Grewal, President of CITU, said the wrong economic policies started by the Congress in 1991 are being followed even today which have plunged the nation in the quagmire of unemployment, inflation and poverty. Other leaders alleged policies of the BJP government that were taking the country on the path of economic ruin as has been witnessed in the case of countries like Mexico, Albania and many Latin American countries. The local unit of the Congress and the INTUC also organised a function at Ram Darbar. A community kitchen was also organised on the occasion. Functions were also organised by the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation Horticulture Workers Union and the Hotel Workers Union. The workers demanded release of bonus, DA, risk duty allowance. The workers held a rally in front of a hotel in Sector 35 and said if their demands were not met they will be forced to go on an indefinite strike. They condemned the managements of more then 24 hotels and restaurants which were not following labour laws. The gathering also criticised the anti-worker attitude of the UT Assistant Labour Commissioner. The workers demanded Rs 3, 500 as minimum wages besides, legal rights as marking of attendance and ESI benefits. Rallies were also
organised by the Akhil Bhartiya Bharat Joro Sangathan and
the Mazdoor Sudhar Sabha. |
Exchanges between police and disco
owners CHANDIGARH, May 1 — The Chandigarh Police and discotheque-operators in the city came to loggerheads today. The policemen tried to act as a self- appointed moral force by taking down addresses of the youngsters visiting the discos and stopping some from entering these. This was resented by the operators as they opined this was like spoiling their clientele, comprising largely of youth. The action started this afternoon, when a team of policemen arrived at a disco in Sector 22. They started noting down the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the visiting youth. This was resented by the disco operators. “ Who likes to get his name noted down in the register of the police, “ said Mr Vicky Malhotra, partner in a disco in Sector 22. Such an exercise had been going on for the past few days . The police later called up the homes of the visiting youth to inform their parents about their children, he alleged. The police said they were just following the rule of “no single males allowed” pasted outside all discos. The disco-owners said this was not a written regulation of the Chandigarh Administration but a method to keep away potential mischief-mongers. Concessions were allowed in case of regular clients who occasionally come without female companions. Some youths, who sought entry into the discos, were shoved and pushed around. Heated arguments ensued between the youths and disco-owners on one side and the police on the other. One such youth said there were ways to maintain law and order but such a thing was not done in an educated city like Chandigarh. A few days ago, disco-operators had met the Deputy Commissioner after the police imposed a ban on the opening of discos beyond 10.30 pm. A notification that allowed opening of commercial establishments till 1 am was cited. They said they served no liquor and kept a watch on mischief-mongers as it was in their interest to keep such elements out of the place. They added, nowhere in
the country were discos closed at 10.30 pm. An operator
said all this was happening because two women accompanied
two men from outside a disco on their own and later they
were molested. But a better way could have been devised
to deal with the problem, they said. |
1,000 kids
flock to 'Bal Mela' CHANDIGARH, May 1— Over 1,000 children from various schools flocked to Phase III of the Rock Garden to participate in various contests which marked the `Bal Mela' organised by the Punjab Sangeet Natak Akademi and North Zone Cultural Centre to mark the tercentenary celebrations of the formation of the Khalsa, here today. The painting, poetry recitation, declamation and quiz contests were inaugurated by Mrs Anuradha Gupta, Home and Education Secretary. A few schools presented a cultural extravaganza marked by dances of various states. The lively `giddha' and `bhangra' presentations by the students inspired Mrs Vineeta Rai, Advisor to the Administrator and chief guest of the function, to shake a leg before leaving. Mrs Rai urged the youth to follow the teachings of the Khalsa Panth and understand its historic and traditional values. She said that the mela had given a wonderful opportunity to educate the children about the values of the Panth. Accompanied by Mrs Gupta and Mrs Harjinder Kaur, President of the Punjab Sangeet Natak Akademi, she went round the pandal where the contests were being held. Mrs Harjinder Kaur gave details of the future plans of the academy to protect and promote the cultural heritage of Punjab. In the evening, the
Governor of Punjab, Lt-Gen B.K.N. Chhibber, visited the
different stalls at the Baisakhi Mela and applauded the
efforts of the academy for presenting the cultural
heritage of Punjab. Later, Mrs Rama Chhibber gave away
prizes to winners of the various contests held in the
morning. |
SNIPPETS BSP to contest LS seat CHANDIGARH, May 1 — The local unit of the Bahujan Samaj Party which met here today under the chairmanship of Mr Mata Ram Dhiman commended the role of Miss Mayawati for ousting the communal Central Government. The unit also decided to contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections for the lone Chandigarh seat. Mr Dhiman appealed to all party workers to remain united and work with dedication to ensure the party’s success in the Lok Sabha elections here. Slight fall in mercury CHANDIGARH, May 1—Overcast conditions above the city and surrounding areas brought some relief today as the mercury dropped to 40.6°C compared to yesterday’s 43°C. Meanwhile, the local meteorological office predicted that there were chances of rain and thundershowers for tonight or tomorrow. 20 bags of wheat stolen DERA BASSI, May 1— As many as 20 bags of wheat grain worth Rs 12,000 were reportedly stolen from local Anaz Mandi on Thursday night. The watchman on duty was beaten by the owners for his alleged negligence. According to sources,
the mandi had more than 250 bags, belonging to six
arhtiyas of the mandi. Out of these, bags containing
about 19 quintals of wheatgrain, of Messers Jyoti Prasad
Deep Chand (arhtiyas), were found missing. |
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