Tuesday, November 9, 1999
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N E W S Tuesday, November 9, 1999 |
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Festival
of lights brings darkness CHANDIGARH, Nov 8 — Divali took its toll yesterday as one person died while more than 100 were injured, 10 of them seriously, in various festival-related incidents in the city. Mr Harjit Singh of Darua village died on the way to the Sector 32 Government Medical College Hospital after he fell from the roof of his house while lighting candles. According to the police, the victim lost his balance and fell down and was seriously injured. The inflow of patients with burn injuries, minor to serious, and with injuries to eyes due to fireworks and crackers to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Sector 16 General Hospital, Sector 32 Government Medical College and Hospital and Mani Majra Hospital continued throughout until late at night. "The cases we received at the PGI of eye injuries were much more serious than last year. We had about 10 such cases, including two to three adults while the rest were children. Interestingly, the injuries to adults — ruptured blobs or eyeballs — were much more serious than those of children this time," said Dr Amod Gupta, Professor and Head, Department of Ophthalmology. "There could be many reasons for this. The foremost of these has been that crackers this time were more powerful and nastier. In most of the serious cases examined by us, the internal structure of eye was partially to completely destroyed impairing eyesight," Dr Gupta said. He said that the new trend was more disturbing as lot of awareness was sought to be created about the harmful effects of crackers and fireworks. "Interestingly, the cases of serious injuries were reported from upper middle and affluent sections of society. The reason could be that only rich or affluent could afford to buy sophisticated, costly and nasty crackers and fireworks. None of the serious cases came from lower middle or weaker sections of society. "But at the same time, during the past couple of weeks, we have received a large number of serious cases with bow and arrow injuries. All these cases come from weaker and lower strata of society. In at least 12 cases examined by us at the PGI, the injuries had become serious because of infection. We have done our best to salvage eyes and restore limited vision in some of the serious cases. We have operated in other some equally serious cases," Dr Amod Gupta added. Other Divali related cases included those with blood in eyes. In one case, a child had a minor burn injury on his eyes because of lighting of a match stick. In another case, the eyes of a woman had a providential escape though she had burn injuries on her face. In another case, a patient lost reception in one eye. Others had serious damage to internal portions of their eyes. Some of the seriously injured treated at the PGI have been identified as Mr Mohinder Chopra, Ms Jasbir Kaur, Mr Mitro lal, Mr Mohit, Mr Tejender Lal and Mr Haideep besides others. In all, 58 medico-legal cases were reported at the PGI since yesterday afternoon. A majority of these related to injuries due to Divali celebrations. At the Sector 16 General Hospital, 20 cases related to Divali incidents were reported. Of these, four had eye injuries, one had ENT problems while the remaining 15 had minor burn injuries of hands and extremities. All these patients were discharged after dressing and first aid. At the Sector 32 Government Medical College and Hospital, 58 cases of Divali related injuries were reported. None of these was serious enough for admission and all the patients were discharged after medical attention and dressing. At Mani Majra Hospital,
eight cases of Divali related injuries were reported. But
all were discharged after medical attention and dressing.
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20 burn
cases in Panchkula PANCHKULA, Nov 8 — Twenty cases of minor burns and nine incidents of fire in different parts of the city were reported the hospital and fire station here, respectively, on Divali even as celebrations continued till dawn in the city. Doctors on duty at General Hospital, Sector 6, said patients, most of them aged between 10 to 14, had reported at the hospital with minor burns and had been discharged almost immediately after being given first aid. No cases of serious eye injuries came to light. One child, aged 6, however, came with an eye injury to the hospital in the morning. She was going through a heap of burnt out crackers when one of these went off and hurt her in the eye. luckily, it did not cause any damage. The fire station reported nine cases of fire from different sectors of the city. All these were reportedly caused by splinters from rockets, though none of these caused extensive damage. The godown of a junk dealer was gutted in Rajiv Colony while shuttering at a vacant plot in Sector 17 caught fire. The fire was brought under control in no time and caused not much damage. Another fire was reported from Saupins School, Sector 9, where a hut of straw on the premises caught fire from a spark from the crackers bursting in the vicinity. A man who tried to douse the fire fell from the terrace and was admitted to the PGI. In Sector 2, the tent of a police guard was gutted in a fire. In Sector 16, a double bed on the terrace was burnt. In Ramgarh and Phase II of Industrial Area, a couple of 'jhuggis' fell prey to the fires. Fires were reported from Sector 7 and 11 also. An eye injury was
reported at the hospital in Kalka, while three persons
were admitted to the hospital following a tussle. A
constable of Raipur Rani suffered burns and was referred
to the PGI in Chandigarh. |
Fire
Department gets 35 help calls CHANDIGARH, Nov 8 — While no major fire was reported from any part of the city, the Fire Department received 35 fire calls yesterday and today. According to sources, 34 fire calls were received on the Divali night yesterday. While loss of the property was estimated at a few thousands, no loss of life was reported. In a fire in Sector 18, reportedly due to short-circuit, a sofa set was burnt. Three tarpaulins which were being used as temporary roofs were burnt in the vegetable and fruit market of Sector 26. A TV set was reportedly damaged in a fire in Sector 8. The sources said a majority of the fires were due to the bursting of rockets and other crackers. Fire engines were pressed into service and these controlled the fires in minutes. The wireless sets with the personnel of the Fire Department proved handy as many of the fire engines were diverted to the fire sites while these were on their way back to fire stations, Mr Darshan Singh, Chief Fire Officer, said. Among the area from where the fires were reported were Bapu Dham Colony, Kajheri, Dhanas, Sarangpur and near Bajwara Chowk in Sector 22. Meanwhile, a minor fire
broke out in a plywood shop in Sector 22 this evening. A
fax machine is reported to be damaged in the fire. |
Five fires
in SAS Nagar SAS NAGAR, Nov 8 — Divali celebrations passed off peacefully in the town yesterday. At least seven minor cases of fire were reported at the local fire station. Two cases of burn injuries due to fire crackers came to the local Government Civil Hospital in Phase VI here. Harvinder Singh (16), a resident of Phase IV, came to the hospital with a burnt hand caused by bursting of an 'anar'. In another case, Neeraj (7) of Balongi village was admitted to the hospital with a minor skin burn. Both victims were discharged after being given the first aid. Some cases of burn injuries were reported at nursing homes and clinics in the town. All these fires were caused by sparks from bursting crackers. Wooden logs of a saw mill were gutted in a fire near the Punwire factory in Industrial Area here. The other cases of fire were reported from Landhran, Khanpur and Mauli Baidwan. No loss of life was reported in any of the incidents. Besides, the Phase I
police station booked six persons for allegedly rioting
and injuring a resident of Phase V here. A police
official said Surjeet Singh along with five other persons
attacked Balbir Singh after the latter refused to lend Rs
50,000 to them. A case under Sections 148, 149 and 324 of
the IPC has been registered against the accused. |
31 firms
offer to maintain MCC areas CHANDIGARH, Nov 8 — A public notice in newspapers had asked for sponsorship to develop and maintain "municipal areas", besides providing certain other "facilities" in the city. The response the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh received after about four weeks is "unanticipated". As many as 31 organisations are willing to take care of not only the streetlight but also construct subways and bridges. According to sources in the corporation, the firms have not only offered to look after the roundabouts, dividers, railings, parks, bus queue shelters, public toilets, clubs and community centres but also paint the streetlight poles, constantly replace the fused mercury and sodium vapour bulbs and even pay for the electricity bill. "Offers have also been received for painting and maintaining the traffic signs along roadside and the zebra crossings," confirms MCC Chief Engineer Puranjit Singh. "They have also asked for our permission to put up lights and fountains in the gardens, besides taking care of the Sector 17 Piazza". The Chief Engineer adds: "The corporation not only hopes to save something like Rs 5 crore to Rs 7 crore being currently spent on the services but also undertake original works, including the construction of subways and bridges through the sponsors' money. It will also help us in the optimum utilisation of our financial resources and manpower". The MCC's decision to invite sponsorship for the upkeep of services is significant because of the otherwise poor maintenance by the staff. A look at the chuckling marigolds, iceflowers and dalhias, amidst landscaping with cobbled stones, on the roundabouts maintained by the private firms and the ones with weed-invaded grass is enough to tell the difference. The condition of the public toilets also is not very healthy. The MCC, it may be recalled, had issued a public notice on September 23 inviting sponsorships for looking after "areas", including the open spaces, green belts, parking lots, road signs, the central Plaza fountain, besides the roundabouts and crossings. Suggestions for providing "other facilities in the municipal area" had also been invited. "Sponsors shall be given the right to display the names of their firms as per the policy and guidelines of the corporation," the notice had stated. The policy and guidelines, according to the Chief Engineer, were framed by the City Beautification Committee. According to a senior corporation official, "The response is very encouraging. For certain facilities like maintaining streetlight, we have received offers from as many as 10 firms. All offering facilities better than the other." The entire process,
claim officials, will be completed within a month.
"Right now we are in the process of selecting and
finalising the firms which would prove most beneficial to
us," asserts the Chief Engineer. |
New SE,
SSP may join today CHANDIGARH, Nov 8 — Mr J.N. Sachdeva, Superintending Engineer, Electricity Operations, and Mr Parag Jain, Senior Superintendent of Police, are expected to assume charges of their new assignments in the Chandigarh Administration on Tuesday. Mr Sachdeva will replace Mr P.S. Chawla who has been repatriated to his parent Punjab State Electricity Board. Mr Sachdeva is also coming from the Punjab State Electricity Board initially for one year. Mr Parag Jain, an IPS officer of the Punjab cadre who belongs to the 1989 batch, is expected to replace Mr CSR Reddy as the new City SSP. Meanwhile, the Chandigarh Administration has already ordered reallocation of work among four middle-rung officials. According to official sources, Mrs Geetanjali Kundra, an IAS officer of the UT cadre who is Subdivisional Magistrate (East), will also hold the additional charge of Officer on Special Duty, Capital Project, in the Finance Department. Mr P.S. Gill, Subdivisional Magistrate (Central), who is also the Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner, will also hold the additional charge of Assistant Estate Officer-II to deal with court cases relating to the Estate Office. Mr S.K. Sharma, Assistant Estate Officer, will continue to exercise quasi-judicial powers along with Mr P.S. Gill in dealing with court cases of the Estate Office. Mr H.K. Nagpal,
Secretary, Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, will also
hold the additional charge of the Deputy Excise and
Taxation Commissioner. |
‘Suspension
of ASI unjustified’ PANCHKULA, Nov 8 — Reacting to the burglary attempt in the residence of Mr Subhash Chopra, a property dealer residing in Sector 6 here, which left three members of the family injured, a former Director-General of Police, Haryana, Mr H.R. Swan, said that the Director-General of Police, Mr S.P.S. Rathore, had released information about the non-payment of salary to the servant which is being stated as the motive behind the crime, prematurely and without verification from family sources. He said that the suspension of ASI Balwant Rai without holding an inquiry and on the basis of the statement of Suresh Kumar, accused, that the former had failed to register his complaint, was unjustified. ''The DGP suspended a police personnel on the basis of the statement of a criminal without verification and without conducting an inquiry into the matter,'' he opined. He said that the suspension without basis would only demoralise the police force and that the matter should have been left to the Superintendent of Police. ''He has over-stepped his limit and sometimes such attempts boomerang. This might also result in a revolt by the personnel concerned. The SP is a responsible officer and should have carried out the inquiry before suspension orders were passed,'' he said at a press conference organised at the residence of the Chopras. He added that the public, on its part, needed to cooperate with the police and register their servants with police stations. Also, the police needed to do its duty with devotion. ''Cases are not being registered all over the state and this is leading to resentment among the masses. This is done with a view to presenting lower statistics to show the falling crime rate when it is actually rising,'' he explained. Mr Subhash Chopra
refuted the allegation of non-payment of salary levelled
by the former servant, Suresh Kumar. He added that the
accused was employed as domestic help at his residence
nearly three years ago and that he had put in only three
months of service before quitting the job on the pretext
of returning to his village. SP writes to PUDA on stray cattle SAS NAGAR, Nov 8 — The Superintendent of Police, SAS Nagar, Mr B.S.Randhawa, has written to the local municipal authorities, PUDA authorities and the Sub-divisional Magistrate (SDM) to control the menace of stray cattle in the town. An increase in the number of road accidents due to the stray cattle has been cited as the reason. Some other measures to
restrict accidents on roads in the town has also been
suggested by the local police chief. |
Riar's
election challenged CHANDIGARH, Nov 8 — Mr Gurcharan Singh Pallia, who heads one of the two factions of the local unit of Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), today challenged Mr Gurpartap Singh Riar to prove that he was the democratically elected President of the Chandigarh unit of the party or surrender. Mr Gurcharan Singh Pallia and other office-bearers of his faction were reacting to the statement that Mr Parkash Singh Badal, President of the Shiromani Akali Dal, had told a deputation of the other faction that the central leadership of the party recognised the democratically elected President and his unit which was of Mr Gurpartap Singh Riar. Mr Pallia and his
associates maintained that they had apprised the party
high command and the party President of the dictatorial,
rude, false, insulting and flimsy behaviour of Mr
Gurpartap Singh Riar who was unanimously removed from his
post on October 29. |
Vishvakarma
Day celebrated CHANDIGARH, Nov 8 — Religious enthusiasm marked the Vishvakarma Day celebrations in the city today. A large number of workers thronged various Vishvakarma temples since morning and paid obeisance there. Groups of workers could be seen worshipping their tools and the photos of Lord Vishvakarma in several markets of the city, including auto-markets. Mr Harbhajan Singh, a timber merchant, unfurled the flag at a function organised by the Sri Vishvakarma Mandir Sabha at the Vishvakarma Mandir on the Mansa Devi Road in Mani Majra. Community kitchen and religious programmes were other highlights of the function. Meanwhile, the Haryana Jangid Brahman Sabha has urged Haryana Chief Minister OP Chautala to set up an engineering college in the state after the name of Lord Vishvakarma. The demand was raised by the President of sabha, Mr Jai Bhagwan, while addressing a function organised in connection with Vishvakarma Day at the Bal Bhavan, Sector 23, here today. He said we should follow the cherished principles of Lord Vishvakarma, who gave technical knowledge to the world so that our country could progress. Students up to plus two class, who scored more than 80 per cent marks, were also honoured on the occasion. Vaid Rattan Dev Jangid, whose name has been included in the Guinness Book of World Records for backward walking, exhibited his performance. At a function in the Gurudwara Sri Vishvakarma Sabha, Sector 30-B, Mr Mohan Singh, head priest of the Gurudwara, and Mr Darshan Singh from the local Punjab Engineering College dwelled on the teachings of Lord Vishvakarma. Meanwhile, a former MP, Mr Satya Pal Jain,informed that for the convenience of labourers, a large shed near the Labour Chowk, Sector 44, would be completed by March next year. The shed, costing about Rs 7 lakh, was sanctioned by Mr Jain under the MPLAD Fund during his tenure in the 12th Lok Sabha. Addressing a gathering of labourers at the chowk, Mr Jain said provision of tea and food at the subsidised rates would be made in the shed which would provide cover to the labourers from sun and rain. Mr Jain alleged that certain officers were delaying the implementation of the projects sanctioned for the lower sections of society under his tenure. He hoped that the new MP, Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, would tighten his grip over the Chandigarh Administration and see to it that the projects were implemented at an early date. PANCHKULA Rich tributes were paid to Lord Vishvakarma at a function organised by the Labour Nirman Sangh in Sector 16 here today. The Deputy Chairman of the Planning Board, Haryana, Mr R. S. Chaudhary, was the chief guest. Over 500 persons took part in the hawan and puja, held as part of the function. A cultural programme was also held. The President of the Labour Nirman Sangh, Mr Jagdish Kashyap, presented a memorandum to the chief guest, demanding regularisation of the existing Vishvakarma temple in Sector 21, and a grant for it. Other demands of the Sangh included setting up of a " Rein- Basera" in the town for the migrant labour, free use of public toilets in the sectors, allotment of space for the office of the Sangh and recognition of the labour chowk in Sector 16. The Sangh has also urged the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) to issue identity cards to labourers of specialised trades. The President of the Sangh said the residents of labour colony here should be granted permanent electricity connection and adequate water arrangement should be made at the labour chowk. Mr Chaudhary,described
Lord Vishvakarma as "Dev Shilpi'', and the source of
all technical knowledge. He promised all possible help to
the labourers concerning their problems. |
PUDA's
contradictory orders SAS NAGAR, Nov 8 — An interesting case of the strange ways of functioning of the local Estate Office of the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) has come to light. The case regarding an unauthorised construction by a plot holder in Phase 3B 2 here came to light when his neighbour, Mr T.S. Chhabra, filed a case with the Punjab Human Rights Commission. The violator was issued a show-cause notice under the Punjab Urban Estates (Development and Regulation) Act, for raising the unauthorised structure in contravention of the Punjab Urban Estates (Development and Regulation) Rules, 1974. After failing to get any reply from the violator, the Estate Office again issued a 48-hour notice asking the violator to remove the construction on his own, failing which the same would be demolished by the Estate Office. Then in a reply filed with the commission in September, 1999, the Estate Office said the structures could not be demolished with a bulldozer and the same had to be done manually. But at the same time a
legal opinion says that as per the provision of the
Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act,
1995, the show-cause notice regarding demolition could
not be issued in view of Section 157 of the Act. Now PUDA
has initiated resumption proceedings under Section 45 of
the PUDA Act. Section 45 of the 1995 Act is regarding
resumption and forfeiture for a breach of the transfer. |
Government
relaxation on land use ZIRAKPUR, Nov 8 — Exercising powers under Section 11 of the Punjab New Capital (Periphery) Control Act,1952, the Punjab Government has allowed the use of land falling within the Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat's limits for residential, commercial and institutional purposes. The government, however, has made it clear that the sanction to construct any building would be subject to the conditions as laid down in the municipal bylaws. The sanction is without prejudice to action against the colonisers for violation of the Punjab Regulation of Colonies Act, 1975, the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation Act, 1995, and the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act, 1995. In a notification about the Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat, the government said the construction would be done in accordance with the municipal bylaws after getting the building plans approved from the civic body and shall not be in violation of any other Act or rule applicable in the area. Sanction has also been accorded to regularise constructions which have already taken place within Nagar Panchayat's area. The regularisation would be permitted by the panchayat after submission of the building plans and payment of fee that is applicable for the approval of building plans. This sanction is without prejudice to the right of the Nagar Panchayat or the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) to recover change of land use charges and development charges as and when notified by the government. Meanwhile, the Executive Officer of the Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat, Mr Amrit Lal Bansal, has directed the colonisers of the area to submit the building plans of their respective colonies. He has also directed them to leave 35 per cent area of the whole colony for green belts, the length of the main road within the colony should not be less than 60 feet, length of the link roads and internal roads should be 40 feet 30 feet, respectively. The colonisers should
submit a proper building plan to the Nagar Panchayat and
deposit the development charges and building application
fee. The panchayat will charge Rs 33 per square yard of
the plot area plus Rs 5 per square feet per floor as
development charges. Otherwise, they would not be given
the no objection certificates (NOCs), added Mr Bansal. |
Seminar on Gurdwara Act
amendments CHANDIGARH, Nov 8 — To deliberate on the issue of amendments to the Sikh Gurudwara Act, 1925, a seminar was organised by the Sikh Budhjivi Council here on Saturday. Two papers were read by Col S.S. Nishan, General Secretary of the council, and Mr Gurrattan Pal Singh, an advocate. Speaking on the occasion, Colonel Nishan said that ''Sehajdharis'' should be made voters. He, however, said provision of a ban on the construction of new gurdwaras and the process of oath ceremony of the new Akal Takht Jathedar mooted in the Act was against Sikh tenets. Prof Baldev Singh Baluana said the final right to decide about the amendments to the Act should be with the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and the latter should formulate a committee to look into the matter. Mr Ravi Inder Singh,
former Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, said the SGPC
had the right to decide the issue. Mr Harinder Singh
Khalsa, former Indian envoy to Norway, also spoke. |
SNIPPETS Tewari vice-chief of medical
society CHANDIGARH, Nov 8 — Mr Laxmikant Tewari, Medical Technologist at Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, has been elected Vice-President of the National Executive of the Society of Medical Radiation Technology of India. Mr Tewari has also been nominated the Joint Secretary of the Indian Association of Radiological Technologists (IART). He has been authorised to look after the activities of the north zone in consultation with the central association, Mr S.A. Wajid, General Secretary of the IART, said in a communication from Bangalore. PUTA welcomes payment of arrears CHANDIGARH, Nov 8 — The Panjab University Teachers Association (PUTA) has welcomed the release of arrears of wages that had been due for the past four years. While thanking the Panjab University and the Chandigarh Administration authorities, the President of PUTA, Prof P.P. Arya, said arrears were released just before Divali. He demanded that teachers of other universities and colleges should also be given their due arrears. Meanwhile, two major demands of career advancement scheme and a problem of ‘’ fixation’’ were yet to be resolved. The PUTA also decided to
contribute one day's basic salary towards the relief fund
for victims of the Orissa cyclone. Almost 250 teachers
had given their consent for the same, Prof Arya claimed. |
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