N E W S Friday, October 8, 1999 |
weather spotlight today's calendar |
Police
plan to check migrants CHANDIGARH, Oct 7 Legal action, including arrests, is in the offing for those migrants who do not get themselves registered with the city police within 30 days of arrival in Chandigarh. Taking a serious view of the large-scale influx of migrants to the city, prohibitory orders under Section 144 Cr P C are issued by the District Magistrate at periodic intervals. The persons engaged in services like plying of rickshaws, rehri, dhobi, cobblers or are offering their services on contract are legally bound to furnish their particulars to the nearest police station. This order states, in view of feedback from the department that there should be some check on the people visiting the city so that anti-social elements in the guise of job seekers may not pose a threat to citizens. Interrogation of criminals reveal that some of these or their accomplices are from among the migrant factions and those engaged in petty, non formal trades and services. Since a majority does not get itself registered, crime detection becomes very difficult. If such a situation is allowed to continue, there is apprehension of breach of peace and disturbance of public tranquillity. Any breach of the order invites action under Section 188 of the IPC, the recent order states. While there has been little action or follow-up of the order previously, the deteriorating law and order situation in the past few months has spurred the Administration and the police in doing something to control the situation. In this context and in an effort to keep a tab on the migrants who flock to the city for their livelihood, the Chandigarh Police has started a week-long special campaign during which labourers will be educated and urged to get themselves registered at their respective police stations. Those who flout the orders are liable to be arrested and could be imprisoned or fined or both imprisoned and fined. In a special drive today, a search operation in the labour colony number 4 and 5 was carried out. As many as 200 men of the local police besides the para-military forces jointly carried out the search during which more than 75 persons were rounded up for questioning. While 55 persons were rounded up from colony number 4, 20 persons were taken into custody from colony number 5. They were let off in the evening but the particulars of these migrants are being verified by the police from their counterparts from various states. The operation which began at noon carried on till 4.30 p.m. According to senior police officers, such operations would be a routine feature from now on. To further streamline the functioning of the police, the subdivisional magistrates (SDMs) will visit the police stations in their area accompanied by the SDPOs. They will also conduct surprise visits and recommend strict action against the erring officials. The administration has
also asked the Deputy Magistrate to do the needful in
this context. This has not been done to put any hurdles
in the functioning of the police but to make the force
more people-friendly and responsive to the problems of
the common man. |
Personal particular disclosure forms distributed The police has distributed more than 25, 000 personal particulars disclosure forms to the 11 police stations in the city for the convenience of the migrants who come forward for registration till October 15. The labourers need to bring two latest passport size photographs and approach either the NGO concerned or the beat staff. This staff has been instructed to be present between 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and help all those who present themselves to fill the forms and give a proper receipt. The complete details
will be computerised for future and would not only act as
a ready reckoner for crime prevention but will help the
police in keeping a tab on the activities of such people.
The campaign has been launched for one week only,
following which legal action under Section, 188 IPC, will
be taken against the defaulters, according to a statement
by the SSP. |
Changes in
IT assessment procedure CHANDIGARH, Oct 7 In a significant development, the Finance Act, 1999, has changed the income tax assessment procedure. According to a press note today, the acknowledgement issued to the tax payers at the time of filing the returns will now be deemed to be the intimation of the acceptance of the return. Separate intimations will only be sent in case there is short or excess payment of taxes. As per the new guidelines issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the returns for the detailed investigations are to be picked up only on the basis of credible information relating to tax evasion. To ensure proper application of mind at the time of selection, the decision is to be taken at a joint meeting of the assessing officers with their superior authorities. In order to bring transparency in the working of the department, a cut-off date of September 30,1999, was fixed for completing the selection process for the financial year 1999-2000. And for selecting any case of exceptional nature beyond the cut-off date, prior approval of the Chief Commissioner is to be obtained. In order to pre-empt any
misinformation, the press note informs that the selection
process for the financial year 1999-2000 was completed on
September 30 and intimations sent to all such tax payers
individually by the Range Additional Commissioners and
Joint Commissioners. The process for selection for the
next financial year will commence on April 1,2000. Rotary Club to honour honest cop CHANDIGARH, Oct 7 The Rotary Club Chandigarh Mid-Town will honour Head Constable Kanwar Pal Singh with the Rotary Vocational Award for his act of honesty and integrity in returning a bag containing Rs 12,000 and a passport to its owner. Mr Om Parkash, Chairman
of the Rotary Vocational Award Committee, said the cop
had brought good name to his department and had enhanced
the value of the police in the eyes of the common man. |
Pt
Chaurasia weaves magic CHANDIGARH, Oct 7 The backdrop of a temple amid a cluster of trees and soothing tunes of the flute were enough for most listeners to be transported out of this world into the times when Lord Krishna mesmerised 'gopis' with his flute. Who else than the flute maestro Hariprasad Chaurasia could weave such spell? The maestro, while performing at the Sector 24 Nehru Bhavan in 'Hemantotsav', a joint venture of the UT Adminstration and the Durga Das Foundation, was in a perfect mood. He enlivened the ambience with his "out of the world" performance and some tit-bits as well. The event took off with 'Raga Bhopali', also known as 'Raga Mohanam' in South India for the romance with which it captivates the gathering. For the next about 15 to 20 minutes, Chaurasia, most of the time performing solo, indeed captured the attentive gathering. The audience remained immersed in a sea of music created by him and Ustad Fyaaz Khan, who accompanied him on tabla. The spontaneity with which the maestro shuttled from 'tar saptaka' to 'mandra saptaka' and vice-versa bared all the finer layers of the raga before the audience. After this, it was the time for 'Raga Vachaspati', a South Indian raga which is also one of the popular genre known for its romantic ambience. It started on a soft 'alaap'. Gradually, the performance created a beautiful scene of river bank where it seemed a lover was playing the flute in a pensive mood, waiting for his beloved. The wait seemingly came to an end and the lovers embraced each other and danced together. The instruments of Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia and Ustad Fyaaz Ali effectively helped them create a perfect symphony and the scene. They complimented each other during the 'jugalbandi' presented towards the end of the raga. In the midst of the performance, Pandit Chaurasia regaled the gathering by cracking jokes. He said, "Lo mere saathi aa gaye," when a group of birds on nearby trees started chirping, perhaps, in response to his performance. The beautiful hills of
Chamba were unfolded by the maestro before the audience
through a 'pahari dhun'. If one closed one's eyes for a
moment, he would have found himself in a tiny village
where a 'gaddi' was playing flute. Mahavir Prasad
accompanied the maestro on his flute and gave a good
performance. |
Rail link
project delayed CHANDIGARH, Oct 7 The much-awaited direct train connection between Kalka and Mumbai is presently being delayed due to a train handling problem being faced by the railways at Mumbai. All modalities are in place and even the model code of conduct that was in force during the polls, has been lifted, according to sources. Senior railway officials have been working on the feasibility to directly connect Kalka with Mumbai, thus also linking Chandigarh with Mumbai. According to the present plan the railways plan to augment the Pashchim Express ( also known as the deluxe express) between Amritsar and Mumbai. For this, a link between Kalka and Ambala will be formed by running a link train hauled by a special locomotive. From Ambala these coaches will be connected with the Pashchim Express running between Amritsar and Mumbai. This train, on its upward and downward journey touches Ambala at 2:15 pm and 12:15 pm, respectively. The problem that is delaying this arrangement is the enhanced number of coaches that will prevent the Pashchim Express from berthing at its original destination, the Mumbai Central railway station. At present the train has 18 coaches, including AC first class, AC II tier, AC III tier and sleeper class. If another 6 coaches are added due to the link express, it will augment the train to 24 coaches. Now the Mumbai central railway station does not have a platform that can handle such a long train to enable easy embarking and disembarking of passengers. Only the Dadar railway station has the facility to handle a 24 coach train, sources said. These stations are so heavily crowded that changing the destination of the Pashchim Express would be difficult. The other option is to attach these special coaches with the Dadar Express between Amritsar and Mumbai. But this train is known to take much more time in reaching Mumbai than the Pashchim Express. The railway authorities are, therefore, reluctant to link Chandigarh to Mumbai through the Dadar Express, a source said. A special train for the summer holidays was operational between Kalka and Mumbai Central on four days a week. But it is not a long train to berth at Mumbai Central. To operate this the railways utilised four of its rakes to service the sector. Besides, getting a path for the train on the already crowded Delhi-Mumbai section or still the Ambala-Delhi section will be the next step. A new washing-cum-terminal that can handle 24 coaches is coming up in Chandigarh. At the moment Kalka, where facilities exist cannot handle 24 coaches. Further expansion is also not possible at Kalka due to paucity of space. Besides, running a 24-coach train till Kalka would require 2 engines due to steep gradient. Meanwhile, the Haryana
Urban Development Authority (HUDA) has offered the
railways a place in market of Sector 8 in Panchkula to
set up a railway reservation counter in the township. The
place will be on lease and a final agreement between the
two parties is to be signed in the coming days. |
Panel on
workers' wages recast CHANDIGARH, Oct 7 The Chandigarh Administration has reconstituted the advisory board for the purpose for advising the administration on the matters of fixing and revising minimum wages of workers. While the Home Secretary will be its chairman, the local MP, the UT Chief Engineer and the Labour Commissioner will be its independent members. Mr V.P. Vadhera, general secretary of the Hind Mazdoor Sabha, Mr Devi Dayal Sharma, general secretary of AITUC, Mr Janak Raj Khillan, general secretary of INTUC, and Mr Inderjit Singh of CITU will be the representatives of the employees. Mr Ravinder Uppal,
president of the Industries Association of Chandigarh, Mr
Inder Lal Batra, president of the Chandigarh Beopar
Mandal, Mr Rajeev Gupta, general secretary of the
Federation of Small Scale Industries, and the president
of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Northern India
have been appointed employers' representatives. |
Tremendous
courage and professionalism CHANDIGARH, Oct 7 Flushing out the Pakistani intruders from Kargil was perhaps the first time in the history of military aviation that air power was employed in a treacherous and inhospitable terrain at such high altitude within our own territory. The Indian Air Force, which is all set to enter the new millennium, accomplished both its mission, air defence of the borders as well as air maintenance of its troops, with brilliance and total professionalism. Now when the Kargil operation is history, the Indian Air Force will have the tough task of air maintenance of its troops not only at the highest battlefield of the world at Siachen, but also at Kargil. With the new task on hand with winter about to set in leading to closure of road routes to Kargil, the transport fleet of the IAF will be fully extended in the coming winters in maintaining troops on-the-line; the thousands of men and officers of the Army serving in the inhospitable Kargil sector. The transport fleet, including IL-76 and AN-32, has its new task marked out. Initial recce of identifying new drop zones (DZs) is almost complete. A new air strip, somewhere in Kargil, is on the anvil. The existing strip at Leh may perhaps not meet the "security parameters" though an overlooking hill feature provides it "protective cover". With the road route remaining closed throughout winter, it is a Herculean task to maintain this second highest battlefield of the world after Siachen. If one looks at the tasks the IAF performed during the Kargil operations, one has to admire the tremendous courage and professionalism with which the men and machines worked in tandem to give the nation a splendid triumph. For example, the Himalayan Eagles, a composite squadron of IL-76s and AN-32s, had more than 1,400 hours of flying during the two-month long operation. Deployment of air defence, air lifting of troops, evacuation of casualties besides other tasks were achieved in round-the-clock operations. The troops were airlifted from far off places and taken to Leh for further deployment in the Kargil sector. In addition to air maintenance of the northern sector, including the Siachen glacier, the squadron enhanced the serviceability of its aircraft. This high state of serviceability and operational capability of the entire crew which helped in non-stop operations starting as early as three in the morning with aircraft landing at forward bases well before sunrise not only got the squadron the well deserved "Best Transport Squadron of the IAF" award but also other honours, including some gallantry awards. The Commanding Officer of the Squadron, Group Captain S.P. Singh, got VM. Wg Cdr S.R.K. Nair, the Flight Commander of IL-76, and Wg Cdr S.P. Vidhans, Flight Commander of AN-32s, got Mention in Despatches. The Commanding Officer of the squadron, himself, did a lot of flying during the operations. Starting with fighters, he feels that the experience of flying transport aircraft is more "satisfying" as it involves more "constructive work". Group Captain S.P. Singh, who has already logged more than 6,000 hours of flying, including 2,000 hours on AN-32s, has flown 12 different aircraft of the IAF. An equally important role was played by the Camels with their medium capacity , multipurpose AN-32 aircraft. Entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining the lifeline of not only the Army in the treacherous highest battlefield of the world, the Camels also look after the Border Road Organisation, Border Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police as a part of of its air maintenance operations. With an average flying of 600 hours a month, says its Commanding Officer, Group Captain M.K. Devnath, the squadron is now all set to get its battle honours. During the Kargil operations, it flew men, weapons, troops and machinery by touching Srinagar, Avanthipur, Udhampur, Pathankot, Halwara and Adampur air bases. Besides, the squadron was also involved in the evacuation of the injured from Thoise and Leh. "Our main task includes air dropping in the Siachen glacier. The air drops needs absolute accuracy and precision. The hills and terrain in the area air maintained by us is very dangerous allowing little manouvreability. Since we carry out operations at high altitude, the load to be carried has to be accurate as it is an onerous task to maintain controls at such heights. It needs high degree of skills and concentration to operate in that area," says Wg Cdr A.K. Shukla, Flight Commander of the squadron. Clouding is a major factor as it continuously plays hide and seek with the aircraft. The aircraft operates at its outer limits of performance at Siachen glacier. Against a normal carrying capacity of more than five tonnes, AN-32s normally carry around 3.5 tonnes while on missions to Leh, Thoise or air droppings in the Siachen glacier. The carrying capacity is lowered as the aircraft must carry sufficient of fuel to be able to land back at base in case of any eventuality, including packing up of weather at the destination. Specially designed for air maintenance operations in the north by the Russians for India, this aircraft has done tremendously well. In fact it is a multipurpose aircraft and has been successfully used in RTR, ferrying of troops and passengers, air maintenance, bombing, para trooping, formation flying and other tasks. In recognition of the
good work done during the Kargil operations, Wg Cdr A.K.
Shukla has got the Chief of Air Staff Commendation while
Flt Lt K.S. Lamba was Mentioned in Despatches for
excellent work. So far, the squadron has 57 honours and
awards to its credit. |
A job well
done by Ankush squadron CHANDIGARH, Oct 7 Indian fighter aircraft with their lethal firepower and tactical superiority were requisitioned to play a major role during Operation Vijay.The role assigned was accomplished with total professionalism. Involved in the air defence operations was Ankush, one of the three squadrons of the IAF, which had graduated to the third generation MiG 21 bis aircraft in 1976. This multi- role air superiority ground attack has greatly improved avionics, new generation radar, a wider and deeper dorsal fairing and generally improved construction standards. The MiG 21 bis was intended to provide the prime air defence mantle. All three squadrons which got them that year were previously using Gnat. Ankush was deployed at Srinagar during Operation Vijay and had more than 50 sorties for securing the frontiers along the border. "The task was done as expected of us," says Wg Cdr S. Malhotra, Commanding Officer of the Squadron. The deployment of MiG 21s at Srinagar continued from first week of May till the end of July. After the operations in Srinagar, the entire contingent was sent elsewhere where it was required. In fact, Ankush was deployed much before others. Raised on October 16,1965, at Ambala with Gnat Mk aircraft, the squadron has come a long way. The history has been beautifully revealed in a small but impressive museum of the squadron at its present base, where it has remained stationed since 1988. When MiG 21 bis arrived, the Commanding Officer was none other than Wg Cdr D.N. Rathore, who retired in 1997 as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Air Command, and Commodore Commandant of the squadron. Incidentally, Air Marshal Rathore has settled in Chandigarh after retirement. And when the Ankush museum was inaugurated some years ago, the present Commanding Officer was then the Flight Commander and was instrumental in its setting up. The squadron is among the front runners for the upgradation of its aircraft as the work on refurbishing avionics is expected to begin next year. Exorbitant cost of replacing this trusted war horse may not be economically advisable. After breaking up of the Soviet empire, the IAF had been facing problem of spares. The shortage of spares, however, has not been allowed to come in the way of total preparedness of not only fighter squadrons but also of transport squadrons.The Chandigarh Air Force station has been unique because that it has a mix of not only heavy lift and tactical lift squadrons and a number of fighting squadrons but also has a base repair depot which has made a tremendous progress in indigenising manufacture of much needed spares to save the country substantial foreign exchange. This makes Chandigarh the only base of its type in the country. Besides variety in aircraft and services, it provides a great opportunity for fliers and technicians to interact with each other. Fliers of other fighter
squadrons perhaps may not have this type of opportunity. |
Powerful
transport chopper CHANDIGARH, Oct 7 If the IL-76 and AN-32 aircraft accomplished the task of air maintenance in Operation Vijay well, the MI-26 helicopters of the Indian Air Force were not far behind in sharing their responsibility of transporting tonnes of war equipment to the northern sector. This massive chopper had remained in news because of its prolonged absence from operations due to delays in servicing a couple of years ago. In fact, the CAG report made several observations about the "operational readiness of this machine which has massive operating costs". The operational cost of this largest helicopter comes to a whopping Rs 12 lakh an hour against Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2 lakh an hour of an AN-32 aircraft. The aircraft is equipped with the latest avionics, besides closed-circuit television. Back in operation early this year, these heavy lift choppers did a quiet and splendid job in Operation Vijay. Contrary to their name, the Featherweights as they are called in defence parlance, these helicopters flew at nights carrying heavy war machinery to various locations in the northern sector during the Kargil operation. Inducted into the IAF in mid-80s, with a squadron strength of four helicopters as the initial contract stipulated for the supply of 10 of these heaviest rotor-wing machines with a subsequent delivery of another 10 helicopters. Right from beginning, the Featherweights had taken more special operations than the usual air maintenance or logistic support operations. With tremendous lift capability and power, this aircraft can carry up to 20 tonnes of load as under carriage or up to five tonnes at high altitudes. With the maximum cruising speed of 1920 kmph, it can fly at a stretch for eight hours. The Mi-26 has already flown across the Arabian sea from Muscat to Jamnagar in six hours early this year. These choppers have also been taking long trips to Russia and other CIS nations to fly military supplies. This helicopter has the capacity to carry 60 lying down casualties on stretchers with four medical attendants. It can also carry 82 fully equipped troops. Now when Operation Vijay is over, the Featherweights have been asked to transport some heavy machinery, including bulldozers and other equipment to the Kargil sector. |
Diesel
price hike draws flak CHANDIGARH, Oct 7 The decision of the Central Government to hike the price of diesel has drawn flak from different quarters in the city. A majority of the residents told TNS today that the massive hike of 35 per cent would fuel inflation and push up the prices which would ultimately be passed on to the consumers. The President of the Chandigarh Transporters Association, Mr Krishan Abrol, while terming the decision as "wrong", was of the view that such a massive hike in one go would deal a severe blow to the transport sector. There was a slump in the market and the parties were already showing less enthusiasm in booking trucks to big cities like Delhi and Mumbai. Saying that ultimately the consumer will have to bear the brunt of the cascading effect of the hike in the diesel prices, he demanded the rolling back of the price in the interest of the common man. Expressing almost similar sentiments, another transporter and President of the Tenant Transporters Welfare Association, Mr Subhash Chawla, informed that with the hike in the price of diesel, one trip to a city like Mumbai would now cost Rs 10,000 to Rs 14,000 more and instead of adding to the revenue of the government, the hike would hit the middle and lower classes badly. Instead of raising the price of diesel, the government could have though of other economy measures. The hike was uncalled for as the government only revised the prices in April this year, he added. Mr A.K. Sachdeva, a trader, saw no rationale in a 35 per cent hike, arguing that the prices of essential commodities were already high. As the transport sector played a major role our economy, the hike would result in "inflationary tendencies". A housewife, Ms Puja Bansal, while demanding the withdrawal of the hike, alleged that since the formation of the BJP-led government at the Centre, the prices of essential commodities had gone up substantially. Any hike in the price of diesel prior to the festival season was bound to play havoc with domestic budgets, she pointed out. Since the increase in the price of diesel had a direct bearing on the prices of all commodities, including essential commodities, the government should have thought of other measures to raise resources. However, Dr Manoj Sharma, Reader in the University Business School, Panjab University, justified the hike saying that it was "overdue" in order to ease pressure on the oil pool deficit. Though in the short-term it might pinch certain sections of society, in the long run it would control inflation, he argued. In the current scenario,
where market forces were at play, the hike could prove to
be beneficial as curtailing the subsidies was the
buzzword now. The government had no other option except
to raise the price of diesel since the burgeoning oil
pool deficit could have serious consequences in the
context of rising international prices, he added. |
Liquor
sold on dry days DERA BASSI, Oct 7 In spite of the order of the Deputy commissioner of Patiala to close liquor shops on October 6 and 7, such shops in this subdivision did brisk business through their rear doors or by keeping the shutters half-closed. The shops were ordered to be closed to avoid any untoward incident during the counting of votes for the Lok Sabha elections. Liquor shops in Bhabhat and Zirakpur villages on the main road kept their shutters partly closed and sold liquor openly. Cases of liquor sold by these shops were carried in rickshaws. A liquor shop on the Zirakpur-Patiala road here also remained open. The same was the situation in Mubarikpur. With shutters half-closed, salesmen sat on cots in front of the shop and sold liquor. Though the liquor shops on the main road in Dera Bassi remained closed till noon, these were opened in the afternoon. Liquor shops in Lalru also did business. The authorities of the
Excise and Taxation department were not available for
comments. |
SNIPPETS Immunisation workshop tomorrow DERA BASSI, Oct 7 In collaboration with the Health Department of Punjab, Rotary Club and Rotract Club, Dera Bassi, will organise a workshop on intensive pulse polio immunisation on October 9. A block-level Panchayat Sammelan will be held the same day. According to a press note issued by Mr Bhupinder Singh Saini, President of Rotary Club, Dera Bassi, children of slum-dwellers, factory workers and those who work in brick kilns will be vaccinated during the drive. Captain Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister, Punjab, will be the chief guest while Dr Rameshwar Chander will be the guest of honour. Dr Karan Vir Singh of the World Health Organisation, the project officer, will show slides relating to pulse polio. Programmes for rural women CHANDIGARH, Oct 7 The Chandigarh Social Welfare Advisory Board will start income generation programmes for rural women and provide financial assistance for the project after it has been identified by a mahila mandal. A decision to this effect was taken after a delegation of Mahila Mandal of Hallomajra called on Mrs Kamla Sharma, Chairperson of the Board, at her office today. It was also decided that the Board would take up awareness generation campaigns in cooperation with the Mahila Mandals so that the marginalised group of the area could be brought to the mainstream. It was also decided that the vocational training programme be also taken up in the area for the benefit of the adolescent girls. War memorial inaugurated CHANDIGARH, Oct 7 A war memorial, Vijay Smarak, of soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in the 1971 war, was inaugurated by Lieut-Gen G.S. Sihota, GOC-in-C of the 2 Corps, at Ambala cantonment today. The General placed a wreath at the memorial which was accompanied by the Rouse and the Last Post. Officers of various formations under the corps took part in the ceremony. Constructed adjacent to Kharga Stadium, it is a granite and marble structure, superimposed by the Kharga in a glass case, testimony to the valour of the war heroes who laid down their lives for the motherland. The event also coincided with the 28th anniversary celebrations of 2 Corps which was raised at Kishan Nagar in West Bengal in October 1971. Its forces were actively involved in the liberation of Bangladesh. A large number of serving and retired officers also attended various functions organised on the eve of the celebrations. Painting exhibition from tomorrow CHANDIGARH, Oct 7 A four-day exhibition of paintings will be organised by the Bama Academy of Fine Art, Panchkula. Around 28 artists of the academy will participate in the show, Mr Ram Kumar Sharma, in charge of the academy, said. The exhibition will be inaugurated by Mr N.K. Jain, Home Secretary, Chandigarh, at the Government Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10, on Saturday. A total of 90 works in
different media by artists of all age groups from 14 to
55 will be displayed. |
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