The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

Official tortured for ‘knowing misdeeds of top UT officers’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 18 — Mrs Anurag Goel, wife of Mr K.B. Goel, a Superintendent with the Chandigarh Administration, has filed a complaint with the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission against the torture of her husband by the local police.

The complaint filed in the form of an affidavit alleged that her husband “knew certain misdeeds of the top UT officers,” of the Administration. These officers first allegedly issued threats to him, but when he did not bow to these threats, a false and frivolous complaint was filed against him by Baljit Singh who was not known to Mr Goel. She attached a copy of the complaint which was filed against Mr Goel with the Administration. Later, he was issued a memorandum (No 1341-H-III(2)-2000/2331) dated February 9, asking him to submit his reply by February 14.

The hand-written complaint says that Mr Goel filed a reply to the complaint duly supported by his affidavit. Fearing that he may be booked in some false case, he moved an application for the grant of anticipatory bail before the Sessions Court on February 14. The court stayed his arrest. On February 21, the Administration submitted before the court that it had already referred the complaint to the CBI. And when the CBI was issued notice, its counsel told the court that it had received three complaints against him. One of these complaints was anonymous. This complaint had to be filed pursuant to the directions of the court.

As and when the CBI summoned her husband for investigation, he appeared before the investigating officer. Since the complaints were false and nothing came out of them, the CBI could not register any case against Mr Goel.

The complaint alleged that when the Administration did not succeed in its motive by referring the matter to the CBI, the Adviser to the Administration “directed the UT Vigilance Cell to involve my husband in some false and frivolous case. The Inspector of the Vigilance Department, Mr Gurdial Singh, directed Mr Goel to appear before the Vigilance Cell at 10.45 a.m. on March 14 positively in connection with some secret enquiry”.

Since “my husband was innocent, he went to the Vigilance Cell without any fear at the appointed time. First, my husband was interrogated by the Inspector Vigilance and later taken to the SSP Vigilance who further interrogated him and threatened him of dire consequences if he did not admit the false allegations”.

The complaint alleged that Mr Goel was again summoned by the Vigilance Cell in the evening “at the behest of the Adviser. He revealed to me that electric shocks were given to him in the presence of the SSP in a dark room after stripping him naked. The SSP later told him that he would be done to death if he did not admit false allegations. The SSP then went to the Adviser and returned with the SDM, Mr Ashish Kundra. My husband was directed to read out confessional statements which were supplied to him in writing. The voice of my husband was tape-recorded and the SDM recorded that statement in his own handwriting. Then my husband was asked to sign it”.

He was let off the next morning with the direction that he would “not disclose this incident to anybody”.

In the evening a few policemen, including a Havildar, came to their house, said Mrs Goel. They pitched a tent near their house and two cops sat inside their house.

Notwithstanding the grant of anticipatory bail, said Mrs Goel, her husband “is unable to come home for the fear of police. We are constantly harassed by the Chandigarh Police and I do not know the whereabouts of my husband”.

She prayed that her family should be given protection and save her husband from the torture and illegal detention of her husband.

Local buses in Mohali proposed
By Rajmeet Singh
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, March 18 — On public demand, the state transport authorities have mooted a proposal to run a local bus service in the town and the rural area of the SAS Nagar subdivision. As in other parts of Punjab, the route permits will be given to private individuals.

As per a route of the bus service drawn up by the district transport authorities, the buses will begin from and stop at the main bus stand in Phase VIII here after covering about 26 km. The buses plying on the proposed route will cover 8 km in the town and then travel on the SAS Nagar-Kharar and the Kharar - Landhran roads before turning towards the local bus stand.

The stop planned en route are the local Industrial area, Balongi, Daun Majra, Mundi Kharar, Kharar, Santa Majra, Landhran, Lakhnour and Sohana. Sources in the department said a survey report on the proposed stop planned and viability of running the service had been sent to the higher authorities through the Regional Transport Authority, in Patiala.

At least two route permits for the clockwise and anti clockwise bus service had been recommended by the district transport authorities. Details of the time table of the proposed bus service and fares were yet to be fixed.

Sources said that this shuttle bus service would benefit the local residents and persons visiting the town. The long distance buses of Punjab Roadways plying from Chandigarh to different destinations in Punjab, did’t touch the local bus stand in spite of the instructions by the state transport authorities.

Chandigarh bound buses drop local passengers on the Chandigarh-Kharar road, which forces them to pay exorbitant fare to hire pollution billowing autorickshaws to reach their destinations. To go from one to the other corner of the town, residents had to depend on the bus service being run by the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking.

The proposed bus service, said an official of the Transport Department, would benefit residents of the Peripheral villages of the town who had to visit the government offices .

The State Transport Commissioner, Mr Kulbir Singh, said the department, acting on the instructions of the Chief Minister to link villages with subdivisional and district headquarters, had started to grant route permits for local bus service in different districts. A survey to ascertain the local route permits in different districts had been conducted in coordination with the district transport authorities.

He said six permits for three local bus service routes had already been granted in Patiala.

PU Syndicate defers appointments
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 18 — The Panjab University Syndicate deferred any decision on all appointments placed on the floor of the House today.

The appointments included categories of both the teaching and the non-teaching staff. Mr K.A.P. Sinha, Joint Finance Secretary, said that there was no dissent in the Finance Board of the university when the decision to ban new recruitment was taken a few days ago.

The departments of appointment cases included those of bio-physics, English, Sanskrit and bio-technology, among others. One important case referred to an assistant registrar being proposed.

Dr Ram Prakash, Ms Sneh Mahajan, Dr R.D. Anand, Dr I.M. Govil and Mr Kehar Singh defended the decision of the Finance Board. Mr Gopal Krishan Chatrath, Dr Raghuvir Singh and Mr Satish Kumar, however, wanted immediate appointments .

This means that no appointments will be cleared till July.

Prof Charanjit Chawla in the zero hour referred to a problem of students in the forthcoming examination. A front of teachers, principals and non-teaching staff has declared a boycott in case their demands were not met. The university lost 25 days in the last session on this account. Dr Deepak Manmohan, Mr Chatrath and Dr Anand also favoured the university making an immediate communication with all quarters in this regard.

The Syndicate cleared the budget of the Finance Board cleared at its meeting on March 13. Significant changes have been made in the original budget plan submitted to the board.

The issue of the Pension Regulation Committee was also cleared. Dr Chawla, Dr Anand, Mr Chatrath and Mr Satish Kumar spoke on the issue. It was recommended that Rs 20 crore be drawn from the fund for higher education and kept in the corpus as the guarantee money. The pension cut off date is April 1, 1992.

The Syndicate also cleared proposals on the Lala Lajpat Rai Study Centre. Stress was laid on increasing work on the Lala’s work, philosophy and thought. The Chemistry Department building was named Guru Dutt Vidyarthi Hall while Arts Block I was named Shahid Udham Singh block.

Dr Ram Prakash brought a surprise in his bag. He carried a tape-recorder, requesting the House head to allow him to record his statements. The final recordings were often distorted. The request was disallowed. However, the House was assured that greater care would be taken in recording the proceedings.

The House cleared the proposals on the Ramesh Chandra Foundation and the Puri Foundation. The Puri Foundation had featured earlier in the Syndicate where it was cleared. However, the Senate rejected it. The new proposal says that no deed be done in the case.

The House also deliberated the issue of UGC guidelines on appointment of principals. Dr Anand said that the authorities had given suitable replies to his letter on use of funds. He had mentioned fund tampering.

Earlier, deliberations were held on the enhancement of fee. Dr Raghuvir Singh said the university should go ahead with the plan to enhance fee. This was opposed by Dr Chawla.

Coins fail to bring ring in public phones
By Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 18 — Anxious hands desperately bang the telephone as the mean grey machine guzzles the coin but refuses to react. Frantically replacing the hand-set, the harried commuter rushes out of the platform. He screams into the mouth-piece after feeding the hungry machine opposite the ticket counter. The voice still refuses to reach across.

Despite the Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum’s observation that the Telecom Department is expected to ensure proper functioning of the Coin-Collecting Box Public Call Offices, so many of them in the city are lying dead and others are missing.

A random survey reveals that coin-operated telephones at the Sector 32 Government Medical College and Hospital emergency, the Inter-State Bus Terminus, the Sector 17 plaza, the railway station, the Sector 16 General Hospital and the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, are either missing or declared dead by harassed residents.

Officials claim the faults are rectified whenever there is a complaint. Authorities also blame PCO owners at some places for deliberately damaging the equipment. The Department of Telecommunications rules make it mandatory for the sectional line staff to inspect unattended coin box public call offices everyday and to maintain records.

The department insists that regular, if not daily, checks are conducted. “The complaints are attended to whenever we are informed,” says Principal General Manager Telecom, Mr Prithipal Singh.

Claiming the problem to be social, he asserts, “we repair the phones today and these are damaged the next day by STD booth owners. Anyway, soon we are expecting new type of machines.”

Earlier, disposing of a complaint filed by advocate Pankaj Chandgothia, the forum had observed: “Though there can be a number of causes resulting in the accrual of some defects in the working of CCB PCO telephones, the department is expected to ensure their proper functioning by periodical checks as far as possible, as per the rules.”

The forum, comprising its President, Dr H.C. Modi, and members, Dr. R.K. Behl and Ms Shashi Kanta, had added: “Efficiency is expected from the department and not deficiency in such services in the public interest.”

Meanwhile, coined to make money is how residents describe the machines. In the Sector 32 hospital emergency, two telephone enclosures are vacant. The machines have been removed. In the third, an age-old set is carelessly placed over a run-down, dilapidated phone.

Things are no better at the Inter-State Bus Terminus. Outside the Haryana Roadways bus enquiry, a blank wall stares at you. There are no phones. Wires have been pulled out, and the handset is missing in another. At the railway reservation centre, you shout and scream after dropping the coin, but the call remains unconnected.

This is not all. At the General Hospital, the push button dial has been punched in. Same is the condition of the telephone at PGI reception. Even at the railway station, the phones do not work. The only functional telephones are the ones at girls’ hostels — Sarojni Hall, Kasturba Hall and Mata Gujri Hall — in Panjab University.

Day of courage and disappointments
By Arvind Katyal

CHANDIGARH, March 18 — It was a day of courage for many and disappointments for a few, enroute the SJOBA Thunderbolt 2000 rally, conducted by St John's Old Boys Association, in which 41 participants covered 276 km (competitive 81 km) in the Sub-Himalayan region.

The rallyists took part in seven jeeps, seven cars, 22 in motorcycles and five scooters. The rally was flagged off by Mr Parag Jain, SSP, Chandigarh, from Sector 26. The rally took the competitive stretch at Chakki ka Mor. Intermittent rain last night had made some points slippery.

The lone female entrant, Kavita Parthi, who drove a Hero Honda, had a breakdown between Gaura and Chail but this did not deter her. She took a bike from a roadside mechanic, began her journey and finished the first leg at Chail. She skidded down on the road near Dharampur but drove her changed mobike and reached the venue.

The first participant to reach Chail was Rai Sodhi in his black Gypsy, nine minutes behind scheduled time, at the end of first leg. Among cars, the defending champion in jeep category was the first to reach Chail in his Esteem. The first rider to cross the first leg was Harbinder Aulakh on a Yamaha. The first to finish the rally in jeep category was Rai Sodhi. In cars' category, Sandeep Sharma and Sunny in an Esteem finished first.

The Maruti 800 driven by Rajan Gulati and Ranjit had problem four km before the finish line. They were seen getting the help from another four-wheeler, which towed their car till the finishing line.

The vehicle of the students of Punjab Engineering College, Harpreet Singh Khaira and Saravjeet Singh Virk, rolled over near the Gaura-Chail section. They were helped by one of the vehicles and attended upon by doctors. Later they finished the rally.

Regarding the poor response in scooter and car categories, one of the organisers said as they had decided to adopt stringent safety measures, participants were less. This year, cash prizes had been increased by Rs 25,000. According to Mr Y. Saboo, President of the SJOBA, final results will be declared on March 22.

COMMUNITY

Protest against beating up of villager
From Our Correspondent

PANCHKULA, March 18 — Over a hundred residents of Maheshpur village in Sector 21 blocked traffic on the Ambala-Shimla Highway for almost half an hour in the morning today.

The villagers were agitating against the alleged brutality by the local police on one of the residents of the village yesterday. Men, women and children of the village, reportedly belonging to the scheduled caste, raised slogans against the misuse of power by the local police and demanded the suspension of certain police personnel deployed in the police station of Sector 21. They also demanded registration of an FIR against the accused.

A large number of armed police personnel were present to prevent escalation of tension. The flow of traffic was resumed after the intervention of Mr Subh Ram Vashist, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Panchkula. The SDM assured them of prompt action against the culprits, following which they peacefully demonstrated by sitting on a dharna.

Revealing the incident, Mr Harbhagwan said the local police rounded him up from his house at around 8:30 pm yesterday without telling the reason.

He alleged that he was taken to a house, where the police and other persons named in the complaint, stripped him and brutally beat him. "I was then taken to the police station in Sector 21, where I was stripped again and beaten up by the police," he added.

Over a hundred residents of the village started demonstrating outside the police station at around midnight yesterday, after Harbhagwan did not return home.

Sources said the Superintendent of Police, Panchkula, Mr Sudhir Chaudhary, had to intervene at night to get Harbhagwan's medical examination conducted.

Sources added that the scuffle started yesterday evening, when Harbhagwan tried to congratulate one of the members of the party which was declared victorious in the recently concluded panchayat elections. There were heated arguments between the two, which reportedly blew out of proportion and resulted in the police rounding up Harbhagwan.

The SP said the matter was being investigated and strict action would be taken against the culprits.

Holiday-makers rush to hills
From Our Correspondent

PARWANOO, March 18 — Four consecutive holiday in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi on account of festivals has turned out to be a boon for the tourism industry.

Many people in these states, by adjusting their casual leaves, have extended these holidays to ten days. Hotels are packed to capacity in Parwanoo, Kasauli and Shimla. Normally the rush of tourists starts around the first week of May but due to these holidays, the season has started earlier.

Kalka Railway Station also witnessed a heavy rush of tourists, who started arriving from Thursday morning.

All trains to Shimla are running full to capacity. Taxi operators and dhabas on the Kalka — Shimla National Highway are having a brisk business.

One of the taxi operators said this sudden rush of tourists had given them good business, which they used to get in April-May.

Families could be seen on the highway, choosing good picnic spots. Persons were also seen dancing and drinking on the roadside.

One of tourists said a reason for the rush of tourists was that examinations of children of lower classes were over. He added that such a long vacation on account of festivals was also there about two years back.

On the other hand, the industries at Parwanoo, Baddi and Barotiwala felt that these holidays had affected the industry. One of the industrialists said March was a critical month as due to year-ending, they had to complete all pending orders and they could not bear one day’s loss.

Be ready for challenges: Malik
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 18 — The Chief of the Army Staff, General V.P. Malik, has called for a high level of operational readiness to face the challenges from across the border.

He was addressing station officers in Chandi Mandir today. He said adequate measures had been taken to deal with transborder terrorism and expressed confidence that it would be brought under control soon.

The General called upon the officers to train their units hard as an adversary could raise the tempo of activities from across the Line of Control during the coming months. He also expressed the need for greater coordination between the three services at all levels, which was very crucial for winning a war.

He said that steps were being taken for the welfare of both serving and retired army personnel. The disparities in the Fifth Pay Commission report had been referred to the government to correct imbalances, if any.

Referring to the shortage of officers, General Malik said that the problem was being tackled by increasing the capacity of training academies as well as temporarily cutting short the training period. A large number of youths were willing to join the Army and with these measures, the shortage would be overcome.

The General left for Delhi in the afternoon.

Art of Living course concludes
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 18 — A special basic course in Art of Living for senior citizens, social workers, reformers and media personnel organised jointly by the Servants of the People Society and the Art of Living Foundation concluded at the Sector 15 Lajpat Rai Bhavan today. In all, 125 persons attended the four-day camp. Participants shared their experiences to make a stress free, vibrant and healthy society.

According to Ms Shashi Gulati, spokesperson of the foundation, the founder of the body, Ravishankar will visit Chandigarh on March 22. She said programmes of health, hygiene, harmony, human values and homes for the homeless, initiated by the founder had been taken to 40 villages in Himachal Pradesh and Haryana.

She also said a divya satsang programme was to be held on March 22.

CRIME

One killed by truck
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 18 — A city resident was killed after he was hit by a speeding truck in Industrial Area .

According to police sources, Roshan Mohammad of Mauli Jagran was hit by a truck, (HIA 6316), driven by Sunil Kumar, of Barotiwala. He was rushed to the Sector 32 General Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The police has registered a case under Sections 279 and 304-A of the IPC.

Stolen items seized: The police arrested Akbar Khan, of Gazipur in Uttar Pradesh, and seized a television and a generator, which had been stolen from a petrol pump in Sector 28, from his possession. A case under Section 411 of the IPC, has been registered.

Cycle thief held: The police arrested Narinder of Sector 40 and seized two cycles from his possession which had been lifted from the Badheri village market. Cases under Section and 379 \ 411 of the IPC has been registered.

Eve-teaser arrested: The police arrested Sanjay, of Indira Colony, for eve-teasing, from Mani Majra. A case under Section 294 of the IPC has been registered .

Scooter stolen: Mr Arnesh, of Sector 20, reported that someone had stolen his scooter, (CHJ 3864), from the market of the sector. A case under Section 379 of the IPC has been registered.

Nine persons nabbed: The police arrested nine persons for committing various offences. Two persons were taken into custody for moving under suspicious circumstances, while seven were arrested for creating nuisance while under the influence of liquor.

SAS NAGAR

In-laws booked: The Sohana Police registered a case under Sections 406 and 498-A of the IPC against the in-laws of a woman of Jagatpura village for harassing her to bring dowry.

According to the information available, ever since Maninder Kaur was married to Balbir Singh of Karkour village in Dera Bassi, she was harassed to bring dowry. At least Rs 20,000 was given on different occasions but the harassment continued.

Police inaction: The complainant in a case of cheating and fraud, registered a month ago by the police at Nayagaon, lamented that the police had failed to arrest the four suspects for transferring a plot at Karoran village in their name.

The suspects, Surinderanidra, Devinder and Bhaj Singh, — all residents of Nayagaon and Narata Singh, of Dhanas, had been booked under Sections 420, 467, 471, 506 and 120-B of the IPC on a complaint filed by Mr Sarabjit Singh.

The complainant said an anticipatory bail application moved by the suspects in the court of the Session Judge, Ropar, Mr Maghar Khan, on Friday had been rejected, but the police had failed to arrest them.

Investors duped of Rs 50 lakh
From Our Correspondent

KHARAR, March 18 — The local police has registered a case against Chairman and some local employees of Incane Mutual Benefits Ltd, Kharar branch, on the charge of cheating local investors to the tune of Rs 50 lakh.

According to a copy of the FIR received today, a complaint was lodged with the police by an investor, Mr Mohinder Singh, saying that in this branch, Jaswinder Kaur was the Manager, Chattar Pal was the cashier and Darshan Singh, Devinder Singh and Prem Singh were working as commission agents. These employees induced investors to deposit money in this company.

According to the FIR, these persons, collected a huge amount of money and gave it to the Chairman of the company. Together, they collected about Rs 50 lakh in the Kharar branch. They did not inform the investors about the policy of the company which said the investors should be issued share certificates.

It has been alleged that they have kept these certificates in their custody illegally, so that the investors may not know the real value of the company. It has been alleged that they earn a huge commission from the company. According to the FIR, they are not refunding the amount to investors and have deceived them. The complaint says that the record of the company are in their custody and these should be sealed by the police and share certificates should be distributed among the investors. The police has registered a case against Jaswinder Kaur, Chattar Pal, Prem Singh, Darshan Singh and Devinder Singh and the Chairman of the company and have started the investigations.

BUSINESS

‘Analyse, but accept Budget’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 18 — The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India organised a seminar on Budget Proposals 2000 here today. The seminar stressed that it was the responsibility of every professional to accept the duty to analyse the consequences of each policy as we should not accept everything as fate.

Mr P.C. Jain, senior chartered accountant and advocate, said as professionals, administrators and interpreters of the law, the Budget should be accepted by all because they were neither political reformers nor counsels to the Legislature. According to him, the present Budget has not brought any deterrent clauses. On various fine prints in the Budget, he said various steps which had been taken to reduce litigation like the minimum tax, had been levied on companies at a rate of 7.5 per cent of the book profits instead of 10.5 per cent. Relief has been given to small scale industries and housing projects which will be established upto 2003. Excise duty rate has been adopted as a single rate further to reduce the litigation.

Mr Jain also said 90 per cent of the tax was being paid by 10 per cent of the assesses and 90 per cent of persons were paying only 10 per cent of the tax. “The Income Tax Department is advised to make taxation simple, understandable and adaptable by the citizens of the country”.

Mr J.S. Ahluwalia, Chief Commissioner of the Income Tax, said the proposal to widen the tax base were not only in the interest of the department, but also in the interests of professionals, assesses who could multiply their capital for raising further loans from the financial institutions. He also said there should be 5 crore tax payers in the country at least, instead of 2 crore at present.

Vice-President of the Tribunal Chandigarh Zone, Mr R.M. Mehta, said all efforts were being made at the tribunal level to reduce the 7 years’ pendency of the disposal of the appeals by recruiting members and bunching of appeals and introduction of computers etc. The second bench of the tribunal has already been established in Chandigarh and is expected to clear the backlogs as fast as possible.

Mr K. Sampat, a senior chartered accountant of Delhi, said the government had not done anything for reducing its expenses or the size of the ministries and departments, so widening of the tax base alone would not yield the results.

The seminar was also attended by Mr B.S. Sahuja, Member of the ITAT Chandigarh Zone; Mr G.S. Pannu, Chairman of the Northern India Regional Council of ICAI; Mr Amarjit Chopra, Member of the Central Council; and about 200 professionals, businessmen, industrialists and the income tax officials.

Fine display by amateur models
From Our Correspondent

PANCHKULA, March 18 — Twenty models sashayed down the ramp at a fashion show held at Red Bishop Tourist Complex here today.

The show was organised by Dreams Unlimited Club and was celebrated as Holi Dhamaka. The programme was divided into three preliminary rounds. The contest was held in different sections. Mr V. Sharda, a local businessman, was the chief guest.

Songs and dances presented between the rounds were applauded. Amateur models displayed a fine blend of western and traditional ware. The organiser of the show, Mr Shripal, said the final rounds to decide Mr and Ms Panchkula/Chandigarh would be held at Yavanika open air theatre on March 25.

Wide gap between revised Budget, proposals
By Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 18 — In an amusing situation the proposed university budget and the revised budget by the Finance Board has a difference of over Rs 15 crore.

The board has presented a university budget proposal of Rs 7706.67 lakh, while university office budget has proposed Rs 9270.56 lakh. As a part of the strict steps suggested by the board, no vacant post are to be filled until a study is made in accordance with the UGC guidelines by July 31, and no teaching posts are to be filled.

The board has underlined the need to enhance the education fees. A drastic change in the existing fee structure has been called for. The proposal includes doubling examination fee and four-fold hike in tuition fee. The board mentions that Punjab Government will provide funds for the Muktsar Centre.

A proposal says no financial provision has been made in the budget estimates for 2000-2001 in regard to teaching posts. Provision for vacant posts will be discussed along with budget estimates.

A senior fellow of the Senate says no mention has been made about inclusion of new staff members. Selection lists are included in the Syndicate meeting tomorrow.

One suggestion is that all appointments of retired employees made in the university be cancelled. Mr K.A.P. Sinha, joint secretary (Finance), says if the university wants to continue with their services, the Government will not provide funds for their salaries.

The Vice-Chancellor had earlier commented that the university was an autonomous institution and the determination of its academic agenda and maintenance of its academic rhythm were its exclusive domain and responsibility. No outside interference or dictation from any non-academic quarter was acceptable. No dictates of the government representative on the board could ever be acceptable, though the university fully valued their suggestions.

A senior fellow says in the public welfare area, the university has spent more than Rs 4.4 crore on staff salaries. Less than 60 lakh has been spent on actual work, sources say.

Another suggestion is that all construction work should be done with the help of existing staff and services of staff of the Architecture Units and Works, who are being paid out of the development loan, be dispensed with. The board has also recommended exercises to monitor budget heads. A committee is required to see the usage of the staff cars.

According to revised estimates for 1999-2000, Rs 6666.21 lakh was spent on salaries. The fresh proposal for 2000-2001 mentions Rs 6400 lakh. Domestic travel costs were Rs 26.45 lakh in 1999-2000. The fresh proposal mentions reads Rs 24 lakh.