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| Wednesday, April 19, 2000, Chandigarh, India |
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Building
byelaws should go: Jacob CHANDIGARH, April 18 — "Industries in Chandigarh are shackled by archaic building byelaws. These need to be amended to pave way for everyone to expand in the non-polluting sector to create more employment opportunities in the Union Territory," says Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), Administrator of Chandigarh. In an exclusive interview with Chandigarh Tribune, General Jacob said since the Union Territory did not have any more land to offer for industries, amended byelaws could provide for better use of existing land. "Rules governing construction of industrial sheds and units will be reviewed soon. I had an opportunity to visit some of the industrial units past week. I am really surprised at archaic byelaws," he said. "The Administration has already come out with the first phase of amended building byelaws concerning commercial buildings. We had received about 3,000 suggestions in response to our advertisement inviting these for making the byelaws people-friendly. We will soon come out with the second and third batch of amended byelaws." "We are trying to simplify the byelaws. The first batch of amended byelaws have been well received by shopkeepers. However, some are not happy," General Jacob said. He said the Administration was also trying to simplify the rules concerning conversion of leasehold property into freehold property." Talking about the Advisory Council, General Jacob said the Administration had decided to constitute seven subcommittees to handle various issues separately. These sub-committees would deal with law and order, health, education, rehabilitation and encroachments, urban planning and environmental development, industries and tourism, besides transport. Each subcommittee would have an official of the Administration as its convener. The first meeting of the newly-constituted Administrator's Advisory Council would be held on May 23. General Jacob said the subcommittees would be able to generate useful debate on various important issues governing the city and its administration. Expressing his dissatisfaction over the working of the police telecommunication, he said the wireless operators and others dealing with telecommunication probably needed some training and proper orientation. To improve the mobility of the police, the Administration had decided to procure 10 more motor cycles. Though some more Gypsies and the replacement of some old vehicles, were required, but, due to financial constraints, the gypsies could not be procured. Procurement of additional 10 motor cycles would strengthen the police patrolling in the city. Software for computerisation of the Police Department was being procured from Delhi. General Jacob said the Administration had also decided to privatise power distribution in the Union Territory, besides the management of Hotel Shivalikview. The control of the property would remain with the Administration. While referring to education, General Jacob said the Administration was keen that each government school should have three shifts, including two for regular students and one for the night school students. In the night school, the purpose was to teach slum dwellers and others basic arithmetic, reading and writing. The Administration would also set up an ITI. "The Punjab Government is setting up an IIT at Anandpur Sahib. In Chandigarh, technical education and training seems to be neglected. We will take steps to reorganise technical education and training." "I am also keen to
set up a pottery training centre," General Jacob
said. |
NDA, IMA
cut training time CHANDIGARH, April 18 — To offset the shortage of officers in the armed forces, the intake of cadets in the Kharakvasla-based National Defence Academy (NDA) is being increased. At the same time, the training period of NDA cadets has been cut short by six months, while training for gentlemen cadets at the Dehra Dun-based Indian Military Academy (IMA) has been further reduced to as less as five months. Sources say the increase in the number of cadets at the NDA will be of the order of two squadrons, which is about 120 cadets. The proposal, which was first mooted about a year ago, is now reported to have been sanctioned. It will take about a year for the requisite infrastructure to be in place at the academy to cater to the increase in the course strength. While there are no reports of increasing the intake of direct entry cadets (those applying after graduation) into the IMA, AFA or NA, a process is underway to induct more officers in the services. As per available information, the services are aiming for an initial induction of 1,400 officers by 2001, followed by 1,000 officers in the following year. These inductions, according to the sources, will be over and above the regular induction of officers. The six month reduction of the training period at the NDA will be in effect for two years. This reduction follows a similar cut in the training period at the IMA. However, there has been no cut in the training period for technical graduates at the IMA or for cadets at the Chennai-based Officers’ Training Academy. Presently the average intake at the NDA per course is between 275 and 300, with two courses passing out in a year. The NDA serves as a feeder institution for officer cadets to the IMA, the Air Force Academy (AFA) and the Naval Academy (NA). Cadets enter the NDA after passing their 10 plus two and after the completion of the three-year training programme — academic as well as military — are awarded a bachelor’s degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University. The idea behind increasing the intake at the NDA level is that better talent can be tapped at that stage as there are limited professional opportunities for 10 plus two students. Also, cadets for all three services can be benefited as the NDA is a combined training establishment. Meanwhile, the training period for gentlemen cadets at the IMA has been further reduced by a month. It is now learnt that the course which was scheduled to pass out in December this year, will now pass out in November. On an ‘’experimental basis’’, the training period at the IMA was reduced by six months earlier this year. This implied that cadets entering the IMA directly after obtaining their bachelor’s degree would undergo 12 months’ training instead of 18 months, while cadets coming through the NDA would undergo six month’s training the earlier 12-month period. This training period has now been reduced to 11 months and five months respectively. The sources say with the rescheduling of the training periods, three courses are expected to pass out from the IMA in a year compared to two courses earlier. These steps are being considered significant in the backdrop of severe officer shortage and increased deployment along the volatile Line of Control, with Army Headquarters reportedly issuing directions that at least three additional officers be posted to units manning the LoC or those deployed in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir. The directions come in
the backdrop of defence planners taking the possibility
of a ‘’limited war’’ between India
and Pakistan seriously. Also into play is the post-Kargil
perception that the intrusions across the LoC by
Pakistani regulars was not a part of the proxy war, but a
serious attempt to annex the territory and thereby alter
the LoC. In fact, the Chief of the Army Staff, Gen V.P.
Malik, had some time back stated at a seminar that future
wars would be limited and could erupt with little warning
or reaction time. |
Opening
Punjabiat to the world CHANDIGARH, April 18 — Since two years he has been busy putting Punjab’s culture together so as to introduce to the fast modernising world the basic tenets of Punjabiat. And after having planned various programmes on the richness of Punjabi culture, he is today on the verge of introducing an exclusive Punjabi portal which will be an encyclopaedia of Punjabiat. The portal, which will come through at an estimated cost of Rs 5 crore, will be just one of the many accomplishments of Mr Vikramjit Singh Sahney as secretary of the World Punjabi Organisation (WPO). Mr Sahney, is also the Secretary-General of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Trust apart from being member of the Guru Nanak Dev University, senate, has come a long way from the small town of Kotkapura. Speaking to the Tribune in an exclusive interview recently he said the focus was the aim behind the WPO, the course it adopted, and the cultural and social goodwill it was able to foster. Today the organisation had branches all over India and abroad and it has among its members personalities like Mr Ujwal Dosanjh, Premiere of British Columbia. This summer, the WPO would open branches in London, New York, Vancouver and Toronto. “The journey has not been easy since January 10, 1998 when we formed the WPO to link Punjabis in India with those abroad. We aim to promote the Punjabi language, traditions and the glorious spiritual past of the Sikh Panth. The organisation was to be non political because we wanted results and fast ones,” said Mr Sahney. The results came as expected with the WPO managing to even initiate informal relations between India and Pakistan. “In 1998 a team of people from India were greeted by the deposed Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. We found that Pakistanis were culturally bound to us. As such we are affiliated to this place for it houses the mecca of Sikhs, Gurdwara Nankana Sahib. The fruits of our deliberations were sweet so much so that Nawaz Sharif had conceded to allow kar sewa from Gurdwara Nankana Sahib.” The WPO success can be gauged from the fact that WPO’s branches have fast expanded all over the world, even to places like Bangkok (Thailand). More branches are due to come up. “We have been conducting seminars in different parts of the world. We are especially trying to get the NRIs back to the country where they actually belong, he pointed out.” The WPO has been adopting a very informal approach to popularise Punjabi culture. The shows organised by the WPO have met with tremendous success. Whereas on one hand there have been programmes like Bole Sonihal focusing on the history of Punjab, on the other there have been cultural sequences like Panj Darya fashion show which was widely acclaimed. The WPO is also very active on the social front. “Recently the WPO has adopted 50 Punjabi students. We will not only take up the responsibility of rearing them up but will also see to it that they get absorbed in good professions,” Mr Sahney said. He also informed of the relief the WPO garnered for the Kargil martyrs. Yet another task on the cards is that of mustering the support of youngsters. “For achieving this objective we are shortly going to start a youth wing of the WPO. We already have a site on activities of the WPO.” As of now, the WPO seems
to be bothered about the way things are shaping up in
Pakistan. And in the near future there is a plan to
invite intellectuals from Pakistan and hold a
brainstorming session on Indo-Pak relations and the
factors that ail them. The biggest project at hand
however is the introduction of a Punjabi portal which
will have yellow pages, a detailed account of on
prominent Punjabis in India’s history, apart from
any other fact relevant to Punjabi culture. |
‘Give
details of tenants or get challaned’ ZIRAKPUR, April 18 — The proprietors of commercial establishments who have not submitted particulars of their workers or tenants in accordance with directions issued earlier will be challaned. Chairing a public meet here, the DSP, Mr H S Bhullar, stated that such violators within the Dera Bassi Subdivision would be challaned under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code. With a purview to check rising crime in the area, the Dera Bassi Sub Divisional Magistrate had on March 24 issued directions under Section 144 of the CrPC that commercial establishments submit records, including full residential address and latest photograph, of workers, tenants within 15 days. The commercial establishments include industries, hotels, stone crushers as well as dhabas. Mr Bhullar said that Zirakpur, being adjacent to Chandigarh, has become a hideout for miscreants and anti-social elements and the crime rate in the area has gone up during the last couple of years. He said that the police is investigating the crime cases which occurred recently in Dhakauli, Bartana and nearby villages. The police has also its net to nab Fauji, an accused in Dera Bassi shoot out case in which a school laboratory assistant was shot dead in broadday light and his accomplice had taken away about Rs 4 lakh from his possession. The police is also investigating the buffalo rustlers who beat the servants and took a way buffaloes from two cow farms near Singhpura village. He also appealed to industrialists, wineshop owners and other merchants to take precautionary measures while withdrawing money from the banks. Cases will be registered against those people who lodge false cases with the police. To maintain law and
order situation and to control the increasing crime
incidents in the subdivision, he also appealed to the
sarpanches and the residents to put thikri pehras more
vigilantly and with proper equipment in their respective
villages. |
Of great
designs that made cities
‘A Dream Realised’ has rightly brought out the essence of the achitectural maestro of the two experts who gave new life to Chandigarh and finally became the symbol of the entire work executed in India. The work which took about three years to get into shape has been divided into seven large sections for a comprehensive view of what the sequence of planning of the city was and how the plan actually came through. There are also minor details on the works left unexecuted by Corbusier, apart from the first time focus on townships of Sundernagar, Pandoh, Slapper (Himachal) and Talwara (Punjab) and the Medical College, Rohtak which were designed and built by Pierre. The Bhakra Nangal Dam project which had Corbusier as the consultant architect, has further been captured in fine details for the first time. The exhibition begins with the introduction which focuses on the project of Chandigarh, and the relationship between the two cousins, apart from other planning details. The section mentions in bold words: “Corbusier, the thinker; Pierre, the builder, also reveals Corbusier’s fondness of his cousin. The Capitol Complex focuses on the great buildings of the High Court and the Secretariat. Educational institutes have been separately focused in the `Temples of Learning’ and so has the civic core of the city. The `Zones of Peace’ comprises all buildings which are relevant to art scene in the city. Reflections of Corbusier’s works in the works of other architects has also been displayed in the section called `The Legacy’, which comprises works of Aditya Prakash, Shivnath Prasad, Harbinder Chopra, Saakar Foundation, among others. (The exhibition can also
be visited at www.eda.admin.ch/site/e/aussenpolitik/dream.html) |
Encroachments continue
with impunity CHANDIGARH, April 17 — Even as the municipal authorities have announced the setting up of special anti-encroachment cells headed by nodal officers, illegal constructions continue with impunity in the city. This problem has been highlighted on numerous occasions, but to no avail. A majority of the encroachments are in flats built by the Chandigarh Housing Board in the southern sectors. People have not only added additional floors but also encroached upon public land to built rooms or fencing in areas for courtyards. One such instance in Sector 45 has been brought to the notice of the authorities but no action has been initiated by the authorities till date. Some flat owners have encroached upon a ground to build a staircase leading to an illegally built room on the first floor. Surprisingly, when the matter was brought to the notice of the officials concerned by the complainants, they are reported to have been warned that they should keep quiet otherwise they too would be in trouble. This has led to resentment in the neighbourhood since the encroached area was being used as a passageway and for holding social gatherings. This is said to be the only area which was used by children to play. The nature of encroachments includes fencing in an area for courtyard. Representations have
been sent to the Administrator and his Adviser, the
complainants add. |
Kedar Nath
Sharma’s name removed CHANDIGARH, April 18 — In a sudden move, the new management of the Dhanwantry Ayurvedic College and Hospital has removed the name of Pandit Kedar Nath Sharma, former president of the College Managing Committee, from the name of the institute. After a gap of 13 years, the name of Dhanwantry Ayurvedic College and Pandit Kedarnath Memorial Ayurvedic Hospital, Sector 46, has been changed to Shri Dhanwantry Ayurvedic College and Hospital. This move has brought yet another turn to the ongoing controversy between the former president, Mr Venod Sharma, and the new managing committee. It may be recalled that only three months back Mr Venod Sharma was removed from the post of president and Mr A.K Gupta was appointed the new president, following which tension arose between the two groups. Dr Nirmal Bhatia, vice-president of the Managing Committee, when contacted said that the name of Pandit Kedar Nath has been removed because Mr Venod Sharma failed to fulfil the promise of giving Rs 10 lakh to the Institution in 1987. According to her, Mr Venod Sharma, who had occupied the post of president here on account of his political status at the Centre, then had promised to give a grant of Rs 10 lakh if his father’s name is added to the hospital’s name. But today, all the boards have been painted fresh after removing the name of Mr Kedar Nath Sharma. Sources reveal that in case any institution has to remove or alter its name, it is required to seek the permission of the Registrar and complete various legal formalities but the committee changed the name without undertaking the required formalities. In the times to come the institution may face problems on account of this. It may be recalled that
the new committee had earlier managed to restore the bank
account in which there was nearly Rs 1 crore. The
vice-president, Dr Nirmal Bhatia, had earlier in a
written complaint to the SSP, Mr Parag Jain reported the
matter of misbehaviour by one of the committee members
and embezzlement of funds and investigations are being
conducted by DSP, Mr Subhash Sagar. Even the principal
appointed by Mr Venod Sharma has been removed. The
services of 12 other employees who were appointed by Mr
Sharma were also terminated. In the recent meeting of the
Executive Committee held on March 13, Mr Vikas Gill, a
close associate of Mr Venod Sharma was removed from the
committee. |
A case of
misplaced priorities SAS NAGAR, April 18 — In its zeal to beautify the town, the municipal council appears to have swept planning under the carpet. Lakhs of rupees is being spent on laying concrete footpaths at cost of essential services like telephones, electricity and storm water drainage. Though council officials say concrete footpaths ensure longer maintenance-free life for the footpath, residents lament that it is wastage of money. Mr Prem Singh Gill of Phase XI says the concrete footpath has to be uprooted whenever there is a fault in the essential services laid underneath. Quoting an instance, he says the kerb channel on the main road from Phase X to Phase X, laid a few months back, is being relaid. In another instance, a section of footpath, laid a few months back near the Phase 5 market, has been uprooted due a fault in an electricity cable laid underneath and the damaged portion of the footpath has not been repaired. A round of the town
reveals that there are several sites in the town where
damaged portions of footpaths have not been repaired for
months together, especially along the storm water gullies
and sewer manholes. The contractors laying the footpaths
also appear to care little about trees. As per the norms,
some space has to be left around the tree. The officials
of the Public Health Department, Electricity Department
and other agencies involved in laying the essential
services say the council should adopt some practice in
laying footpaths so that the public money does not go
waste.
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Navratras
prove ordeal for Swastik Vihar PANCHKULA, April 18 — Dirt, flies and corridors packed with camping pilgrims have been the bane of Swastik Vihar showroom owners during the eight-day Navratra mela. They complain that their market, adjacent to the Mansa Devi Temple complex is a "living hell" during the festival. Designated as the mela's "official parking area", Swastik Vihar has been transformed into a messy, noisy, stinking slum for the duration of the event. The shopkeepers point to plastic bags, ubiquitous excrement swarmed by flies and puddles of water left behind by tankers -- and in the midst of the filth, dozens of vendors doing a brisk business in ice cream and other foodstuffs. In the words of one merchant: "It is not the first time the Administration has turned a blind eye to the appalling conditions created here by the bi-annual mela." As they do before every mela, the businessmen wrote yet another a joint letter to the Administration pointing out that given the insanitary conditions, an epidemic could break out, but apparently the letter went unheeded. Merchant A.S. Chauhan fumes: "The pilgrims have left no space for us, let alone our customers; it is impossible to walk through the corridors and even the parking area is jam-packed. Being villagers, the whole world is their toilet. The stench is unbearable.'' Dr Supreet Soni, whose clinic is located in the market, is particularly exasperated: "Flies are all over the place! These conditions have driven most of my patients away or compelled them to defer their appointments. Yesterday a whole herd of people had stretched out right in front of my clinic door. Mercifully, they moved away when I requested them. I had the entire area in front of my clinic washed and during the exercise, a little water must have flowed in their direction. For this, they picked up a fight. It was very ugly. You know how they behave." Vineet Aggarwal, an architect who has his office in the complex, asks: "Each year, officials work out estimates of the number of devotees likely to visit the temple. Why are arrangements not made according to the expected number? It is the same story every year, even though there is a lot of vacant land near Saketri at the disposal of the officials. The pilgrims can be diverted to that side instead of bothering us every six months.'' Administration sources
confirm that they received the letter from Swastik Vihar
complex occupants but say "it came a wee bit too
late. With only a couple of days left before the mela
ended, there was little we could do. However, we have
taken the problem seriously and will see to it that the
problem is not repeated during the next mela." |
Venkateshwara
temple nearing completion PANCHKULA, April 18—A temple of Lord Venkateshwara, fondly referred to as Balaji by his devotees, is coming up in Sector 12 A of the township. Situated in 4000 square yards and being constructed at a cost of over Rs 25 lakh, it is the first of its kind in the region which will cater to the 1000-odd families of Andhra Pradesh residing in Chandigarh and around. To be managed by a 16-member trust headed by Mr Justice T.H.B. Chalapathi of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the temple will be run on the guidelines laid down by the Tiruvala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) which runs the main temple of the Lord Venkatesh at Tirupati. Speaking on the installation ceremony scheduled to take place on April 23, Mr CSR Reddy, DIG with the Punjab Police and a member of the trust, said: “The idols of Balaji and his two wives have been flown in all the way from Tirupati and a team of religious heads from the main temple called Garbhagudi are coming in tomorrow especially for the purpose.” The idols of Lord Venkatesh and his wives, Padmavati and Andaal, will adorn the temple which is being given finishing touches on a war-footing with nearly 40 labourers working round-the-clock. Mr Reddy added that the completion of the temple would enable the Telgu-speaking community to celebrate their festival of Ugadi, their new year, Sankranti, Vinayak Chauti and Dasehra together. Also, a multi-purpose hall for celebrating functions is being constructed alongside. Being the god of wealth,
most families devote a part of their earnings to him,
making Tirupati temple the richest in the world on a par
with the Vatican city. Collections for one day total to
over Rs 1 crore at the temple and the trust is expecting
a good response from the devotees in the region since it
is one of a kind. |
Phones
lose ring in town SAS NAGAR, April 18 — Due to a technical fault, hundreds of level-267 telephones in the town have been out of order for the past few days, causing harassment to subscribers. Complaints of faulty telephones working on the 67 series have also surfaced. In a single day today, over 80 subscribers having level-267 telephones lodged their complaints at the Phase IV main exchange here. Also on the past Saturday, over 500 phones in Phase XI, routed through the Phase X RLU exchange, had gone out of order due to a technical fault in the main Phase IV exchange. Several STD phone operators in Phase XI lost their day's business on that day. Complaints of missing dial tone were also being received. The Telecom Department
officials claimed that the technical fault in the control
equipment in the Phase IV main exchange had been
rectified by this evening. |
Non-availability
of liquor upsets club members PANCHKULA, April 18 — The non-availability of liquor, especially beer, at the Gymkhana Club in Sector 6 here has irked members who allege laxity on part of the authorities managing the affairs of the club in getting the licence renewed. Officers of the Haryana Urban Development Authority maintain that there was no laxity in getting the licence renewed since they had applied for the same to the Excise department on April 3 after making all payments. The department, however, took its own time and the many holidays contributed to the delay. “Meanwhile, we are offering whatever was left over from the last year since we did not want to go about purchasing fresh stocks in an illegal manner. Also, we have got our licence today and everything will be available from now on,’’ an official said. Moreover, they contend that though the permission to serve liquor at the premises had been given to them the same day, that of buying of new stock was awaited. A member of the club, Mr Parveen Goyal, said,” I went over to the club to relax with my family and friends but, to my dismay, found that the first item of beer on my order could not be complied with. We, as members, should not be forced to face inconvenience at the hands of the managers who sit over matters and affairs concerning the club.’’ Another member, Mr RL
Chaudhary, opines that the non-availability of items
offered by the club amounts to mismanagement of affairs.
Since HUDA is managing it, the officials concerned should
ensure that the members are not put to inconvenience of
any sort and do not have to cut a sorry figure on their
visits in the face of non-availability. |
Seminar
on ‘Khalsa’ from April 24 CHANDIGARH, April 18 — A three-day seminar on ‘near contemporary and later perspectives of the Khalsa’ will be organised by Panjab University and the Institute of Punjab Studies from April 24 to April 26, an official press release said here today. The seminar reflects on Gurmukhi, Persian, English and Hindi works which embody a major or significant statement of the Khalsa. These works appeared over a period of more than 200 years — from the early 18th century to the early 20th century. Together, the papers attempt to provide the historiographical background to contemporary historical writing on the Sikhs, it has been pointed out. The seminar has attempted inclusion of works belonging to ‘widely different socio-cultural backgrounds and socio-political boundaries.’ The whole exercise is aimed at a better appreciation of the ‘Khalsa’ in Sikh tradition. Few among the important speakers include Dr Kharag Singh, Prof H.S.Mehta, Prof J.S.Grewal, Prof Gurtej Singh, Prof Darshan Singh, Prof Indu Banga and Prof Tejwant Singh Gill among several others. The seminar will be
inaugurated at the ICSSR complex of PU by Captain
Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister of Punjab. |
Woman succumbs to
injuries SAS NAGAR, April 18 — A woman of Guru Nanak Colony in Phase X here, Sangeeta, who had been admitted to the Sector 32 Government Hospital after she had allegedly doused herself with kerosene on April 11, today succumbed to her injuries. The victim had married a person called Rakesh four years ago and had a child. According to the information available, the husband of the victim used to assault her after boozing with friends. On April 9, he had come home in an inebriated state and had bashed her up. On April 10, when he bashed her up again, she went to the kitchen and poured kerosene on her. Suicide committed: A resident of Phase XI, Sukhdev (45), allegedly committed suicide by consuming some poisonous substance. Liquor seized: The Zirakpur police seized 100 pouches of liquor from Vijay, a resident of Rajpura. A case under the Excise Act has been registered. CHANDIGARH Drugged, robbed: The police has registered a case against an unknown person who drugged and robbed a Jaipur resident in a city dharamshala. According to police sources, Mr Satya Dev Sharma, a resident of Rajasthan, said he was staying in a dharamshala in Sector 30. He was offered tea reportedly laced with some substance, following which he fell unconscious. When he came about, he discovered that his gold locket, gold ring besides Rs 8, 500 in cash had been stolen. A case under Section 328 \ 380, IPC, has been registered. Rape alleged: Mr Charan Singh, a resident of Mani Majra lodged a complaint with the police that Shankar Yadav, a resident of the same locality, had raped his daughter after luring her with the promise of marriage. He had been a regular visitor to the house and somehow managed to gain her confidence and subsequently committed the act. Bootlegger held: The police has arrested Manoj, a resident of Mani Majra, for possessing 14 bottles of liquor. Complaint of
theft: Paramjit Singh, a resident of Sector 22,
reported that some one had stolen two gold rings,
house-hold goods besides Rs 34,500 in cash from his
house. A case under Section 380, IPC, has been
registered. |
'Community
policing' plan in Panchkula PANCHKULA, April 18 — To enlist greater public cooperation in the prevention and detection of crime in Panchkula district, the police proposes to launch an ambitious programme of ''community policing.'' For this purpose, the two police stations of Sector 5 and Raipur Rani have been chosen, a press note issued by the Superintendent of Police, Mr Sudhir Chowdhary, said here yesterday. The area of each of these police stations will be divided into several manageable beats and entrusted to police personnel, who have been specifically instructed to familiarise themselves with the persons in their respective beats and the persons in their respective beats should also look forward to him as a friend in khaki. It added that the beat in charge would be expected to go beyond the call of duty and act as a conduit for conveying the grievances of the people to the appropriate governmental authority. The SHOs and other senior officers will hold regular and frequent meetings with the general public to ensure the success of the programme. As the idea is yet in a
nascent stage, the police personnel would be briefed by
senior officers. As of today, one rural and one urban
police station has been chosen for Panchkula. |
Water crisis: penalty for
law violators PANCHKULA, April 18—To mitigate the water supply shortage in the township in the summer season, a team consisting of an SDE, JE and an official from the Estate Office will conduct a survey in each sector here. During the course of inspection, these officials will remove any water pump directly installed on the water supply pipeline found in the residential areas and violators will be penalised in accordance with the law of the HUDA. The Administrator, HUDA, Mr Abhilaksh Likhi, said a complaint register for water works and individual complaints would be maintained. The complainants residing in Sectors 2, 4, 6 can register their problems with water works in Sector 1 or at telephone number 568318, those under the Sector 8 water works station which includes residents of Sector 7, 8, 9, 16, 17, 18 can call at 585916, while those in Sector 5, 10, 15, 19, Industrial Area I and II can call at 597548. Residents of Sector 25 and 26 can contact tubewell number E-3 for their complaints. The Estate Officer and
XENs concerned have been directed to hold a meeting with
the residents welfare associations of all sectors within
a fortnight regarding complaints specific to various
sectors. Also, during inspection, if water wastage is
found in houses under construction, besides disconnecting
the supply, an FIR will also be lodged. |
Census
operation: training of supervisors begins PANCHKULA, April 18 — The training of enumerators and supervisors for conducting the census operation for the year 2001 has begun in Panchkula district. While giving this information, the Deputy Commissioner, Panchkula, Mr S.K. Monga said that 848 enumerators and 150 supervisors had been appointed for carrying out the ensuing census work within the stipulated time. These personnel would be given training in two phases. The first phase had already begun from April 17 and would continue till April 28, whereas the second phase would be from May 1 to 12. The training material for the first phase of this training session had already been supplied to the enumerators, whereas for the second phase the enumerators would be provided with actual material. He said that the census work would be carried out in two phases. In the first phase, the residential houses would be enlisted. This work would be done from May 15 to 31 and would include identification of blocks, preparing maps for earmarking the house numbers, canvassing for preparing house lists. The enumerators would then submit this information to the concerned supervisors who would forward it to the officials in charge who in turn would send it to the Census Directorate. Mr Monga further said that the census list would include a detailed description of the type of material used for all the houses enlisted. This list would also include the power and water situation of each house, telephone numbers, bank account numbers of the residents and description of the vehicles owned by them. In the second phase, the actual counting work would be carried out. He also informed that for carrying out this work, the district had been divided into different blocks where each block would consist of a population between 600 and 900. Every block would have one enumerator and six to eight enumerators would be headed by one supervisor. The Deputy Commissioner
was of the view that the census work was of utmost
importance for the development of a nation, which was
possible only if the facts and figures given in the lists
were factual and true. |
First aid
training concludes CHANDIGARH, April 18 — The eight-day-long special training programme on first aid by the police concluded at the Children’s Traffic Park in Sector 23 here this evening. The course was conducted by St. John’s Ambulance Brigade. Mr M.P. Singh, UT Home Secretary, was the chief guest on the occasion and was welcomed by Mr Ajay Kashyap, SSP, Hq. He was then explained about the objectives of the course and its scope. Addressing the participants, Mr Singh stressed the need for adopting a pro-active people-friendly approach. He said the role of the PCR personnel is sensitive as quite often they are the first point of contact between a citizen in distress and police. Proper handling of the situation requires presence of mind on the part of such personnel, he added. The HS, on the whole, expressed his satisfaction at the steps being taken to inculcate relevant skills among the members of the force to make them more pro -active. He also informed that the PCR fleet would be bolstered with the induction of 10 motor cycles. Mr Singh later distributed certificates to all those who had completed their training and interacted with them also. It may be recalled that this is the first such specially designed training programme for the benefit of the local police. The course was primarily aimed to fill the need for training so that the staff could properly handle persons in distress and those involved in road accidents. As many as 320 police personnel and 110 home guards have been benefited so far. Following this the force would be able to deploy at least one executive personnel (constable or head constable) and one home guard in every shift of the PCR vans. The HS also awarded
IG’s Commendation Certificate and cash reward to Mr
S K Nazeer, District Training Officer, St. John’s
Ambulance Brigade as a token of appreciation for the
efforts put in by the organisation. |
Fourteen
buses impounded CHANDIGARH, April 18 — As many as 14 buses which were plying in the city without the requisite documents were impounded by the police following a special drive launched by Dr Sagar Preet Hooda, ASP, central, late last night. During the drive, four nakas were set up in Sector 22 and the buses, which were plying without the requisite permits and documents were impounded. These buses were causing a huge loss to the exchequer by way of taxes. Many operators had been carrying passengers to various destinations in the region from this sector. This practice also encouraged unhealthy and illegal practice in the city. With this action, all
illegal operations have been stopped in the jurisdiction
of the central police sub division, the ASP added. Books donated to library CHANDIGARH, April 18 — Rotary Shivalik Chandigarh donated 508 books to the Central State Library. . The book-donation function was inaugurated by Ms Anuradha Gupta, a former UT Home Secretary, here today. The President of the
club said another 500 books would be donated to the
library within the next six months. He also offered to
donate an Internet connection to the library. Ms Gupta
promised her help to see that the library established a
section especially for the underprivileged children. She+
also offered to contribute books to the library. |
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