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| Monday, July 10, 2000, Chandigarh, India |
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Kids of ‘rich and famous’ fanning hooliganism PANCHKULA July 7
— 8.30 pm: As many as 30 rod-wielding boys sauntered into the marketplace before embarking on their mission of smashing a car in public view much to the surprise of the shopkeepers. Later, on speeding mobikes, these boys followed the car out of Sector 7. July 8 — 9 pm: While the market was still crowded, a drunken brawl took place among five boys who found the market a suitable place to settle a long-pending score. The clash resulted in breaking of a refrigerator belonging to a shop. Consequently, three of them were taken into custody by the police and there parents were called to the police post where a compromise was worked out. These two instances have been the latest addition to incidents of hooliganism reported from the Sector 7 market which has become better known for the notoriety of the youngsters thronging the place in the evenings in recent times. From the hub of activity, the market is slowly degenerating to become a “den’’ for the nefarious activities of the children of the “rich and famous’’, the shopkeepers aghast with the situation contend. To add to their growing insecurity and discomfort, a liquor vend has come up in the marketplace which will worsen matters and ultimately have a bearing on their business, they add. In a representation, the shopkeepers have written to the district administration stating that the opening of the vend will create a major “law and order problem’’ in the market which is usually over-crowded in the evenings. Besides, a school is a stone’s throw away from the vend and it is right in front of the residential area causing inconvenience to the common man. The President of the Market Welfare Association, Mr B.B. Kochhar, says, “The popularity of market has become a thorn in our flesh with youngsters from all nooks and corners having made it a rendezvous, spending hours on end watching, whistling and whiling away their time every evening. All rules are flouted with impunity as they zip around on two-wheelers without helmets and on four-wheelers with blaring music. Eve-teasing is no longer a crime for which the youngsters need to be reprimanded.’’ Another businessman, Mr Shankar Jaikishen, says “Evening after evening, I have seen the same cars with single-digit numbers
coming to a halt in the market. These boys stand in groups, pass snide remarks to passers-by. especially girls. and get away with all this. This class of VIP kids is messing up with the law and order situation and are involved in brawls most of the time. The police is helpless when it comes to taming these brats resulting in lawlessness.'' "Any constable who dares to question them is cut to size by the kids flashing their parents' identity and red lights atop their cars are let off the hook. Aggressively, they rattle away in English with little care for law. This leaves the personnel with little option other than turning a blind eye to their activities and moving on", Mr Manmohan Singh, a local businessman, adds. They are of the unanimous opinion that the only check which can be imposed on this new breed of miscreants which has thrown caution to the winds by virtue of them being VIP kids is that the police should adopt a sterner approach in all matters concerning the market. "The police must not allow the youngsters to stand in groups all over the place. They must be dispersed immediately and the regular "visitors'' must be asked the reason for their visits. Also, at the drop of a hat their anger flares up and a brawl ensues. The geri culture, a nuisance as far as the common man is concerned, has contributed to may an ugly evening in the market,'' they inform. Moreover, they suggest that the city being a VIP city, the police personnel in charge of the security within the sectors are on VIP duty round the clock. Consequently, paucity of staff has a bearing on the law and order situation which can be dealt with if the staff in the district is augmented and they are assigned to tackle their respective areas. Also, the administration must ensure that public nuisance such as liquor vends do not come up places frequented by public and in residential areas. Following the two incidents, police personnel in the area have been asked to take action against all anti-social element wrecking havoc with the law and order situation, sources said. Further, they have been asked to conduct surprise challan drives to check the growing menace created by children of highly-placed officials of the
government. What’s the way out ? To check brawls and fights among youngsters in the marketplace, the members of the Market Welfare Association, Sector 7, suggest:
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Cases of water-borne diseases on rise CHANDIGARH, According to Dr Rajiv Vadhera, in charge of the Sector 45 Polyclinic, the main symptoms of viral infections are fever, running nose, headache and bodyache. Presently, most of the patients who are reporting at the OPDs are cases of low-grade viral fever. The temperature varies between 99 -100 ° F and lasts for a maximum of seven days and medicines are given only for symptomatic relief. Few others complain of upper respiratory tract infections i.e. common cold with infections of the nose and throat. Dr Vadhera says that patients with these symptoms should consult a doctor immediately and not take antibiotics from chemists or registered medical practitioners (RMPs) in their respective areas. If the upper respiratory infection worsens it leads to lower respiratory infection, which in some advanced cases leads to pneumonia, he adds. Dr Pardeep Tayal, SMO, General Hospital, Sector 16, maintains that water-borne diseases continue to pose higher risk with incidence of diarrhoea cases registering a further increase. A visit to some of the civil dispensaries revealed that 10-odd cases of gastroenteritis are reported everyday. The common symptoms are loose motions, vomiting, general weakness and poor resistance. According to Dr Tayal, humid conditions in these months are ideal for bacteria to multiply and hence people, particularly those residing in the colonies and villages, should abstain from eating unhygienic food items or drinking water from hand pumps. Even those residing in the urban areas should preferably drink filtered water or boil it. He advises that patients should drink plenty of water to meet the water loss through excessive sweating. Dr Anil Gupta, a private practitioner, said that cases of self limiting diarrhoea were more common, but antibiotics were a must in case of viral diarrhoea. Cases of respiratory bacterial infections such as asthma and other allergies have also started reporting due to the wild growth of congress grass. Doctors reveal that eye infections like eye flu and conjuctivitis will start coming in during the next few day once heavy rain begins. They have advised people to keep their eyes clean of dust and wash them at regularly to keep away from these infections. |
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Jacob’s intervention sought CHANDIGARH, In their memorandum, the village elders said that because of the pressure of the BJP-SAD alliance, the election process had been stalled after the publication of final voters’ list on July 3. The BJP-SAD alliance was building pressure to demand nomination of members of the Notified Market Area than holding of direct elections of nine members of the NMA. The memorandum, signed by Mr Bhupinder Singh Badheri, Mr Manmohan Singh (Lahora), Mrs Bhupinder Kaur (Sarangpur), Mr Balbir Singh (Khuda Jassu) , Mr Parkash Chand Sharma (Daria), Mrs Surjit Kaur (Maloya), Mr Pal Singh (Khuda Ali Sher), Mr Harbhajan Singh (Dhanas), Ms Lila Devi (Dadu Majra), Mr Kartar Singh Thakur (Mauli Jagran), Mr Bahadur Singh (Raipur Kalan), Mr Darshan Singh (Behlana), Mr Umesh Prasad (Hallomajra), Mr Kulwant Singh (Darua), and Mrs Bhupinder Kaur (Kishengarh), said that nine Directors of the NMA are elected by the voters with five seats reserved for sarpanches and panches of the Union Territory; two for licensees of the Grain Market, one from paledars and one for Manimajra Cooperative-cum-Processing Society. The elected Directors then subsequently elect a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman. The last elections to the Committee were held in 1993. They further said that the election process initiated on June 22 about the revision of electoral rolls had been suspended now. In case the Administration succumbs to political pressure of the BJP and the SAD, the elected sarpanches and panches would be deprived of their constitutional right to seek election to the NMA or elect men of their choice to the NMA. The signatories urged the Administrator to direct the officials concerned to hold the elections as per the Act applicable to the Union Territory of Chandigarh. |
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Allowance for ASC men
on Manali-Leh highway CHANDIGARH, July 9 -- While doubling the rates for the special project allowance applicable to armed forces officers, the Ministry of Defence has also started compensating personnel deployed on the Pathankot-Manali-Leh highway. Communiqués in this regard received by some units recently state that all personnel of the Army Service Corps (ASC) operating on the Pathankot-Manali-Leh highway will be entitled for the trip allowance as applicable to ASC personnel operating on the Srinagar - Leh Highway. All ASC personnel operating on the Srinagar - Leh highway are entitled to draw trip allowance, which is ranges from Rs 80 for a lieutenant to Rs 169 for a Lieutenant Colonel and above and from Rs 44 for a jawan to Rs 77 for a JCO per trip. During the Kargil operations, with the Srinagar - Leh highway coming under intense enemy shelling, the alternate Pathankot-Leh-Manali route was used for transporting supplies. To compensate ASC personnel deployed on the alternate route, a case was taken up with the MoD and affected personnel will be compensated for the allowance with effect from May 1, 1999. Meanwhile, the rates of project allowance have also been revised upwards. As per regulations, armed forces officers when deputed to a project in any organisation outside the ministry of defence and thereby not drawing field service allowance are sanctioned project allowance. Based on revision of rates in civilian organisations, the MoD has also revised its rates and will be applicable with effect from August 1, 1997. As per revised rates, officers drawing a basic salary below Rs 9000 per month will be sanctioned Rs 600 per month, while those whose basic salary id above Rs 9,000 will be sanctioned Rs 750. The earlier corresponding rates for the project allowance were Rs 300 and Rs 375 respectively.
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Smart cards and not-so-smart residents THE Registering-cum-licensing branch is nowadays facing a peculiar situation. On the one side, aware city residents are rushing in to avail of the smart card facility. On the other hand, people still show up at the old town hall unaware that new scheme has started from the new estate office building adjacent to the Municipal Corporation building. Authorities say they are getting a good response and several people are coming in to get their laminated plastic cards converted into smart cards. The issuance of learner licences has also started at the new estate office. Residents are waiting for the Chandigarh Administration to start issuing smart cards for driving licences. Earlier the deadline had been fixed for June 25, but this has now been shifted, and work is expected to start next week. Meanwhile residents are still not clear as to which work will be carried out where. Following the launch of smart cards the department had shifted the registration of vehicles to the new office. Despite the news items carried in all local newspapers and advertisements issued by the Chandigarh Administration, residents still show up at the old place and then have to be guided to the new site. Neglected arboretum: The SA set up by the forest department for scientific research and educational purposes in 1991 is not properly maintained. There is no proper approach from the main path. A number of trucks are parked outside by the private transporters. Its chain fences are broken at five points towards the labour colony. The grass and weeds are not regularly and properly removed. Besides the pruning of saplings is not carried out. Cows and buffaloes are seen grazing in this park. This six acre garden has 58 species of trees. But there are no inspection paths from the main walk-way. Plants are not planted with proper sequence. There are not any name plates below the plants trees showing their common name, scientific name, family or sub-family. Neither any folder on this park is available with the chowkidar. Only a few persons visit this place in a year. The ESI has suggested that this arboretum should become a part of the new botanical garden which should be located nearby or the Rajindra Park. Invited: The congress is held every five years. The theme this time is “Forests and Society: the role of research.” Mr Sehgal, who is at present posted as Deputy Conservator of Forests, Meerut, is also planning to conduct a research on “ecological evaluation of degraded land restored through integrated land management”. In his study he proposes to study some places in North India , where degraded land has been reclaimed through integrated land management techniques. This will help in identifying strengths apart from the gaps and deficiencies of these models and then addressing the same. The study will concentrate on evaluation of water regime, vegetation cover, tree cover and associated socio-economic aspects of the locals in the reclaimed areas and comparing them with those in the denuded and degraded forest areas. In addition to this the study proposes to include the linkages of hill denudation with environmental concerns and poverty in foothill ecosystem of North India. Nurses in olive green: Citing professional hazards and inconvenience in wearing tunics and associated paraphernalia like veils and stockings, officers of the Military Nursing Service has taken up the case with the Defence Ministry seeking change of their uniform to normal olive green shirt and trousers as worn by the Army Medical Corps personnel, including lady doctors. Dr Balram Gupta: Dr Gupta had quit the post of Professor and Chairman of Panjab University’s Law Department in 1990 and took to legal practice. Thus Dr Gupta is a brilliant mixture of theory and practice. While in teaching, he lectured at Cambridge, London, Nottingham and George Washington universities. He also worked at the London School of Economics. He did pioneering work on the institution of Ombudsman (Lokpal) for which he was awarded doctoral degree. Dr Gupta was also on the visiting faculty of Indian Law Institute. During his 10 years standing at the Bar also, Dr Gupta has made his mark. He is on the
panel of a number of universities, boards and corporations. He has argued important matters both in the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Supreme Court.
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Should Chandigarh have an international airport? I HAVE been regularly reading the articles being published in Chandigarh Tribune on the subject “Need for international airport at Chandigarh”. The latest articles were from Kewal Dhillon, Dr Mehra, D S.K. Jindal and Dr Bose of the PGI. The common threat of their arguments has been that Chandigarh (Mohali and Panchkula included) is a modern city with lots of educationists, doctors university professors, consultants, IT specialists, bureaucrats and businessmen — all high-profile people visiting foreign countries quite often. They say that in the absence of an international airport at Chandigarh, they have to reach Delhi one day earlier to catch the flights at night or early morning the next day. The learned authors do not indicate the average number of passengers going abroad or to Bombay, Calcutta and Bangalore daily. Now let us come to ground realities. Chandigarh has a very small airport. It is very shabby. It is probably the only airport where bathrooms are stinking (otherwise airports are known for having very beautiful bathrooms). There are no exhaust fans. The plastic chairs are very dirty and old. Work on air conditioning is going on. Jet Airways has one daily flight from Chandigarh to Delhi. The air fare is Rs. 2130/-. Indian Airlines has bi-weekly flights i.e. on Wednesday and Friday. the seating capacity of Jet Airways plane is 64 and that of Indian Airlines is around 130. Recently, Indian Airlines reduced its fare to Rs.900/- (from Ist June, 2000 to 31st Aug 2000) and still the plane takes off almost half empty. This is the situation of air traffic volume. I, therefore, suggest that instead of converting the Chandigarh airport into an international one, it will be better to first convert it into a beautiful and comfortable domestic airport and then increase the air-traffic. The chances of increasing air traffic are minimal because of two reasons. Firstly, the air fare of Rs 2130/- per person is very high. Secondly, people prefer to travel by Shatabdi where the fare is Rs. 435/- in AC chair car and Rs.870/- in the Executive class with good refreshment service. Moreover, the time taken by Shatabdi is only three hours and its running is very punctual. Most international flights (particularly for the USA and England) take off at night. Therefore, journey by afternoon Shatabdi suits the passengers very much. If someone has to catch the morning
flights, then he can take the journey by Kalka Mail. I do not oppose the proposal for developing an international airport at Chandigarh in the long run. I only stress for the need to renovate the existing airport with modern facilities and improve its connective with the Delhi airport. Therefore what the learned authors seek by converting the Chandigarh airport into an international airport is not very clear. To be an international airport essentially means that there should be direct flights from Chandigarh to London, New York, Singapore, Lahore, Hong Kong or Tokyo. If that is so, then it is a far cry because most international flights carry 300 to 400 passengers in their jumbo-jets. That much traffic volume is not available here by any measure. Even in England there is only one direct flight from Birmingham to New York. All passengers first reach London airports by train or air from adjoining big towns like Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds etc. and then board the international flights. It is also not economically viable for British Airways or Air India to take passengers from Chandigarh and land at Delhi and then take the bulk passengers from there. Air India did start a flight from Amritsar to Delhi for onward journey. I do not know if that flight is still in service. However, it will be more desirable if two connecting flights in the early morning/evening with a 50-seater Dornier are introduced from Amritsar to Delhi via Chandigarh. Alternatively, Air India should construct a hotel near the Indira Gandhi Airport where passengers can have a transit lodging for few hours to catch the flight at odd hours, and rentals can be included in the fare.
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Forum decries defacing of buildings CHANDIGARH, July 9 — Serious concern was expressed over defacing of buildings, closing of verandahs and running of a pre-mix plant at Kishengarh at the meeting of the Citizens’ Forum for Chandigarh Heritage held here today. The meeting, which was attended among others by Mr
M.N.Sharma, the first Indian Chief Architect of Chandigarh; Mr Kulbir Singh, a former Chief Engineer of Chandigarh; Mr
P.H. Vaishnav, a former Chief Secretary of Punjab; Dr I.C. Pathak, a former Director of the PGI; Prof
Y.N. Mehra, Professor Emeritus ENT; Mrs Swarup Krishen of the Blood Bank Society, Air Marshal R.S. Bedi (retd), Mr S.D. Sharma, an eminent architect; and Mr
S.N. Kohli, Secretary, Punjab and Chandigarh chapter of the Indian Institute of Architects, did not discuss the Anandgarh issue as members felt that both the Chandigarh Administration and the Union Minister of Urban Development and Planning were aware of the issue and are taking appropriate steps in this direction at the highest level. The forum expressed its deep concern over large-scale defacing of buildings by signboards in violation of the Advertisement Control Order. The forum also took a serious view of covering of verandahs against architectural controls at a rapid pace at various places in the city, including Sectors 17, 35, 22 and 34 and commercial buildings along Madhya Marg. Another issue taken up by the forum was about large-scale violations in government houses occupied by government employees. The members also were critical of no action being initiated against a pre-mix unit at Kishengarh which has been emitting dangerous and poisonous gases. Such a unit, members felt, would not be permitted even in industrial area. But the unit was continuing to operate because of highest political pressure. |
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Sapling plantation drive a big draw CHANDIGARH, July 9 — The sapling plantation drive launched here today by the local unit of the Sikh Nari Manch in collaboration with the horticulture wing of the MC, Gurdwara Sahib, Sector 37 and other Istri Singh Sabhas, was widely attended. The drive was launched by Dr Inderjit Kaur and Mrs Satwinder Kaur Dhaliwal, former MP. Mrs Dhaliwal highlighted the need to maintain an ecological balance. Former Deputy Mayor of the city, Mrs Harjinder Kaur, also spoke on the occasion and urged everyone to plant at least one sapling every year. She assured that such drives would continue in the future as well. Prior to the launching of the drive, all the Istri Singh Sabhas of Chandigarh and Mohali held a joint conference in the memory of Mata Tripta. |
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A date with statistics of City Beautiful CHANDIGARH, Data, therefore, has to be broad-based and reliable enabling experts correctly correlate and interpret assumptions. Vital statistics, when presented graphically or in pictures, enhance the understanding of the subject. It mirrors, in ways more than one, the different facets of the subject. If this be so, then 68-page, Chandigarh Informograph, by the Chandigarh College of Architecture, is more than a compendium of bare data and cold statistics. Packed with interesting, entertaining and educative facts, photographs, maps and tables, the compilation offers a wide variety of information for those living in 114 sq km area. From "general" facts (area, altitude, climate, pin, std codes, Internet address etc) to "demographic" data (both urban and rural), "housing to slums", "commerce to environment", "public facilities and utilities to recreation", the book has it all arranged sector-wise. The real value of the publication lies in knowing what Chandigarhians perceive they know but know not. There is a seamy side of this City Beautiful which is bursting at the seams. This vibrant conglomerate is fast becoming a second "home" to migrants who constitute a large army of illiterate, semi-literate manpower fast settling in what officials call "slums", authorised and unauthorised. Genesis of these slums or jhuggi-jhopris began as a negation of housing for construction workers in the city's master plan becoming more discernible in 1960s. Neither relocation nor rehabilitation since 1971 seems to help, frustrating the administration which is faced with 45 labour colonies of which only 19 are "accredited" as per a survey in 1998. In the 13th Lok Sabha elections, slums accounted for 28 per cent of the total electorate. The maximum migrants are from Uttar Pradesh 125,099, followed by Haryana and Punjab (over 26,000 each). The migrants come from as far as Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. Occupation-wise, these slums house nearly 18 type of "workers". From government and private employees to hawkers, labourers, cobblers, masons, weavers, cultivators, washermen, electrical and electronics repair mechanics, contractors etc. Of the total slum population (226,230), 52 per cent lives in "unauthorised" colonies. This constituent presents a major challenge to policy makers as it cannot be deprived of life's basic requirements. These people, backed by vote hungry politicians and empathising administrators, know how to beg, borrow and steal the essential services. On the brighter side of these settlements is Chandigarh's planned landscape making it a "green city", turning other cities green with envy. Flowering and evergreen trees, 18 species, line the city roads. Chandigarh may not have industrial pollution, not yet; it certainly is getting choked with vehicular pollution. Noise and air pollution pose a challenge. Mercifully, contamination level of water (which is rationed and scarce) is low. When it comes to public utilities and facilities, tourists' and students' interests, Chandigarh offers a varied variety. Besides entertainment and recreation, there are 88 temples, gurdwaras, mosques and churches. For the health and education conscious the city offers best of facilities, government and
private. There are 200-odd banks, 40, petrol stations etc. Yet queues continue to lengthen. The roadside vendors - tandoorwalas, dhobis, cobblers, cycle-repairmen, barbers, pan-bidiwalas, tea vendors, lalaris (who dye and starch pagris and dupattas), ice sellers, lock repairwalas, book sellers etc live in their own world. Don't forget the rehris and the rehriwalas. There are proper rehri markets in some sectors. The city has a village-culture" of its own. There are 25 villages. For the book, direction and coordination came from the Principal, Lt-Col I. J. S. Bakshi (retd.). Credit for data collection and compilation goes to Madhu Sardana and Archana Chaudhary, both Research Assistants. Last word : The city had a population of 642,015 in 1991. It has developed in two phases — I (Sector 1-29) and II (30-47). The sectors in phase II are yet to attain the assigned population figure as these are not fully
developed. The north-south divide is clear. Based on growth rate pattern (1981-1991) statistical data, Chandigarh's projected population will be 912,677 in 2001. |
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Abandoned observation posts
act as irritants SAS NAGAR, Painted in red blue and white the posts have started withering due to vagaries of weather and lack of repair work. Some of the observation posts are being used by roadside vendors to run their businesses. Due to their prime location along busy roads, the structures are also being used by advertisers. A post at the traffic lights of Phase III and V is being used by a cobbler. An old-timer, Mr Baldev Singh, who saw observation posts coming up during the early nineties, said when the clouds of militancy were still threatening the peace and
tranquility in the state, there used to be at least three policemen posted at each post. One of the cops used to climb the raised platform while the remaining used to stand guard on ground. Now they look like some odd structures which need to be removed. Instead of using the posts, the police has put up police assistance booths adjacent to the structures which look as irritants to the passersby. |
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Udham Singh’s martyrdom day at Shahbad PANCHKULA, July 9 — The Haryana Government will observe the martyrdom day of Udham Singh on July 31 at Shahbad. This was disclosed by Mr Babu Ram Kamboj, President of the Haryana Kamboj Sabha, at a press conference, here yesterday. He said prabhat pheris and a blood donation camp would also be organised on the occasion, besides an exhibition based on the life of the martyr and another in honour of freedom fighters. The sabha also decided to stage one-act plays based on his life. The play and exhibitions would be organised by the Public Relations Department in collaboration with the cultural department of the state. He said to make the programme a success, local social organisations were being asked to help out in making the public aware of the programme. The families of Kargil martyrs would also be invited to the function. Mr Kamboj added that the committee entrusted with the task of organising the function would hold meetings in Panchkula, Yamunanagar, Shahbad, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Sirsa and
Fatehabad for its smooth conclusion. The committee constituted a team for the purpose under the MLA of Tohana, Mr Nishan Singh. The other members include Mr Ram Singh Brar, Press Adviser to Chief Minister, Mr Joginder Singh Thind, a former District Development and Panchayat Officer. There are five more members.
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Students urged to
preserve heritage CHANDIGARH, The inauguration was marked by a talk on urban biodiversity by Mr S. K. Sharma, president, Environment Society of India. Highlighting the significance of ecological balance he advised the students to preserve their heritage. Among other speakers on the occasion were Mrs Sneh and Mrs Neeraj Verma. About 25 NSS volunteers carried out a sanitation drive on the school premises on this occasion. They also disposed of collected waste material to make manure. The students also cleared the area of congress grass and also uprooted other weeds growing around the old village pond in Sector 26. |
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Swaying to rhythm CHANDIGARH, July 9 — The humid temperature was no dampener for the young and the elite who tapped their feet to popular English music yesterday. The party by the poolside at Hotel Mountview was full of enthusiasm and life. The group of youngsters did not miss to take a dip in the swimming pool and continued dancing in the pool. The girls and guys were clad in vibrant-coloured dresses. The entry for the dance was free for the youngsters. Almost all the teenagers were seen swaying to catchy pop numbers. The venue was bedecked for the event as the evening revelers left no movement to dance to the thumping beats. The dance party was organised by Fashion Revealers and Nirvana Health Club. |
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Press Club office-bearers PANCHKULA,
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4 held on eve-teasing charges CHANDIGARH, July 9 — In separate incidents, the police has arrested four persons on the charges of eve-teasing.According to police sources, Jagmeet, Harjit and Sukhjinder Singh, were arrested from near Kiran Cinema for passing indecent remarks against passing girls. A case under Section 509 IPC has been registered against them. In the second case, Sector 45 resident Murari Lal was arrested for singing obscene songs which offended womenfolk. A case under Section 294, IPC, has been registered against him. Liquor seized: Dadu Majra resident Mohinder Pal Singh was arrested from near the colony for possessing 62 pouches of whisky. A case under Section 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act has been registered against him. One booked: The police arrested Sector 32 resident Bishen Dass for drinking at a public place. He was booked under Section 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act. Four held: Four persons were arrested from different parts of the city for apprehension of breach of peace in the city and booked under Section 107 and 151, Cr P C. Car stolen: Mr Munish Nayar, a resident of Sector 7, Panchkula, reported that his car, CHOIQ 0740, was stolen from the parking of Panjab University. A case under Section 379, IPC, has been registered in this regard. In another case, Mr Varinder Bhatia reported that his scooter, CHOIM 1903, was stolen from industrial area. A case has been registered. SAS NAGAR Case registered: In connection with the case of a girl eloping with her lover after attempting to poison her mother and grandmother by giving them a glass of lassi laced with poison, the local police has sent parties to the native village of the boy’s family in Moga district. A police official said the girl had fled along with her neighbour, Kuldeep Singh, and his parents. The police registered a case under Sections 380, 328 and 34 of the IPC. Car recovered: The local police has recovered a car (PAX 5180) from Ravinder Sharma, a member of a gang who was arrested by the police near the PCA traffic lights recently. The car was stolen from Ropar.
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Patwari held on bribe charge KHARAR,
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Government negotiates 870-crore
ADB loan CHANDIGARH, July 9 — The Government of India has negotiated a Rs 870-crore credit with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to finance urban infrastructural projects in India, Mr Ashok Pahwa, Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation, said at a road show here. Emphasising the need for uplift of the urban infrastructure facilities, especially the water supply, sanitation and solid waste management, Mr Pahwa said this was imperative for making the cities sustainable. Coming down heavily on the states of the region for not availing of the external assistance for the improvement of the urban infrastructure, he rued that the share of Punjab and Haryana was only 4.4 per cent, while 61 per cent assistance was cornered by three other states. Similarly, the shares of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh were negligible. Giving statistics, Mr Pahwa said the unaccounted share of water in the urban areas was 30 to 50 per cent of the total water supply. That was one of the reasons for the cities receiving water supply only for three to four hours against 22 hours in Sri Lanka and 24 hours in Malaysia. Mr Ashok Lawasa, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Finance, while terming the credit as "path-breaking", hoped the loan would meet the basic needs of the urban population. Answering a question on his ministry's financial assistance for the proposed Anandgarh township, near here, Mr Pahwa said the matter was yet in the formative stage. In fact, the coordination committee would meet tomorrow to deliberate on the issue. Mr Vishnu Bhagwan, Principal Secretary to the Haryana Chief Minister, disclosed that the state government was working on two major water treatment schemes. It was stated that under the facility it was proposed to make available long-term loans for urban infrastructural projects through three nodal agencies — HUDCO, ICICI and HDFC — for disbursement of funds to sub-borrowers. The agencies would receive Rs 390 crore, Rs 350 crore and Rs 130 crore, respectively, as part of the programme. The sectors in which the projects eligible for financing were water supply, sanitation, drainage, sewerage, solid waste management, area development, industrial waste management, air pollution control, streets, bridges, transport terminals, public transport systems, market development and enhancement of financial and managerial capacities of the urban local bodies. The bulk of funding would be available to the water supply and sanitation projects and the total funding available for streets, bridges, public transport, terminals and market development would be limited to about Rs 87 crore. The urban local bodies and the state and city level agencies engaged in the development, operation and maintenance of the urban infrastructural services were eligible for the borrowings. A major in-built criterion for availing of the loan facility was that it incorporated that the borrowers would undertake reform measures which included revenue enhancement strategies, introduction of computerised records, improvement of cost recovery and ensuring long-term financial sustainability.
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Vegetable supply hit, prices up PANCHKULA, Prices of peas went up from Rs 28 a kg in Sector 7 to Rs 32 this week while the vegetable was priced at Rs 30 a kg in Sector 8. Ginger prices doubled in a fortnight and went up from Rs 40 a kg to Rs 80 a kg in the two markets. The price of garlic also witnessed a sharp rise with charges being Rs 50 a kg against Rs 12 a kg in Sector 7 and 8. From costing Rs 12 a kg last fortnight, the price of French beans increased to Rs 20 a kg in Sector 8 while it was priced at Rs 22 a kg in Sector 7. Available in plenty in the local markets, a kg of lady’s finger could be bought for Rs 20 a kg in the two sectors though it was priced at Rs 12 a kg a fortnight back. The price of cucumber which had marginally decreased to Rs 8 a kg, returned to its old price of Rs 12 a kg this week. Brinjal, costing Rs 18 a kg a fortnight back, could be bought for Rs 24 a kg in sector 7 while the same was priced at Rs 25 a kg in Sector 8 while the price of radish doubled from Rs 10 a kg to Rs 20 a kg. After a rise in price of tomatoes last fortnight, the prices further went up and a kg of the vegetable was priced at Rs 20 a kg in Sector 7 and Rs 22 in Sector 8. Cabbage which cost Rs 10 a kg in Sector 7 last fortnight was being sold for Rs 20 a kg, and a kg of cauliflower could be had for Rs 20 a kg against its old price of Rs 12 a kg. The prices of potatoes available in two varieties remained the same. While the stored variety cost Rs 5 a kg, pahari potato was more expensive and cost Rs 8 a kg. The price of onion also remained unchanged at Rs 8 a kg in the markets of Sector 7 and 8. A kg of lemon, being sold for Rs 32 a kg a fortnight back, went up to Rs 40 a kg this week in Sector 8. Capsicum prices which dipped to Rs 24 last fortnight doubled to go up to Rs 50 a kg this week. Similarly, gourd prices doubled to cost Rs 12 kg while squashgourd was priced at Rs 20 a kg in Sector 8. |
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