Thursday, July 20, 2000, Chandigarh, India |
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Speed limits may be lowered in city CHANDIGARH, The increasing fatality rate has set alarm bells ringing in the department which set about on an exercise to lower the accident rate which has increased even though awareness camps were organised by the traffic police at regular intervals. Elaborating on the changes Mr Balbir Singh, SP, Traffic, said keeping in view the accidents which took place due to speeding, the police has placed an order for 10 radars which are in addition to the five existing ones. Parties of the traffic police would be stationed at all the major roads of the city to curb the tendency to speed up. Besides this, the department was also writing to the Administration to renotify the speed limits in the city. This was being done since it had been seen that with the volume of mixed traffic, accidents were on the rise. Since it was not possible to segregate traffic, lowering the speed limits was the only possible solution in the near future, he opined. The SP said they were organising a 10-day-long drive to challan two wheelers and heavy vehicles which were plying in violation of norms. The Punjab and Haryana High court has issued specific instructions in this context. He said all the heavy vehicles which did not have tail lights, brake lights, indicators and other assorted signals as specified in the Motor Vehicles Act would be challaned. The drive would be strictly enforced since a majority of vehicles were involved in serious accidents since a vehicle following them could not see when they applied the brake or took a turn. The help of the area SHOs would also be sought and personnel would be posted at 29 accident prone areas to nab offenders, the SP pointed out. This would not be restricted to trucks and other commercial and private vehicles plying on the roads, but would also cover state roadways buses. “I have written to the general managers of the state transport undertaking of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, besides Chandigarh, to ensure that their vehicles complied with the norms. No benefit, just because they were government vehicles, would be given, the SP stressed. |
Panchkula plans speed boards PANCHKULA, The Superintendent of Police, Ms Kala Ramachandran, says, "We have just received the approval and will begin enforcement as soon as the boards stating the permissible speed limits are put up all over the city.'' The recommendations for speed limits on various roads were made earlier this year by a committee constituted for the purpose by the Deputy Commissioner. The decision followed an increase in the number of vehicles and the number of accidents. The police had identified the road from the Housing Board to the Old SDM's Office in Sector 12 as the busiest when the proposal was sent for approval where speed checks were a necessity. Further, the idea was to target rash drivers. Ms Ramachandran added that surprise checks would be carried out on a regular basis in the city. "We will carry out the exercise with the help of the existing force and identify the areas most prone to rash driving,'' she added. The department already has a speed radar which was lying idle in the absence of any restrictions on speed. The imposition of speed limits would end the problem of drivers whizzing past on the roads with little care. Without the backing of any official orders, the police personnel could do nothing to bring down the rising accident rate in the city. |
Rain delays trains CHANDIGARH, July 19 — Water on the rail tracks at several places in Haryana coupled with heavy rain on the Okhla-Delhi rail section has forced the Railways to operate trains on ‘’caution’’ mode which means lower speeds than usual. The narrow-gauge Kalka-Shimla section was closed again today after the passage of two early morning passenger trains following fresh landslide between Koti and Gumhan. This forced several tourists — travelling either way — to go by road. Water is reportedly on the rail tracks or very close to the tracks on the Jind-Narwana-Dhuri section and also near Sangrur. In such cases caution was required, said a source, adding that the speeds were decreased as per the prevailing conditions on certain sections. So far, trains operating on the main line running through Ambala towards Saharanpur and Delhi, respectively, are not on “caution mode”. Some long-distance trains coming from the eastern part of the country are also running late. Heavy rain on the Faridabad-Okhla-Delhi section has also forced several long-distance trains to slow down. The narrow-gauge Kalka-Shimla section was re-opened around 4:15 p.m. This section was opened to traffic only this morning following track clearance operations undertaken late last evening. The 251 Express, which left Kalka at 6.30 a.m. had to be brought back following stone slips and the landslide between Koti and Gumhan. A portion of the track had also caved in at the spot. Train services have been suspended for the past two days due to landslides at various places, including Kandaghat, Salogra, Solan and Barog, the highest point on the section. Kalka, the terminal point for broad-gauge and narrow-gauge trains from Delhi and Shimla, faces a water crisis due to a disruption in the supply for the past three days. |
Exchange flooded, phones go dead SAS NAGAR, It took over four hours for a fire engine to pump out the water from the ducts. Harassed telephone subscribers could be seen complaining to the telecom officials. They were told that nothing could be done till the water was pumped out and the fault detected. Sources in the Telecom Department said the flooding had effected the telephone connections in Phases 3B 1, 3B 2, 4, 5, 7 and other phases. Till this evening, efforts were being made to detect the
fault. Kalka-Shimla
trains cancelled CHANDIGARH,
The section re-opened around 4.15 p.m. This section was opened for traffic this morning following track clearance operations undertaken late last evening. The 251 Express, which left Kalka at 6.30 a m had to be brought back, following stone slips and the land-slides between Koti and Ghuman railway stations. A portion of the track had also caved in at the spot. |
Octroi collection to
go in private hands SAS NAGAR,
The last time the move to privatise the octroi collection in civic bodies was scrapped after the Punjab Council of Ministers decided against it in November. Seeing the sensitive nature of the issue which could have wide-ranging ramifications, the responsibility of taking the decision was passed to the civic bodies. An official of the local municipal council said the octroi collection from August 8, 2000 to August 15, 2001 will be auctioned on August 4. Though the reserve price was yet to be fixed, it was expected to be over Rs 17 crore. The council had fixed a target of around 16. 40 crore for the financial year ending in April 20001. The income of the council from the octroi collection during financial years 1998-99 and 1999-2000 was Rs 12.69 crore and Rs 14.62 crore, respectively. Earlier, the council had auctioned the octroi collection for a period of eight months (August 1, 1998 to March 31, 1999) for Rs 8.64 crore. The official said the contractual octroi collection was cancelled after eight months following opposition by the trading community. As per a formula to fix the reserve price of the auction, if the octroi collection on a contractual basis has to be renewed, the reserve price is 15 per cent more than the previous auction price. If the octroi collection passes from government hands to private hands, the reserve price is 20 per cent more than the previous financial year's income. Sources in the local government department said a new formula to fix the reserve price was being proposed by government. If finalised, the reserve price would be 5 per cent more than previous year's estimated budget. |
2 murder
accused arrested CHANDIGARH,
According to Mr Parag Jain, SSP, the body of a Sikh person, about 40 years old, was found by the police from near a thicket of bushes in Khuda Ali Sher village late last night. The body bore grievous injuries on the neck and head. Some villagers told the police that they had seen a Maruti van speeding from the spot. Apparently, the crime had been committed elsewhere and the body dumped here by the accused. The deceased was identified as Mohinder Singh, who ran a tea shop in the Sector 24 rehri market for the past decade. Following investigations, suspicion narrowed down to Gurvinder Singh, alias Sonu, and his friend Dilbagh Singh, alias Dalla. Both are residents of Khuda Ali Sher and knew the deceased for about a year. The former plied a taxi at the Sector 11 taxi stand and is said to be the paramour of the deceased's wife. The reason for the crime was that Mohinder Singh objected to the affair Both have confessed their crime and will be produced in court tomorrow. |
Teacher suspended for beating Principal CHANDIGARH, July 19 — A government school lecturer has been suspended for allegedly bashing up the Principal of another school in which his wife works. A lecturer in commerce at GMSSS-20 D, Harbir Singh Anand, reportedly bashed up Mr S.K.Bharti, Principal of Government Model School, Sector 11. According to sources, Mr Anand dragged the Principal from his office and beat him in the presence of other staff members during working hours in the school. He is also said to have threatened the victim with dire consequences. The provocation behind the incident was that the lecturer's wife is a teacher in the Sector 11 school and he had reportedly wanted to "mark her attendance" when she was absent and this was objected to by Mr Bharti. The matter was brought to the notice of the DPI (S), Mr D S Saroya, by the staff of the school, following which Anand was placed under suspension. Disciplinary proceedings are under way against Anand in another case of alleged case of misbehaviour with senior officers. |
In constant discovery of the actress in herself CHANDIGARH, July 19 — Ludhiana girl Divya Dutta has gone places as an actress. She might not have cast a significant impression in her debut film Ishq Mein Jina Ishq Mein Marna, but she did not take very long after that to re-cast herself as a sensible actress. Today, with powerful performances in films like Shaheed-e-Mohabbat and A Train to Pakistan to her credit, Divya is close to dictating terms, although she is modest enough not to. Divya was in town today as part of the Tara Channel team which is holding promotional tours all over the region. Accompanied by people like Jaspal Bhatti, producer Harjeet Singh and Kishwar Ahluwalia, CEO, Tara Punjabi, Divya sat poised, seemingly in preparation of the shooting of her show, Peche Pudiyan De which begins in the city tomorrow. While the channel people concentrated on highlighting the programme content of the channel, most eyes focused on the pretty girl who sat in silence. When she broke her silence, one knew why Shyam Benegal had decided to cast her in his film Summer and in yet another film which is still untitled. She is one actress who looks for growth as a performer. That is perhaps one reason why one does not spot her in every other movie. "I am choosy about my films and when I am deciding on what film to do, I take guidance from my intuition. It often guides me right. Script is very important to me. I would rather do a good role for no money than do a frivolous one for a lot of money," she says. Also, she is quite concerned about what she learns from each role. "I am constantly trying to perfect myself. Another thing I want is versatility. A good performer, I feel, should never cast himself or herself into a particular image. That mars talent. It is important to break shells and keep discovering the hidden talent. That is what I keep trying." She also believes that the director plays a prime role in building actors. "Some directors hand over the script to you and expect a performance; others execute what they want. A good director can actually make you cry if a scene demands so," she says Her versatility has already come to light in her performance opposite Gurdass Mann and going by what she has in line for herself, there are many more facets of the actress in her which are yet to be seen. Apart from the two Shyam Benegal films, one Dimple Kapadia film (titled Pagli), one Mahesh Bhatt and one Indo-German film in the pipeline, Divya is doing another film with director David Dhawan. "I have take up diverse roles so that I can project my skill. I love dancing around with Govinda because I find it challenging. So I will do a David Dhawan film to see how good I can be. At the same time, I am highly concerned about my image as a serious actress. So I choose roles which demand intensity." Divya was particularly excited about the film called Naxalite which is being directed by Sanjay Rawal (of Udaan fame). She talked about how she learnt to get aggressive while shooting the film. "They took us to jungles where we actually worked with pythons, tigers and insects. And I did not even realise that I was acting with aggression. The ambience was doing it to me." Coming to Tara Channel and her role as an anchor in one of its programmes, Divya said she was happy about her role as an anchor. "The programme is very entertaining and I would say that it is a family programme which has a mix of everything — from entertainment to competition. It is being shot from tomorrow." The CEO of Tara Punjabi, Ms Kishwar Ahluwalia, informed that Tara was gearing up to cater to the entire regional audience and providing a master blend of programmes, from entertainment-based serials to those focusing on current events. The channel is also launching an anchor hunt in Punjab and Delhi beginning tomorrow. She said that the preliminary rounds of this hunt will be held at Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Delhi and the finals would be held on August 18 in Chandigarh. She also discussed the programmes at length, apart from playing a sequence especially shot for the purpose on the TV. The channel has roped in personalities like Ruby Bhatia, Kiran Bedi, Hans Raj Hans etc to add glamour to the programmes. |
Media ignoring rural areas: Jacob CHANDIGARH, July 19 — The media needs to widen its reporting network in the villages to highlight the problems of the rural population, said the Punjab Governor and UT Administrator, Lieut-Gen J.F.R Jacob (retd) while presiding over a function to mark the 20th foundation day of the Chandigarh Press Club, here today. The Governor said that with the media concentrating on urban areas, the problems of 80 per cent population living in rural areas get neglected. He said that villages are covered only when there is some sensitive occurrence or natural calamity. He said that Press must focus on development become a vehicle of the nation's progress. Tracing the role played by the newspapers in India's freedom movement, the Governor said the press played an effective role in awakening the masses during the freedom struggle. Our leaders understood the power of this medium and used it effectively to put across their message to the masses. Newspapers virtually became part of the freedom struggle and subsequently helped the nation in its march towards progress. He recounted the role played by the media in generating support for India's actions in the liberation of Bangladesh and in the recent Kargil conflict. Expressing concern over the changing role of media, especially after the advent of satellite television, the Governor said care should be taken to see that the personality, character and objectivity of newspapers do not get affected. General Jacob said that journalism is a honourable vocation and mediapersons must be objective and constructive. The role of editors must not be diluted as the quality of a newspaper is judged only by its editorial content. The Governor announced a grant of Rs 30,000 for the library of Chandigarh Press Club. Mr Gobind Thukral and Mr B.K. Chum recounted how a team of few members planned and built the club from the scratch. The General honoured 11 members of Chandigarh Press Club who signed the original memorandum of understanding for constituting the club. |
Schools caught in traffic jams CHANDIGARH, July 19
— The increasing traffic jams outside the city schools are causing a lot of problems not only to parents and students but also to general commuters. Long queues of cars and two-wheelers accompanied by the noise of blaring horns greet the passersby and visitors during the opening and closing hours of schools. Although many schools have introduced some remedial measures, the problem is assuming alarming proportions. Some school authorities and parents said the entry points of most schools were traffic hazards where the incidence of accidents was high. They said the Administration should look into the matter and take some preventive measures. Sister Oleen, Principal of the Sector 9 Carmel Convent School, said inconvenience was caused because most visitors parked their vehicles in front of the school gate. The area is so congested that little space is left for the other vehicles to pass. The problem has been controlled to some extent because the entry and exit points for students and teachers have been changed. "The problem can be tackled with the cooperation of parents, teachers and students," she said. The traffic also adds to the noise and air pollution. One of the worst-affected schools is St Stephen's School in Sector 45. This issue is a constant source of friction between persons living nearby and the school authorities. It is virtually a madhouse outside the school during its opening and closing hours, although the traffic is one-way at these times. Mr Harold Carver, Principal of the school, said the traffic was indeed a nuisance at these times. "Persons have encroached upon public land in front of their houses, as a result of which, the space for vehicles to pass has reduced." He said, "We have requested the Administration to look into the matter and do the needful. The traffic causes inconvenience to residents, but we are also affected by it. Help from policemen is periodic. Six staff members and students remain on traffic duty in the peak hours to guide visitors. Students of various classes are let off at different times to avoid confusion on the road. Sources said the space where the school was located was meant for a park. The problem is also witnessed in the Sector 26 school, Vivek High School and St Anne's School, besides government schools in Sectors 21, 16 and 18. Mr Sanjay Bhatia, a parent, said there was no immediate and permanent solution in sight. Ms Anuradha Gupta, another parent, said the school authorities should pressurise the Administration to improve the system. Harmanreet Thind, a student, said, "There is chaos outside our school at these hours and accidents are common." Radhika Shouri and Sandhya, both students, said they always left for school early, but were often caught in a traffic jam. Some changes are necessary in the road set-up of Chandigarh as the traffic is increasing rapidly. According to officials, 10 schools are on the priority list for introducing measures to handle the crisis. They said the Administration was trying out various measures to overcome the problem. |
Should driving licence age be lowered to 16 ? Mona Kaushal (16), passed plus two: The driving licence age should be lowered to 16. The Motor Vehicles Act (MVA) disallows those below 18 to apply for a driving licence. The bar only encourages illegal practices. Sometimes parents themselves procure driving licences for their children below 18 through underhand means. Youngsters driving geared vehicles despite the legal restrictions is a common sight. If the law in this regard cannot be enforced strictly, then it is better to issue licences to those who have completed 16 years. It should be possible to do so after the applicant passes the prescribed test. Gaurav Mittal (16), plus one student: Prescribing 18 as the age for issuing driving licences has not stopped 16-plus youngsters from driving scooters and motorbikes. Ninety per cent of my classmates drive such vehicles. If they can manage to do so by resorting to corrupt practices, then why not start issuing driving licences at 16? Nowadays most of the students prepare for competitive examinations by taking tuitions and have to do a lot of commuting for this purpose. A moped is hardly better than a bicycle. What one requires is a scooter at this stage. A learner’s licence does not entitle a 16-year-old to drive a scooter and that leads to a lot of inconvenience. Students, I feel, would be satisfied if they are allowed to drive a scooter at 16. The minimum age for driving a car can continue to be 18. The administration, should have no objection to this. Dalip Thakur, student: The driving licence age should be lowered to 16. Today’s youngsters are mature and mentally tough and to face the challenges of modern times they need to make the optimum use of their time. It is the need of the hour, therefore, to issue driving licences to them at 16. One of the precautions we can take is to improve our system of issuing licences. Special training and proper instruction should be imparted to a youngster before issuing him the licence. The traffic police too has a vital role to play. They need to be honest and must challan the wrong-doers. Thus by improving the system, we can reduce accidents on the roads. Ayushman Khurana: Eighty per cent of the accidents on the roads involve “mature” and legally entitled drivers. That the youngsters habitually indulge in speeding is a misleading argument. One can have a penchant for overspeeding at any age, be it 35 or 45 or more or less. It only shows a state of mind. I know a number of students who drive without licence and are indistinguishable from valid licence holders in terms of skill. We should place more faith in our young generation and lower the driving licence age to 16. Give them a chance to feel responsible. Anilesh Mahajan (19), engineering diploma holder: During my second year of engineering course, a classmate of mine who was a minor approached a tout for getting a driving licence. The tout told him it was a small matter; all that was required was an affidavit declaring that the applicant was an illiterate. To check such corrupt practices, I suggest that a provisional driving licence should be issued to 16-year-olds. They should produce assurances from two respectable members of society and a gazetted officer. If a provisional licence holder is found violating traffic rules thrice, his licence should be cancelled and he should be debarred from obtaining a licence for five years. Rahul Datta (16), B. Com. I student: We face a number of problems without the permission to drive motor vehicles, but it is pointless to put one’s own life and the lives of others at risk. In their eagerness to be independent, youngsters start driving on roads without a valid licence and flout traffic rules with impunity. They zip around on two-wheelers without helmets and drive cars with blaring music from the stereos. They show little concern for pedestrians while speeding, often in competition with one another. If licences are issued to the 16-plus group, it will only add to the large volume of unmanageable traffic already existing on the roads. Therefore, the driving licence age should continue to be 18. Lakhwinder Saini, electrical engineering student: To be able to drive safely in heavy traffic, the driving licence age should be kept above 16 years. The body develops the capacity to handle heavy vehicles at that stage only. For going to school and attending tuitions, mopeds up to 50 cc should suffice. The youngsters learn about the rules by observing their parents drive. If they are well aware of the rules and are above 16 years, driving licences should be issued to them. Divya Gupta (17), passed plus two: I am strongly against the suggestion to lower the driving licence age to 16. I have a licence to drive non-geared vehicles and youngsters of my age too should have no problem in moving about in a similar manner. Lowering the driving licence age will only add to the swelling number of vehicles on the roads leading to congestion and more accidents. Even without the permission to drive motor vehicles before 18, the number of youngsters doing so is considerable, mainly to make an impression on others. Instead of copying the western system, especially the Canadian, in the prevailing conditions in India, the existing system should be continued. |
IYC wants Bajrang Dal, VHP banned SAS NAGAR, This was disclosed by Mr Jasbir Singh Dimpa, General Secretary, IYC, at a press conference organised at the residence of Mr Baldev Singh, former General Secretary of the Punjab Youth Congress, here today. Mr Dimpa said IYC workers would gherao Parliament House on July 25 in support of their demands. He said the RSS leadership did not have any sympathy with the people of Punjab even during the time of militancy. And their statement that “Sikhs are an offshoot of Hinduism” was ill-timed as it made fundamentalists more powerful. He criticised the Central Government for being unable to control the soaring prices and also for failing on the security front. He said subsidies had been cut which had adversely affected the poor. Even the PDS, which was meant only for the poorest of the poor, had not been spared. The prices of fertilisers had increased drastically. The youth leader opposed Dr Farooq Abdullah’s demand for autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir. He said that if all states started asking for autonomy what would happen to the nation. Mr Dimpa said that the Punjab Government had failed on all fronts and people had got fed of it. The bureaucracy and the police had been demoralised. He alleged that in certain areas police stations were working as extension offices of the SAD. Corruption was at its peak. He alleged that the crime rate in Punjab had increased manifold. This had happened because certain Akali leaders were allegedly giving patronage to anti-social elements. |
Aid for kids of Kargil martyrs CHANDIGARH, The meeting under the presidentship of the Haryana Governor, Babu Parmanand, was also attended by the Chief Minister,Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Minister of State for Social Welfare, Mr Risal Singh, and the Vice-President of the Council, Mrs Sudesh Kumari. It was also decided in the meeting to convert the seven drug counselling and assistance centres in the state into drug treatment-cum-rehabilitation centres. The meeting was attended by the Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, senior officers and the social workers of the state. Later, at the award presentation ceremony, the B.N. Chakravarty Sheild for the all round best council was given to the Child Welfare Council, Gurgaon. Narnaul received the Dhanik Lal Mandal Shield for the best council in the rural areas. Medals, souvenirs and awards were also given to individuals for their meritorious contribution in the field of child welfare. Speaking at the function, the Governor urged the voluntary organisations and the council for organising camps at the district levels to motivate people to donate generously to the cause of child welfare and development. The Haryana state Council for Child Welfare also passed a resolution in the meeting which placed on the record its deep appreciation of the services rendered by the former Governor of Haryana, Mr Mahabir Prasad, in the area. The Hony General Secretary, Miss Phoolmati, apprised the executives of its various ongoing projects. |
Rain water enters schools DERA BASSI, Hundreds of students could not attend classes for the third consecutive day since water could not be drained out from the premises. Rain water not only damaged the approach passages to the schools but also the rooms. Some students had to attend lectures by sitting on benches partly submerged in water. Knee-deep water could be witnessed in the courtyard of the DAV High School and the DAV Public School in Dera Bassi which has damaged the laboratories of the school, rendering costly equipment beyond repair. Sources say that waterlogging was due to the construction work being carried out adjacent to the school. The owners of the newly constructed building had dumped the loose soil in the drainage, thereby blocking the natural flow of storm water, sources allege. Mrs Jaya Bhardwaj, Principal of the DAV Public School, said the water entered the school building and caused huge losses. She said that the civil administration and municipal council authorities should take the necessary action against the erring persons who caused waterlogging which damaged the school property and affected the studies of the students. The municipal authorities claimed that water was flushed out within one and a half hours as they got information this noon. Mr Jagjit Singh Dalli, President of the Municipal Council, said that water entered the schools due to the recently raised the road level. Besides a JVC machine, a team of 10 employees was pressed to flush the water out of the schools. |
Arrested for
carrying gun CHANDIGARH, According to police sources, Rajinder Singh, a resident of phase VI, was arrested from the Sector 52-61 dividing road and the gun and seven cartridges were recovered from his possession. A case under Section 188, IPC, and Section 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act has been registered. Case registered: A case under Sections 420 and 120-B, IPC, has been registered. Drinking in public:
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Petrol station
challaned CHANDIGARH,
The team led by the Under Secretary
Home-cum-Controlle, Weights and Measures, Mr Ashok Sangwan, challaned them under the Standard Weights and Measurement Rules.
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Rs 360 crore for
urban slums CHANDIGARH, HUDCO is also spending a large amount under this scheme, the Minister added. The Minister also informed that 16,000 dwelling units for slum dwellers will be constructed in Phase III of Chandigarh. The Minister said because of an increase in the migration of population from villages to the cities and towns, good governance in urban areas has become very essential through people’s participation. The Minister added that the rate of migration to the urban areas is so fast that by 2010 the population of urban areas will increase from the present 40 to 60 per cent. Therefore, the government is seriously thinking of improving basic infrastructural facilities in the urban areas. The Minister also informed that in view of the escalation in the prices of the urban and construction activity, the investment by private sector is welcome in the urban areas, but at the same time they should give priority to the weaker sections while formulating their schemes. While commenting upon the Anandgarh project, the Minister said that it is a good scheme. But the Central Government does not have any special policy for the new towns of population between 5 to 40 lakh, the Minister said, and added that, however, a new policy will be formulated for such cities soon. Earlier the Minister held separate review meetings of the various urban development and housing project with senior officials of Punjab and Chandigarh. During the meeting the Minister cleared the scheme worth Rs 250 crore for water supply and sanitation for local self government in Punjab.
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