The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

4 crore to be spent on removal of Sukhna silt
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — A sum of Rs 4 crore has been sanctioned for this financial year to remove silt by way of wet dredging from the Sukhna lake and the work on it will start after December 20, when the Asian Rowing Championship concludes.

The Wet Dredging Corporation of India has been entrusted the task of removing the 9 lakh cubic metre of silt from the lake and it will complete this task within the next 15 months. The corporation will employ two wet dredgers that will remove 50,000 cubic metre silt every month. With the removal of 9 lakh cubic meters of silt, the depth of the lake will increase by average four feet.

While informing the Administrator, Lieut- Gen J.F.R. Jacob, the Finance Secretary, Mr Rakesh Singh, said that dredgers would dump out silt in the from of slurry into tanks being built in an area towards north of the lake. In the tank silt will settle down and water will flow back into the Sukhna. The dredgers will take out 20 per cent of silt with 80 per cent of water.

The Finance Secretary said that for acquiring 25 acres of private land notification had already been issued and permission is awaited to acquire 70 acres of forest land.

A decision in this regard was taken today following a meeting in which the Advisor to the Administrator, Mrs Vineeta Rai, and Mr Shastri, Chairman of the corporation, participated along with General Jacob and Mr Rakesh Singh.

The Administrator said that to save the Sukhna, wet dredging was only answer to the problem of siltation. General Jacob said that though siltation had been reduced considerably during the past few years due to various measures taken by the Administration in the catchment area as well as in the lake. He said that due to construction of check dams, spurs and plantations in catchment area and construction of diversion channel the siltation ratio in the lake had been reduced to 33 per cent. But to increase the depth of lake, wet dredging was the only solution.

General Jacob said that it was very important to save this wetland and asked the Advisor to coordinate the Ministry of Environment to seek early clearance from the ministry.

The Chief Engineer informed the Administrator that the detailed mapping of the Sukhna area had already been undertaken by the Irrigation Institute of Amritsar. The Administrator emphasised on completing this task in time-bound manner and suggested that wet dredging would be done periodically to save this water feature.

Blind woman raped, 3 ITBP men arrested
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — As many as three personnel of the 10 Battalion of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) have been arrested by the police for allegedly raping a blind woman in the forest near Hallo Majra village, late last night.

According to police sources, the accused have been identified as Head Constable Fateh Singh, Constables — Suraj Bihari and Gauri Kumar, besides Dhanush Dhari, a rickshawpuller. They have been booked under Sections 376, 366, 506, 170 and 34 of the IPC.

The sources said the trio were roaming near the village when they came across the 20- year-old victim on a rickshaw, who was looking for accommodation in the village as her jhuggi had collapsed. She was asking for directions when she was spotted by the trio who offered to help her.

They, on the pretext of helping her, took her to the forest across the village and allegedly raped her. Her cries were heard by some people who rescued her, while the accused ran away. The police was informed and nabbed the rickshaw-puller and able to ascertain the identity of the trio.

While two of the accused were arrested the same night, two others were taken into custody today morning despite some initial reluctance reportedly shown by the ITBP authorities.

Taking a serious view of the matter, Mr Parag Jain, SSP, has written to the authorities concerned that strict action would be taken against personnel indulging in such activities. They have been remanded to judicial custody till September 9 by a city court.

Mismanagement at B.Ed counselling session
By Kanchan Vasdev
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — The admission seekers and their parents are facing hardships at the counselling programme for admission to the B.Ed course in the Dev Samaj College of Education. About 1,000 persons visit the college daily for counselling. The hot and humid weather, besides space that is insufficient to accommodate even 500 persons, has added to their discomfort.

Candidates and their parents have come from all over Punjab. Most of them have to wait outside the campus as the tents erected by the college authorities for sheltering admission seekers are packed to capacity.

Hundreds of candidates and their parents continue to sit on roadside, under trees or wherever they find a place. However, the crowd is so big that some of them do not find any place to sit.

Mr K.C. Verma who had come from Kapurthala, said, “We are standing here since morning, but have not found a place to sit. The heat is unbearable. Officials should have been prepared to make arrangements for such a large crowd,” he said.

Mr Mandeep Kumar, who had come from Fazilka with his daughter, said there was only one toilet on the premises for men and women.

Rajinder Kumar, a student from Bhogpur near Jalandhar, said nobody was listening to the complaints of the candidates. “Yesterday, I approached a teacher to complain about something. While She was listening to me, another teacher stepped in and said I could go to the High Court and resolve the matter. Do we need to move court for such trivial problems now?” he said.

Many parents were upset because officials had decided not to allow them to enter the counselling hall. “My wife and I took a leave from our offices to bring our daughter here, but were not allowed to be with her during the counselling. How can she decide on her own which college to choose? The officials have also asked us to deposit the fee today itself and that is not refundable,” said Mr K.C. Verma.

Some persons also said the securitymen on the main gate of the college misbehaved with the visitors.

The Coordinator of the Joint Admission Committee of the UT and Punjab B.Ed Colleges, Dr Satinder Dhillon, said the newspaper advertisement for the admissions clearly mentioned that candidates of the general category who had upto 130 marks, should appear for an interview. However, the reserved-category candidates, who had not been called, had also turned up at the venue on their own. The college had made arrangements for only 500 candidates and their parents. The candidates who were dissatisfied with the arrangements were mostly those who had not been called for the counselling.

‘Malignant lymphomas are curable’
By Poonam Batth
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — Any painless lymph-node enlargement(s) on the body should not be ignored because this can be lymphoma. However, there is no reason to panic as malignant lymphomas are curable. Recent developments in molecular biology, genetics and the use of biological response-modifiers have helped in finding the cure. Dr S.H. Advani, Head of the Department of Medical Oncology in Tata Cancer Hospital of Mumbai, said this while talking to the Chandigarh Tribune today. He has come here to participate in a two-day continuing-medical-education programme on the Recent trends in Management of Lymphoma organised by the Department of Radiotherapy in the PGI.

Lymphomas comprise a wide group of malignancies and are common in developing countries. Dr Advani said multidrug therapy helped in controlling the disease in a large number of cases. The cure rate is as high as 95 per cent in the cases of Hodgkin’s disease, a malignancy of the lymphatic system, and even about two-thirds of the cases of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma are curable. “The new drugs that kill only malignant cells without harming the healthy ones, have revolutionised the treatment of cancer. Monoclonal antibodies target the malignant tissue (lymphoma cells) and also rescue the patient from side effects. Even old persons who show symptoms of the advanced stage of the disease can be cured. Dr Advani said the use of bone-marrow protectors and stimulators along with chemotherapy helped a patient tolerate the treatment and improved the cure rate.

Dr J.S. Sekhon, Chief of Medical Oncology in the DMC of Ludhiana, said lymphomas commonly occurred in the cervical region, the head and the neck, the axilla, the groin region and the abdomen. He said the patients showed symptoms of unexplained fever, sweating at night, weight loss and loss of appetite. Persons with such symptoms who were did not respond to the usual treatment, should seek professional advice.

“Though many things about this disease are not known, it has been found that persons who are exposed to radiation and solvents used in the oil and paint industry, are more likely to have lymphoma than the others. Also, AIDS patients are likely to develop aggressive lymphomas. Such a patient is likely to have associated symptoms of AIDS and co-existing infection. Even in the cases of patients who have undergone renal and heart transplants, the incidence of the disease is 200 times more than the other patients,” Dr Sekhon said.

A change in the chemotherapy dose has also improved the cure rate of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Dr Sekhon said a higher dose of chemotherapy was recommended in certain types of aggessive lymphomas. In some cases, radiotherapy was recommended along with chemotherapy because multimodality approach was better for the management of extranodal lymphomas. Surgery and radiation also played an important role in the management of these.

“Cases of lymphoma in India are more common among adolescents and the elderly. Lymphoma of the head and the neck are more common, followed by lymphoma of the chest and the abdomen,” said Dr A.K. Vaid of Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute in New Delhi. While the treatment modality for Hodgkin’s disease involves both radiotherapy and chemotherapy, that for the non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas involved only chemotherapy.

However, the treatment modalities are being constantly modified to reduce the side effects of these. There is stress on reducing the dose of chemotherapy and the treatment time of radiation. The treatment is now more focused on the affected area. Dr Vaid said bone-marrow transplant was a viable option in cases where the disease reoccurred after chemotherapy and exposure to radiation.

Dr S.C. Sharma, Professor and Head of the Department of Radiotherapy in the PGI, said the disease affected most patients in their most productive years of life. He said lymphomas were one of the highly curable cancers. Non-Hodgkin’s is a heterogeneous group of diseases where the biological behaviour, response to treatment and prognosis vary with the cell type and pose difficulty in predicting the prognosis. However, recent developments in immunochemistry and genetics have led to a better understanding of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Programme on lymphomas inaugurated
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — The Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme on “Recent trends in the management of lymphomas” was inaugurated by the PGI Director, Dr S.K. Sharma at the Lecture Theatre- I, today morning. He emphasised that early detection and proper treatment could lead to a better control of the disease.

Dr Sharma pointed out that lymphomas (both hodgkin’s and non-hodgkin’s) are the 8th and the 7th most common neoplasms in men and women respectively. In developing countries the incidences of hodgkin’s disease are lower than those in developed countries, but incidences before the age of 15 years are rising.

In his inaugural address, Dr S.C. Verma, head of the Department of Internal Medicine, PGI, stressed the need of CME programmes to discuss the recent developments in different fields. “A large number of developments have taken place during the last one and a half decade in the diagnostic and treatment modalities for the disease.

The organising secretary, Dr D.P. Singh introduced the theme of the programme and pointed out that this will surely help augment the treatment protocols of medical oncologists and radiation oncologists. Since malignant lymphomas are one of the most widely studied cancer, much interest has been generated in achieving most optimal cure rates with most optimal therapy.

Later, a textbook “Radiation Oncology: Principles and Practice”, written and edited by Indian authors, the first perhaps on the subject from this part of the world, was released by the Director, Dr S.K. Sharma. One of the editors, Dr B.K. Mohanti pointed out that cancer is slowly being recognised as an increasing health problem in the developing countries of the world. India has almost 10 per cent of the cancer population and cancer care in India and other developing countries requires emphasis on knowledge and training.

The book fulfils the requirement for the post graduate training in the field of cancer and provides a comprehensive overview for trainees and specialists in Radiation Oncology. In addition, the book documents various recent concepts and prevailing practices alongwith new evidences in a lucid language. It also provides figures and data from various Indian cancer institute for the benefit of specialists. The book also helps to know our standing in the treatment of cancer viz a viz the western world.

During one of the scientific sessions, the pathology, diagnostic procedures and management of different types of lymphomas was discussed. Dr Kusum Joshi, Professor of Pathology at PGI, said that sub-typing of different lymphomas helps in planning appropriate treatment. The molecular biology as well as immunocytochemistry diagnosis are very helpful in classifying these tumours into appropriate category which helps not only in predicting the prognosis but also helps in treatment.

Prof S. Ayyagari and Dr B.K. Mohanti, both radiation oncologists from Sanjay Gandhi PGI, Lucknow and AIIMS, New Delhi, respectively, while talking about the role of radiation in the management of lymphomas stressed that radiation is very important as supportive treatment to achieve better control and cure of lymphomas. Whole body radiation plays an important role in preparing the case for bone marrow transplantation in those patients where it is indicated.

Dr Ram Marwaha, Additional professor in the Department of Paediatrics, spoke about the management of childhood non-hodgkin’s lymphoma. He emphaised that in children where growth and development are a high priority, treatment decisions should also take into account, treatment related morbidity and toxicity. However, the principles of treatment remain essentially same as for adults and it has been observed that prognosis of children is same as that of adults but they need greater attention.

Dr S.H. Advani while delivering a lecture on the management of Intermediate and high grade lymphoma said that best chance of cure can be offered to the patients at the time of diagnosis of the disease and therefore the treatment should be aggressive. The salvage treatment for a recurrent disease later on produced poor results.

Senate says no to Sodhi’s arrest
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — Panjab University special Senate passed a resolution unanimously today, saying that permission will not be granted for the prosecution of Dr Sodhi Ram.

The special Senate met here to decide on the issue of granting the permission to the CBI. The Senate said the probe would be continued. The house also requested the CBI to give more information on the probe.

Before the meeting, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof K.N.Pathak, said the meeting would be adjourned till a framework of the case was made. However, Dr Ram Prakash objected to this, after which, the proposal was passed.

Dr Sodhi Ram came up to the House to give his side of the story, which he said he had denied in public and even during the interrogation. I swear by God that I have been falsely implicated, he said.

Dr Sodhi Ram added that Mr Dhan Singh, whose statement is one of the major reasons of the prosecution against him, had said in a signed affidavit later that he never met the controller earlier and was forced to make the statement against him.

Ms Sneh Mahajan asked the controller to name the fellows fearlessly who had approached him for favours. Dr Raghuvir Singh, Dr Mohammad Khalid, Dr D.V.Arya, Dr Naresh and Mr Rajinder Deepa also sought the names of the persons in his list. Dr Ram Prakash said names should not be flown in the House as it would affect the proceedings.

Dr Deepak Manmohan Singh also requested not to mention the names to have smooth proceedings so that a decision could be taken.

Prof Charanjit Chawla said going by the missing links in the CBI report, it was baseless to prosecute Dr Sodhi Ram. Dr Ram Prakash also quoted statements which went against the CBI probe.

The paper setting process also came under question. The missing links in dates and missing statements of those allegedly prominently associated with the case were highlighted. Repeated mention was made to a racket existing in the early 90s and it was repeatedly said that Dr Sodhi Ram took over very late.

Dr R.D.Anand said that all was not well with the examination system and need of the hour was redressal to the problem. Dr Naresh also recommended a detailed probe.

Dr Anirudh Joshi said the previous Vice-Chancellor had not consulted the syndicate or the Senate on the issue, which he said was wrong.

COMMUNITY

Change building bye-laws: Jacob
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — The UT Administrator, Lieut Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), today said the founder architect of Chandigarh , Le Corbusier, had planned an elitist city without keeping in mind its growth and other functional aspects required by the residents. The French architect did not see the ground reality, he said.

In his presidential address in the first architects meet organised by the Indian Institute of Architects, he said, the need of the hour was to change archaic building bye-laws of Chandigarh which had strait jacketed the city’s architecture and hampered its growth. He also hit out at the rigidity of the bye-laws saying nothing was sacrosanct and the master plan as well as the bye-laws needed a change.

He asked the architects’ need to adopt people friendly and practical approach while planning a building or a city. More than 250 architects from all over the country participated in this meet. The Administrator said we must have a futuristic approach in planning to cater to the needs of the residents. He regretted that in Chandigarh the growing density of slums had not been catered to as planners failed to anticipate this problem.

General Jacob asked the architects to adopt a flexible approach to adopt to the changing needs of the society. He informed the architects that Chandigarh offered a great deal as inspiration to budding architects and research on the work of Le Corbusier. He said there was scope for more research in various areas of the role of architects and town planners.

Heavy showers lash city
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — A medium velocity squall accompanied by heavy showers lashed the city and surrounding townships of Panchkula and S.A.S. Nagar this evening breaking the longish spell of dry weather during this month.

The downpour started at around 5:30 p.m. and lasted for about 30 minutes inundating several jhuggis in the low-lying areas of the city, flooding roads and disrupting vehicular traffic.

The squall velocity, according to local weathermen here, ranged between 30 and 40 km per hour. A big Saturday crowd which was out for shopping or on a stroll was stranded all over the city. The rain sent the crowd scurrying for shelters like bus stops and verandas outside shops. The shower, however, brought much needed respite to the people from torrid humid conditions prevailing in the area.

Throughout the day, clouds had been hovering over the city but it was at not until the evening it gave vent to its fury. During those 30 minutes, the two-wheelers stalled as water entered the engines make the need for road side mechanics greater. On the other hand , it was a fun time for youngsters on the infamous geri route in the northern side of the city.

As usual the roundabouts were flooded with water. Residents driving vehicles, waded through murky stranded water, were seen struggling hard to pull their vehicles, especially two-wheelers through the jammed traffic in Sector 22 and 34 roundabout.

Though the monsoon during this month has been erratic, the weather office here said the rainfall was still above normal. Chandigarh and its surrounding areas have received 800.7 mm of rainfall since the onset of monsoon against the normal average of 703 mm. A total of 98 mm of rainfall has been received so far this month.

As the rain stopped, people in large number came out of their homes and thronged the Sukhna Lake and Sector 17 shopping Piazza for a stroll. The road side mechanics made fast bucks as many two-wheelers needed their attention.

The brunt of the rain was born by the goolgapwalas and those selling chalies, as they had to wound up their business.

SAS Nagar-Kharar bypass soon
From Our Correspondent

KHARAR, Aug 26 — The Punjab Government has decided to construct a bypass from SAS Nagar to Kharar, keeping in view the heavy load of traffic on Kharar -SAS Nagar road.

This was announced by Mr G.S. Grewal, Deputy Commissioner of Ropar, while addressing media men yesterday evening. He said the construction work of this bypass, which would start form the Dara Studio in SAS Nagar to Khanpur bridge near Kharar, was expected to start in October or November and this would be a four-lane project. He said the legal proceedings to acquire land has already been started.

The Deputy Commissioner said steps would be taken to check the over-speeding and over-taking of vehicles on Kharar-SAS Nagar road. Mr Grewal while answering a question said it would be made sure that doctors were always available in the Civil Hospital Kharar and Kurali. He said that he would ask the PWD authorities to repair and construct the Badala Road, Randhawa Road, Jhungian Road and Old Morinda Road in the area of Kharar very soon.

He said he would inquire why the telephone of the Civil Hospital Kurali, has been disconnected since November 1999.

Mr Grewal was told that Kurali has become a centre for the sale of intoxicants and the Health Department was not taking any action against them and at present about 450 quacks were working in the Kharar subdivision. Mr Grewal assured that he would take necessary action soon on all these matters.

Earlier while talking to reporters, Mr Grewal said the press and the administration were the wheels of the same vehicle. He said the press gave the exact information about the problems faced by the public. He announced a grant of Rs 25,000 for the press room.

Mr Swatantar Singh, Mr Gurmakh Singh Maan and Mr Krishan Parwej of the Kharar Journalists Association welcomed the chief guest.

On this occasion among others Mr Devinder Singh, SDM, Kharar, Mr Malkiat Singh, Tehsildar, Kharar, Mr Gian Chand Gupta Executive Officer, M.C. Kharar, and other officers of the subdivision were present.

Novel way to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — Birthday can be a fine occasion if one celebrates the day by performing a noble deed and donating blood on that day is a marvellous idea. Mr Janak Raj Grover, a city businessman, has been donating blood on his birthdays, marriage anniversaries year after year and today 100 donations are to on his credit. He turned 61 today and was rightly honoured by the Rotary Club in a camp organised to commemorate the day.

I never wanted to be honoured for my contribution to the suffering humanity, but Rotary people did not listen to me at all, and organised the function, he said. He was not even willing to speak to the press.

He donated blood for the first time in September 1962 while he was studying in the Leeds University at the UK. His friend who had met with an accident was badly in need of blood. He came forward and donated blood for the first time in his life. Eversince, he has been donating blood twice or thrice a year.

His son, daughters and sons-in-law, are all regular blood donors. But his wife has never donated blood.

He helps every body who approaches him. If there is any need of blood in any hospital of the city, he is contacted immediately. “People come to me saying that their relative is dying in want of blood, I go to them and help them. Afterwards they come to me saying that the patient has been saved. Here lies the satisfaction,” he says. “I want people especially the youngsters to come forward and help the suffering humanity as this is the biggest help one can ever provide. I think youngsters need motivation and they should be encouraged. They should not feel afraid of anything because one does not feel weak after the donation as the body recovers the loss with in 24 hours.” he asserts.

Need to conserve bio-diversity stressed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — The need for initiating process of formulation of eco-regional and state-level strategies and action plans for conservation of bio-diversity of northern India was stressed at a meeting organised by the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology.

Representatives from Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh attended the meeting.

Mr R.H. Khwaja, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests, said India was a signatory to the Biodiversity Convention. “As a sequel to this, National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan has to be drafted”.

The ministry has identified nine eco-regions, including the Shivalik area, 14 thematic groups and a number of sub-state sites for preparation of detailed action plans. Besides, states have also to prepare their action plans.

The Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, the Haryana Environment Department and WWF regional office Chandigarh and the Chandigarh Environment Department have been identified as nodal agencies.

Mrs Gurbinder Chahal, Principal Secretary, Department of Forests and Wildlife, Punjab, said all developing countries were rich in biological resources and had a sovereign right on these resources. It was essential to protect the entire biodiversity, including wild and domesticated species. It was, therefore,

important that inter-sectoral linkages were established and inter-departmental actions were initiated.

Mr N.S. Tiwana, Executive Director, Punjab State Council for

Science and Technology, said to ensure equity in benefit sharing of all biological resources, participation of all sectors of society, including village level organisations, farmers, NGOs, academicians, scientists, government officers, private and corporate sector, armed forces and politicians were required. He said a steering committee had been notified in Punjab which would meet from time to time and ensure the development of a need based strategy.

CRIME

Four held on theft charge
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — The police has arrested four persons on the charge of stealing six mares, worth Rs 4 lakh, from Maloya village, yesterday.

According to police sources, Amar Singh, Banta Ram, Chaiya and Naresh reported that their mares have been stolen by someone. A message was flashed to all PCR vans in the city and a truck carrying the stolen animals were flagged near the Sector 20, 21, 33 and 34 roundabout.

On interrogation the accused - Kala, Gopal, Shanti and Jeeti - admitted that they had stolen the mares and had hired a truck from Sector 25 to transport them to the Kundli barrier and from thereon to their native village, Panchmari, in Rajasthan.They have been booked under Section 379 of the IPC. The PCR personnel-Head Constables-Pardeep Singh and Santokh Singh and their staff- will be suitably rewarded.

Case registered

Mr Chanderdeep Mittu, a resident of a jhuggi colony near Gurdwara Gursagar Sahib reported that his minor daughter has been abducted by Bharat, a resident of the same locality.

A case under Sections 363 and 366 of the IPC has been registered.

Liquor seized

The police has arrested Balinder Kumar, a resident of Kumhar Colony, Sector 25, on the charges of possessing 25 pouches of liquor. A case under Sections 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act has been registered.

Acid thrown on woman
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Aug 26 — In a gruesome incident, a 25-year-old maid, Khushjit Kaur, sustained 65 per cent burns after her husband, Varinder Kumar, threw acid on her in Sector 6, here today, and himself sustained burns in the process.

While the victim was immediately taken to the General Hospital in Sector 6 and later shifted to the PGI, the accused is being treated at the General Hospital.

The immediate provocation for the incident is not known. According to information available, the victim was married to the accused in 1992 and differences developed between them soon after marriage. While Virender alleged that his wife had illicit relations with a gorkha, the victim’s mother, Ms Prem Kaur, contended that the root cause of problem between the two was Varinder’s illicit relation with his sister-in-law.

She added that the trouble between the two was an old one and the village panchayat had unsuccessfully tried to bring the two together.

The police has registered a case under Sections 307 and 309 of the IPC.

was held to mark the third anniversary of the Reading room cum Library set up in memory of late Mr Hem Raj K Talwar, a former Director General of Police, Haryana. A panel comprising Ms Usha Jeevan, Ms Vinod Ahuja and Ms Suniti Madhok judged the contestants.

BUSINESS

Traders unhappy with Admn over bye-laws
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — Traders of Sector 17, almost all of whom are tenants, are unhappy with the Chandigarh Administration over the issue of modified building bye-laws for Sector 17.

They say amendments are totally against traders and will only help in spoiling the healthy market conditions while evicting long-standing shopkeepers resulting in loss of livelihood. The main aim is to help the multi- nationals, which will pay hefty rents to landlords.

The Traders Association, Sector 17-D, at a press conference this afternoon, criticised the local MP, Mr Pawan Bansal , alleging that he was not taking keen interest in matter despite the fact that it concerned more than 1,200 shopkeepers of Sector 17. The President of the association, Capt Mohanbir Singh, called the amendments carried out by the Administration incomplete and are not practically possible to carry out.

Traders say that amendments allow for portioning of showroom in modules of 17 feet by 17 feet, while only a single shop can be opened in the entire area on the first floor. The amendments do not allow traders to get these regularised and only the landlord is authorised to do so. The tenants are not allowed to adjust among themselves and remove the violations, because in that case the landlord will be eligible to get his shop vacated through the court on ground of change in the building structure.

On the issue of compounding fee the Secretary of the Association, Mr Sanjay Abbott, said the Administration was demanding 10 per cent of the present market value of the plot. This could touch close to Rs 20 lakh and the landlord would not be interested in it. His interest would be to get the shop vacated and rent it out on prevailing rent which is close to Rs 1 lakh and even more in other cases, Mr Abbott claimed.

Moreover, what will happen to the premises where the landlord himself has allowed the partitions through proper rent deeds by the Administration. The association has also raised the issue that the Administration has also not safeguarded the interests of traders who have invested their money and time in developing the market. The association has also demanded that traders would be allowed to continue in their respective partitions of the shops as well as the on the first floor.