 |
| Sunday,
November 5, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
|
Barnala to
take oath on Nov 9 City set to
be Uttaranchal capital NCP flays
‘anti-farmer’ policies Jogi to name
Cabinet next week India to be
linked with Indo-China nations |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Working
women’s woes Division of
cadre: panel formed Parliamentarians’
conference from Nov 13 Cable
operator saved by cop Animal
lovers flay deer killings Asthma
cases rise in Delhi, Mumbai
|
|
Barnala to take oath on Nov 9 DEHRA DUN, Nov 4 (PTI) — Governor
designate Surjit Singh Barnala has indicated that his swearing-in
ceremony should be held at a public place here on November 9 when
Uttaranchal state comes into being, a top official said here today.
“Barnala has sent us a request that the swearing-in ceremony be
held at a public place,” Secretary, Uttaranchal, Rakesh Sharma said.
However, the final decision on the location of the swearing-in
ceremony will be taken in a day or two, official sources said adding
most probably the Governor’s oath taking ceremony would be held just
before the new Chief Minister takes oath at the parade ground which is
being spruced up for the occasion.
This is being done to facilitate the live telecast of the two
ceremonies as being requested by Doordarshan, the sources said.
Mr Barnala will be sworn in by the new Chief Justice of Uttaranchal
High Court A.A. Desai.
Mr Barnala, who will arrive here on November 8, will be received at
the historic Paonta Sahib by newly formed seven-member protocol
committee set up to receive guests at various places in the city. |
|
City
set to be Uttaranchal capital DEHRA DUN, Nov 4 — Dehra Dun is all set to be the interim capital
of Uttaranchal. All 130 officials to be posted in the main Civil
Secretariat have arrived and will start functioning from Monday. Basic
infrastructural facilities needed for housing the Civil Secretariat
offices, Raj Bhavan, CM’s residence and other offices have been
provided for.
The local administration has prepared a new traffic plan for the city
to control the ever-growing rush of traffic on main roads. A special
campaign has been undertaken jointly by the total administration
Municipal Corporation and the PWD to remove encroachments.
According to Mr B.M. Vohra, Commissioner, Garhwal Division, a Rs 31
crore had been earmarked by the UP Government to meet expenses of
converting the city into a capital. But this money has, so far, not been
transferred to the local administration. Only Rs 1 crore has, so far,
been transferred to the local administration.
More than 25 buildings have been acquired by the local administration
to house Civil Secretariat, Assembly Hall, CMs residence, MLA hostel,
Raj Bhavan, residences of Chief Secretary and other secretaries and the
Police headquarters. The local Circuit House and the Bijapur Canal Guest
House have been converted into the CM’s residence and Raj Bhavan,
respectively.
The local administration has commandeered a building of the Oil and
Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) to house police headquarters. The ONGC
was running a dispensary in this building. ONGC staff has condemned this
act of the local administration. The main Civil Secretariat and the
Assembly Hall are housed in the Vikas Bhavan. Drona Hotel run by Garhwal
Mandal Vikas Nigam has been converted into MLAs’ hostel.
Meanwhile, Mr R.K. Singh, Joint Secretary of the Union Government,
has directed the local administration to ensure timely accommodation
facilities to the officials arriving in the secretariat. He has asked
the local administration to implement the new traffic plan strictly.
On the other hand, Mr K.K. Saxena, SSP, City, said adequate security
arrangements had been made at the venue, of oath-taking ceremony of the
CM and elsewhere in the city for the coming VVIPs. Seven SPs, seven
ASPs, 30 DSPs, more than 150 Inspectors and Sub-Inspectors, 136 head
constables and 1970 constables are likely to be deployed on the site of
oath-taking ceremony in the Parade grounds. Besides this, 29 women SI’s,
146 women constables and 18 companies of para-military forces have also
been reserved for security arrangements.
In many parts of the city the local administration had to face tough
opposition from the affected people while implementing the new traffic
plan and the anti-encroachment drive. Initially, there was hue and cry
by the Vikram (diesel autorickshaw) owners but later on the
administration held a series of meetings with their union and accepted
their demand to provide them parking facilities on the roadsides.
There are more than 1500 Vikrams running in the city alone, most of
these are illegal without the approval of DTO office, Since, there is
not even a single rickshaw in the city the local administration has
soft-corner for them to ensure transport facilities in the city. Few
NGOs have blamed that these auto-rickshaws are a major source of
pollution in the city but the administration has not yet implemented
anti-pollution steps which is part of the new traffic plan.
The administration has also decided to decorate the city on the
nights of November 8 and 9 with colourful light, as the Governor and the
CM are taking oaths on these dates, respectively. A welcome counter has
been established at the Railway station apart from the welcome gates at
all roads leading the city for the coming VVIPs and the people of
Uttaranchal. Dehra
Dun schools closed on Nov 9 DEHRA DUN, Nov 4 — Schools and colleges here will remained closed
on November 9. The first Chief Minister of the new state is taking oath
on this day. According to the city Magistrate, Mr Ravindra Godbole,
traffic arrangements have been changed on the day. It is expected that
more than 1.50 lakh persons will take part in the oath-taking ceremony. |
|
HC
functioning from Nov 9 DEHRA DUN, Nov 4 — A time of cheers for the people of the Kumaon
region. Finally, their demand of setting up a high court in Nainital has
been accepted. The government has appointed Mr Justice A.A. Desai and
J.C.S. Rawat from the Allahabad High Court as the acting Chief Justice
and the Registrar, respectively. The high court will start functioning
in Nainital on November 9.
According to official sources, Mr Justice Desai is arriving here on
November 8 to administer the oath of secrecy to Mr Surjit Singh Barnala
the first Governor of Uttaranchal. Mr Rawat, who is currently the
Registrar of the Allahabad High Court, is busy preparing the list of
cases pending from the Uttaranchal region to be transferred in the
Nainital High Court. Government sources said Mr Justice Desai will
immediately leave for Nainital by air after the oath ceremony to start
the work in the high court. |
|
NCP
flays ‘anti-farmer’ policies NEW DELHI, Nov 4 — The “anti-farmer” policies of the NDA
government came under sharp attack from the Nationalist Congress Party
(NCP) Farmers’ Cell here today, as it decided to hold a demonstration
in the Capital to express its protest.
“The government’s anti-farmer policies are having an adverse
effect on the farmers and we plan to hold a demonstration on November
22,” the national chairman of the NCP’s farmers’ cell, Mr Ved Pal,
told The Tribune here today.
The Karnal based leader said a meeting of kisan leaders of Punjab,
Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and other parts of the country
was held here today to chalk out a strategy to pressurise the government
to roll back the anti-farmer policies.
Mr Ved Pal said the government’s “knee-jerk” reaction in
dealing with paddy procurement had caused concern among the farmers
whose wheat crop was due for harvest soon.
While deciding the procurement price of wheat, he said the government
should take into account the rise in the input cost like diesel,
fertiliser, electricity and water charges.
He said the government should have instead cleared the “Antyodaya”
scheme which aimed to give 25 kg of foodgrains to 5 per cent of the
poorest families at the rate of Rs 2 per kg of wheat and Rs 3 per kg of
rice.
The leaders who attended the meet included Mr Swaran Singh and Mr
Mahendra Singh from Punjab, Mr Gurbachan Singh from Chandigarh, Babu
Khan Varsi from Delhi and Mr Chandrapal Balyan from Uttar Pradesh. |
|
Jogi
to name Cabinet next week NEW DELHI, Nov 4 — Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Ajit Jogi, is
likely to constitute his cabinet early next week.
Sources close to the former Congress spokesperson told The Tribune
that Mr Jogi held discussions with senior party leaders here and could
form his cabinet around November 7.
Mr Jogi, who took over as the Chief Minister on November 1, met Union
Home Minister, L K Advani, here today and sought adequate Central
assistance to modernise police. |
|
India
to be linked with Indo-China nations NEW DELHI, Nov 4 — An ambitious programme of far-reaching
significance christened as Ganga-Mekong Swarnabhoomi linking India with
countries of Indo-China will formally take off next week in Laos.
The External Affairs Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh, is leaving tomorrow
to participate in the ministerial meeting which will give final nod for
launching of the Ganga-Mekong project.
While the Foreign Ministers of Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and
Vietname along with India will meet in Vientienne on November 10 for
agreeing to initially cooperate in the field of education, culture and
tourism, the Ganga-Mekong project has been conceived with a bright
promise for the future, according to senior officials of the Ministry of
External Affairs.
The first stage of the project is going to deal with education,
culture and tourism. |
|
Working
women’s woes NEW DELHI, Nov 4 — Concerned over the rise in cases of sexual
harassment of working women, the National Commission for Women plans to
hold a meeting with public sector undertakings to know the status of
implementation of the Supreme Court guidelines to prevent such
harassment.
NCW Chairperson, Mrs Vibha Parthsarthy told The Tribune here that the
Commission planned to have a dialogue with a group of PSUs shortly. “The
Commission has received lots of complaints of sexual harassmemt from
PSUs, private sector and government departments and plans to continue a
dialogue on the issue with the private sector also. This would be a good
study also,” she said.
Sources in the NCW said that some PSUs were not adhering to the SC
verdict in the Vishaka case and had not cared to set up a complaint
committee to check such harassment. Sources said that the implementation
of the directions would help in improving the position of women.
The writ petition Vishaka versus State of Rajasthan filed by certain
social activists and NGOs to assist in finding suitable methods for
realising the true concept of gender equality; and to prevent sexual
harassment of working women at all work places through judicial process,
to fill the vacuum in existing legislation.
In its order pronounced in August ’97, a three-member bench
presided by the then Chief Justice of India, Justic J.S. Verma held that
it was necessary and expedient for employers at work places as well as
other responsible persons to observe certain guidelines to ensure
prevention of sexual harassment of women.
The bench directed the creation of an appropriate complaint mechanism
in the employer’s organisation to redress the complaint made by the
victim. It further said that the complaint mechanism, should be adequate
to provide, where necessary, a Complaints Committee, a special
counsellor or other support service, including the maintenance of
confidentiality.
The Apex Court directed that the above guidelines and norms be
strictly observed at all work places for the preservation and
enforcement of the right to gender equality of the working women.
The NCW also recommended a code of conduct to promote the well-being
of all women employees at work place on the basis of the aforesaid
judgement. |
|
Division
of cadre: panel formed NEW DELHI, Nov 4 — The Centre has constituted a committee under the
chairmanship of the Secretary, the Department of Personnel and Training,
with the Chief Secretaries of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh as its
members to consider the representations arising out of allocation of
all-India service officers to the bifurcated cadres of Chhattisgarh and
Madhya Pradesh.
The Union Home Secretary and the Union Secretary of Ministry of
Environment and Forests will be co-opted members in regard to
consideration of the representations of the officers of IPS and the
Indian Forest Service, an official statement said here today.
According to October 30 notification, 93 IAS officers, 59 IPS
officers and 110 IFS officers have been allocated to the newly created
Chhattisgarh cadre on and from November 1 as per the Madhya Pradesh
Reorganisation Act.
The allocations have been made on the basis of the recommendations of
the advisory committee constituted under the same Act. |
|
Parliamentarians’
conference from Nov 13 NEW DELHI, Nov 4 — The eighth general assembly of the Asia-Pacific
parliamentarians’ conference on environment and development will be
held in Hyderabad from November 13.
The four-day conference will be attended by at least delegates from
25 of the 42 member countries.
The conference will deliberate on the question of environmental
ethics and public education, an official release said.
The aim of the conference include promotion of awareness and
understanding of issues affecting the environment and development among
parliamentarians of the Asia and Pacific region, promotion of
cooperation between the developed and developing countries. |
|
Cable
operator saved by cop NEW DELHI, Nov 4 — A cop has saved cable operator, Rajesh Kumar,
who was beaten up by his co-professional in Mansarovar Park in
North-East Delhi and was being taken for being thrown into the Hindon
river in Ghaziabad. The accused was arrested.
The victim has shop in Man-sarovar Park where another cable operator
Pushpinder also has his establishment. They had enmity, the police said.
When Rajesh came out of his house yesterday at 11 p.m. to check his
wires, Pushpinder, his nephew, Nitish and servant Sanjay attacked him
with rods. He became unconscious.
They allegedly pushed Rajesh into a car and drove towards Hindon
river to throw him there, the police said.
Rajesh regained consciousness and cried for help which was heard by
patrolling staff led by Additional SHO, Shahadra, Shyama Pant, who
directed the car to be stopped. Occupants accelerated. It made her
suspicious.
The Additional SHO flashed the message and the car was stopped after
a few minutes. On inspecting the car Rajesh Kumar was allegedly found in
a pool of blood. He was taken to hospital where he was stated to be in
stable condition, the police said.
In the second incident, Savita Gautam (28), wife of an Air Force
personnel committed suicide by hanging in her residence in Mandawali
area of East Delhi. A suicide note recovered from her, said, “She took
this step as her in-laws did not care for her in the past”, DCP of
East Delhi, Mr S. Nithianandam said.
At the time of incident her father-in-law was inside the house while
her husband, Dinesh Gautam and mother-in-law were not there, the DCP
said. |
|
Animal
lovers flay deer killings PATNA, Nov 4 — Environmentalists and animal protection groups are
up in arms against the police and forest officials over the gruesome
killings of a tiger and a deer in recent days in the state.
The apathy of the state government over the killings of the two
protected wild species has exposed the gory reality of the dwindling
habitat of wild animals in the state and has put a question mark on the
very structure of the state’s wild life protection machinery.
The animal protection group, People for Animals, has sought a
judicial probe into the killing of a tiger recently in Dumka district by
residents of Koyadih village. They also demand prompt action against the
officials who failed to come to the rescue of the animal. They have
written letters to the Prime Minister, Union Environment Minister, Chief
Minister of Bihar and the DM and the SP.
Interesting facts have come to the fore during an investigation into
the tiger killing. Residents of Koyadih village had rushed to the
nearest police station after they sighted a tiger near their village.
The local forest officials were also informed of the straying tiger who
had wandered out of the nearby forests. After the police and forest
officials failed to reach the site and the tiger entered the village,
the villagers killed it to save their cattle and themselves.
This incident has shaken the conscience of animal lovers of the
state. Few days later, residents of Bhusai village in Hazaribagh
district killed a deer.
A top forest official in the state capital admitted the “chinks in
the forest department’s armour”. He maintained that barring
officials of the Palamu tiger reserve, all other forest officials were
poorly equipped to handle an emergency situation like the one happened
in Koyadih. “They do not have the tranquiliser guns or other apparatus
to catch a tiger or other wild animal”, he admitted.
He however feels that the tiger could have been saved had the forest
officials reached the spot and taken the help of villagers to drive the
tiger back to the forest. |
|
Asthma
cases rise in Delhi, Mumbai
LUCKNOW, Nov 4 (PTI) — The alarming rise of vehicular pollution in
Delhi. Mumbai and Bangalore has led to an increase in the cases of
asthma and other serious respiratory disorders, this was stated at an
international conference on “Environmental and Occupational
Respiratory Diseases”.
If 17 per cent Mumbaites suffered from asthma, a study in Bangalore
indicated nearly four fold increase in such cases, while in Delhi it was
the adolescent population which was more prone to such problem, experts
told the conference.
Presenting his findings, Dr V.C. Deshmukh of the Indian Institute of
Environment Medicine, Kasturba Hospital, Mumbai, said 17 per cent people
of Mumbai living in residential areas suffered from asthma. The more
prone areas had two to three times more sulphur dioxide, nitrogen
dioxide and suspended particulate matter due to high vehicular emission.
Having the dubious distinction of one of the 10 highly polluted
cities in the world, Mumbai also showed a large number of patients
complaining of allergic rhinitis and other respiratory disorders, he
said. |
|
|
Probe
ordered into Imphal killings
IMPHAL, Nov 4 (PTI) — The indefinite curfew imposed since
yesterday, continued to be in force today, in Imphal and its west areas,
even as the state government ordered a magisterial probe into Thursday’s
exchange of fire between Assam Rifles personnel and armed ultras in
which 10 persons were killed, official sources said here. |
|
|
Sikh
heritage exhibition NEW DELHI, Nov 4 — Punjab and Sind Bank has organised an exhibition
of paintings on Sikh heritage on the lawns of Bangla Sahib Gurdwara in
collaboration with the DSGMC to mark Gurpurb of Guru Nanak Dev.
The exhibition was inaugurated here today by the Chairman of the New
Delhi Municipal Council, Mr B P Mishra.
The paintings were got prepared in connection with the wall calendars
of the bank over the Past 20 years by commissioning the services of top
artists of the country, the executive director of the bank Mr M.S.
Kapur, said. |
 |
| Punjab
| Haryana
| Jammu &
Kashmir | Himachal
Pradesh | Regional
Briefs | Nation
| Editorial
| | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 120 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
