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| Tuesday,
November 21, 2000, Chandigarh, India |
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US institute to get 300 acres in
Anandgarh CHANDIGARH, Nov 20 — The upcoming city of Anandgarh has also joined in the race to be investor friendly and to attract hi-tech industries. The idea is to be another Bangalore and give big cousin, Chandigarh, a run in attracting top notch investment. The Punjab Government has decided to provide at least 300 acres of land to the Global Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), a US based institute. The decision to allot the land free of cost to the GIST was taken by the project approval board of the Department of Industries and Commerce, Punjab, recently. The setting up of the GIST is a part of the plan to set up six such institutes throughout the country. Sources in the Punjab Government said that with a view to woo the leading giants in the information technology (IT) industry to the Anandgarh city, the state government was offering incentives to various companies which were in the process of establishing their offices in the area. The Anandgarh Authority in its drive to woo the hi-tech industries was likely to cash on the shortage of space in Chandigarh and its satellite towns. Sources in the Punjab Government said that in a meeting chaired by the Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, it was unanimously agreed to give 300 acres of land free of cost to the GIST in or around Anandgarh. Confirming the move, Mr Karan A. Singh, Chief Executive Officer of Anandgarh, said, ‘‘It is under consideration ’’. Sources point that representatives of the GIST and the authority would jointly select an appropriate site’’. The sources said the Ministry of Industries and Commerce, Punjab, had asked the New Town Planning and Development Authority, Anandgarh, to earmark area for the GIST. Sources also point out that since the Anandgarh project is in its initial stages, the site would be earmarked only after the planning for the new township is completed. It is learnt that the Government of Karnataka had given 2000 acres of land free of cost to the GIST. Punjab has ambitious plans to promote investments in the knowledge-based industries. Punjab, in order to augment its human resources, is trying to attract service and software industries. Sources point out that the board was unanimous on the point that Punjab Government should fully support the GIST project and offer land for it. Sources further said that Anandgarh would be a ‘‘paradise’’ for service industries. According to Mr Karan A Singh, the idea was to make Anandgarh ‘‘a pollution free city’’. Sources said the authority was also planning to equip Anandgarh with high - tech medical facilities. Mr Singh said, ‘‘We are planning to invite pharmaceutical industries in the field of research’’. Sources point out that the pharmaceutical giant Ranbaxy has shown interest in the new township. When asked, Mr Singh said, ‘‘It might have evinced interest, but nothing was official as yet’’. |
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Man escapes from hospital to rejoin
fast CHANDIGARH, Nov 20 — It was nothing less than a great escape for an on-fast official of the Haryana Government from the Sector 16 General Hospital. He had been admitted to the hospital because doctors feared that he would die due to starvation. He made an associate lie on a stretcher and wheeled him from one ward to another before escaping to resume the fast. Lying on a mattress under a tent opposite 30 Bays Building in Sector 17 here, Prithivi Singh said, “It was all planned. I went to the bathroom with an associate at about 10.30 pm yesterday before I was to be shifted to the Surgical Ward. There I changed my clothes and tied a parna around my forehead.” “Then, I made my associate lie on the stretcher and wheeled it out of the Emergency Ward. I left the hospital on a scooter.” Struggling to smile, he said, “I did not return to the venue of the fast immediately. I went underground before joining the protesting employees again today morning.” The Chandigarh police had registered a case against Prithivi Singh under Section 309 of the IPC (attempt to commit suicide) after examining his medical report. He was subsequently released on bail. According to sources in the hospital, he was admitted after his blood-sugar level dropped dangerously. He was under observation when he escaped. When contacted, Senior officials of the Police Department, said the bail could not be cancelled now. However, they said he could be booked for the same offence again.” Prithvi Singh of the Education Department and the other employees had resumed a pen-down strike on Thursday before being booked by the Chandigarh police under the Haryana ESMA. A report regarding the cancellation of the FIR on technical grounds was, however, submitted before the court soon after this. |
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Rail traffic
disrupted CHANDIGARH, Nov 20 — All trains running northwards of Delhi were delayed by several hours today as rail traffic on the Delhi-Ambala section had to be diverted via the Shamli-Saharanpur route. Trouble caused by some agitationists near the rail tracks at Narela in Delhi made the authorities divert the trains, sources said tonight. Several superfast trains like the Shatabadis between Chandigarh and Delhi and Amritsar and Delhi were delayed and so were long distance trains bound for various cities across the country. Besides this several passsenger trains and goods trains were also delayed. Sources calculated that the bunching of trains along the route means that the clogging will only clear by next morning and several South and East bound trains originating from Amritsar or Jammu would be delayed by the time the trains reach Delhi. Meanwhile, at Chandigarh, public faced a harrwoing time as they could not get any information about the Delhi-Chandigarh Shatbadi that eventually reached at Chandigarh around 11.10 pm — close to three hours behind its scheduled arrival time. Harassed relatives called up Delhi and even other places. Railway authorities here only seemed to know that the train was routed through Saharanpur and could only give an approximate time of delay. Trains diverted from Saharanpur takes more time to reach their destination in the North than those running on the Delhi-Ambala route as the track is single in large sections while the Delhi-Ambala route is a double track thus allowing both up and down trains to pass simultaneously. |
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Raids on discos, pubs: 12
held CHANDIGARH, Nov 20 — In a crackdown on anti-social elements who frequent discotheques, pubs, eating joints, hotels and guest houses, the Chandigarh police has arrested 12 persons from different parts of the city in the past 48 hours. Raids were also conducted on the Sector 17 Inter-State Bus Terminus. Besides the raids, 217 stranger rolls were also issued to persons found roaming about under suspicious circumstances. The action, under the supervision of the Assistant Superintendent of the Chandigarh police, Mr Hargobinder Singh Dhaliwal, was taken following intelligence reports about the presence of anti-social elements at these places. None of the accused were, however, caught inside the discotheques, pubs or eating joints. The police also intensified its drive against the unauthorised use of loud speakers at religious places and in public, besides in marriage halls. An FIR under the Noise Control Act was also registered against an owner of a bhavan. The ASP, Mr Dhaliwal, confirmed that raids and subsequent arrests had taken place. He said nine persons, including a woman, had been taken into custody for allegedly indulging in drunk or riotous behaviour. Cases have been registered against them under Sections 34, 5 and 61 of the Police Act. The accused included Prem Pal of Aman Colony in Dhanas, Pardeep Kumar of Ropar, Arjun Kumar and Ram Roop of Sector 22, Ram Chander of Naya Goan, Deep Kumar also of Sector 22, Tarlok of Sector 25, Avtar Singh of Sector 39, Ramesh Kumar of Sector 17 and L.K. Neena of Hyderabad. Sukhwant Singh of Sector 45 was arrested after being booked under Section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act for driving under the influence of liquor. Another person, Shiv Charan of Sector 15, was also booked under Sections 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act. Sources said 40 pouches of whisky had been recovered from his possession. Regarding the registration of a case against the owner of a sound system in the Sector 24 Ram Tirath Bhavan, the ASP said, “The owner was booked this time, instead of the organisers of the event. This is because he was responsible for unauthorised use of loud speakers.” He said the stranger rolls had been issued for checking the movement of anti-social elements. “The rolls,” he said, “contained information about the addresses and the names of the persons for verification.” |
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‘First LCA test-flight by Feb’ CHANDIGARH, Nov 20 — White the light combat aircraft (LCA) is expected to carry out its maiden test-flight early next year, it will be several years before the first aircraft of this type becomes fully operational and is inducted into the IAF. Expressing this while speaking to TNS here today, the LCA Project Director (Test-Flight), Air Marshal P. Rajkumar, said that he was ‘‘reasonably confident’’ that the first test-flight would be carried out by February next year. The test-flight would be followed by the in-flight testing of its airframe and systems, where data collected under various parameters would be collected and analysed. ‘‘We are very close to carrying out the first test-flight and we hope to do it before the Aero India Show commences in February next,’’ he said, adding that things were proceeding as per plans. ‘‘The LCA, in its basic form, will be required to undertake about 300 sorties for these tests, which are expected to take about two to three years or even more if there are any glitches,’’ Air Marshal Rajkumar said. Only when these tests were successful would other weapon systems and related accessories be incorporated into the system. Only then could the LCA’s combat potential and manoeuvrability under combat conditions be realised. The requisite modifications in the airframe design and systems might also be required, which could take an additional two or three years. The Project Director said that two technology demonstrators, christened TD-1 and TD-2, were currently undergoing ground tests. ‘‘High-speed taxi trials carried out this year have been satisfactory,’’ he stated. High-speed taxi runs, with speeds ranging up to 200 kmph are carried out on the runway to test the aircraft’s brakes and nose-wheel steering systems. Low-speed runs with speeds below 75 kmph were completed last year. The LCA’s maiden test-flight has been repeatedly postponed on some pretext or the other over the past few years. In fact, the Defence Minister had stated during the Indian Merchants Chamber meeting in Mumbai in September that the LCA’s test-flight would be undertaken ‘‘within the next two months’’. The major reason for the delay was the development and integration of the flight control system. This hurdle, the Project Director said, had been overcome and a digitally controlled quadruple fly-by-wire system had been developed and tested. The Rs 5,138 crore LCA project, initiated by the DRDO in 1983, was envisioned to be complete by the mid-90s, with about 10 squadrons of 18 aircraft each operational by 1999. A lightweight single-engined multi-role aircraft, the LCA is meant to replace the aging MiG-21s in IAF service. Air Marshal Rajkumar, while pointing out that it took about 15 years to design and develop an aircraft, stated that the work on the LCA was started ‘‘in earnest’’ only by 1986. ‘‘We are taking two-three years more, but the delay is not alarming,’’ he added. |
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MC President’s
poll on Nov 23 SAS NAGAR, Nov 20 — The election to the post of President of the SAS Nagar Municipal Council will now be held on November 23. An undertaking in this regard was given by the Punjab state's counsel when a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, comprising Mr Justice Amarbir Singh Gill and Mr Justice V.S. Aggarwal, took up a petition filed by a group of councillors led by Phool Raj. The petitioners had sought holding of the election by November 19. Earlier the Bench had issued a notice of motion to the state of Punjab for November 20. It may be pertinent to mention that the Local Government Department has already communicated to the Deputy Commissioner, Ropar, to hold the election within 90 days of the notification of the result of the elections held on August 29. The Deputy Commissioner had sought information in this regard from the Local Government Department on November 14. The elections to the civic body were held in three phases on August 20 and 29 and the byelection to reserved Ward 17 on November 12. As the notification of the August 29 elections was issued on August 30, the election for the Presidentship were to be held by November 27. |
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Goods train bogey
catches fire CHANDIGARH, Nov 20 — An empty bogey of a goods train berthed at platform no: 2 of Chandigarh railway station went up in flames at about 10.55 pm. However, no loss of life and property was reported till the time of filing of the report. According to senior officials in the Fire Department, the fire broke out in the train before it reached Chandigarh
station. They added that the fire had been extinguished partially but went out of control a little later. The fire
officials said that the exact cause of fire was being ascertained. |
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Citizens’ chronic problems-1 CHANDIGARH, Nov 20 — Shopkeepers and residents of Sector 21 are a harassed lot. Unchecked encroachments by the auto-dealers, mechanics and the holding of “scooter bazar” in the Scooter Market have made their lives miserable. With the Chandigarh Administration doing precious little to “relocate” the auto-dealers and mechanics despite court orders, the residents are at the receiving end. And this was despite the fact that repeated representations had been submitted to top functionaries of the administration, residents alleged. A visit to the market revealed that every available space in the corridors, parking area and the backside of the shops seemed to have been encroached upon by the auto-dealers and the mechanics. There is hardly any space to park the vehicles, even on normal days. But the situation takes a turn for the worse on Sundays when a number of “scooter bazars” are held, which further puts the general trade shopkeepers and customers to more inconvenience. Shopkeepers alleged that with the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) levying charges and virtually giving legitimacy to the holding of the “scooter bazars” their number was on the rise. So much so that now a “scooter bazar” was being held in front of a row of houses in Sector 21-B opposite the scooter market. A representation of the shopkeepers alleged: “The locality in which we live is ridden with the pollution of the worst kind, including noise, air and water pollution.” In fact, the market is approved as general trade market but most of the shops are doing business of auto repair and service, the representation said, adding that the Punjab and Haryana High Court had also given directions to the Administration to remove the encroachments. The noise pollution is a regular feature causing irreparable damage to the residents. During the repairs and afterwards the vehicles are kept running, with the result that the emissions and noise levels reach a high level and flout prescribed limits under the pollution control laws. Residents rue the fact that while on one hand the corporation levies charges for booking open spaces, on the other hand prime land worth lakhs of rupees was being used for free by the encroachers. Not only that, the slaughtering of animals goes unchecked despite the fact that the meat market was meant only for the sale of such products, the president of the Citizens Association, Sector 21, Mr S.K. Kohli, said while demanding a ban on this practice. |
Chrysanthemum show from Dec
9 CHANDIGARH,
Nov 20 — A two-day chrysanthemum show will be organised by the Municipal Corporation on December 9 and 10 at the Sector 33 Terrace Garden here. A decision to this effect was taken at the Environment and City Beautification Committee meeting held today under the chairmanship of councillor, Harish Bhanot. The show, which is an annual feature, will have about 7o entries from city residents and Institutions for various competitions. The members have requested the UT Administrator, Lt-Gen JFR Jacob (retd) to preside over the function. Giving details, Mr Bhanot said the committee has recommended that the Administration should settle the road side workers by providing them booths on rent in various sectors. They suggested that a cluster of six to eight booths should be made available to the people providing petty services such as the cobbler, cycle repairer, pan wallah, washer-man, in each sub-sector for the benefit of the residents. However, the place should be given only on rent with the condition that they will not change the trade for which it has been alloted to them. To further ensure that it is not sublet or sold, they have recommended that the name of the allottee will not change at any stage. The Administration should only manage them. Mr Bhanot said that besides clearing the pavements and
corridors of encroachments, the location of these booths at one place will make shopping more convenient for the residents of the area. However, the authorities should ensure that it does not backfire like the rehabilitation policy of the Administration for slum-dwellers. On the issue of the pollution caused by the disposal of the bodies, the committee mooted the idea of having another crematorium in the city. Highlighting the need for this, members pointed out that the existing one often remains out of order and the crematorium will only help save wood and other unnecessary expenditure on cremations. Mr Bhanot said that the possibility of this will be examined in the next few days and the proposal will be sent to the House for approval after the next meeting. A generator set should also be provided to ensure that the crematoriums work round the clock. Earlier, detailed discussions were held on the issue of an offer made by a husband-wife social worker team, Mr and Mrs
Rajinder Sethi who volunteered to provide 1 kg ghee and 5 kg samagri for the cremation of a body free of cost to help check pollution. The issue was deferred till the next meeting in view of the disagreement among the members over the issue. They pointed out that it may not be acceptable to people to take the material free of cost, another member pointed out that only decomposed bodies pollute the environment. The provision of these services will require a room for keeping the material and services of an employee. Following this, the idea of a crematorium was proposed. Reacting strongly on the complaints received from residents of Sectors 41 and 42 that parks have been converted into eating joints, including people selling meat, the members have asked them to remove the same forthwith. To further clear the open spaces in the sectors from filth and stench, they have suggested that walls should be made around the open spaces. Moreover, these open spaces should be immediately put to use for which they are marked in the master plan, they added. It was proposed that green-belts near Sector 42-B and Sector 41-D will be developed by putting railings to keep them free from encroachments. . Officials of the Health department have also been asked to deal effectively with the problem of the filth and clearing off even the horticulture waste, including leaves and hedges regularly. However, the issue pertaining to the raising the height of the hedges to 3 ft and putting barbed wireacross the
hedge was deferred till the next meeting. The members favoured the existing height of 2ft for the hedges. The members also took a serious view of residents making pathways in roads and asked that the same should be closed. This will help check accidents. With a view to further beautify the city, emphasis was laid on improving sanitation and they sanctioned another trolley with tractor. |
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IG inaugurates Mauli Jagran police
post CHANDIGARH, Nov 20 — For curbing crime, a police post was inaugurated today at Mauli Jagran by the Inspector General of Chandigarh Police, Mr. B.S. Bassi. The post will cater to the needs of 80,000 people residing in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Colony, Vikas Nagar, Railway Colony, brick kilns, Raipur Kalan, besides Mauli Jagran village. The First Information Reports will, however, continue to be registered at the Mani Majra police station. Sub-Inspector Partap Singh has been posted in charge of the post housed in a block of 12 dwelling units. He will be assisted by four Assistant Sub Inspectors, equal number of Head Constables, 12 constables and 10 home guard volunteers. Two women constables will also be posted. The post was currently linked with the police stations through wireless sets as the telephones were yet to be installed. The need for setting up the post was being felt from “quite some time” following cases of abduction, molestation and petty crime. According to sources, a murder case, besides an attempt to murder case, was registered in the area till November 2000. Three cases of rioting, six of kidnapping, 10 of injuries, six of theft and four of burglaries were also registered by the police. Thirteen under the Excise Act, besides one of gambling, were also reported. “The post will help in getting the cases registered without any delay,” said Senior Superintendent of Chandigarh Police. “It will also enable the police to take timely action in case of law and order problem”. Today, the IGP recorded the first report in the diary register of the post in his own handwriting. A sapling was also planted by him in the park adjoining the post. The park was also dedicated to children of the locality. SSP Parag Jain, SP Baldev Singh, ASP Sagar Preet Hooda, along with Councillor Raj Kumar Goel, along with 200 persons of the locality were present during the ceremony. Offence Number of cases Murder 1 Attempt to murder 1 Rioting 3 Kidnapping 6 Hurt 10 Theft 6 Burglaries 4 Other cases 6 Excise and gambling 14 |
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Of toilets, cattle and
admn apathy CHANDIGARH, Nov 20 — Over 600 families of Sector 41-D paid lakhs of rupees to own their flats. But today most of them are repenting the decision. They say they are living a life which they could not have imagined ever existed in Chandigarh. In this case people have paid up to own lower income group houses in Sector 41. These flats are located all along the boundary of Badheri village. Where the village ends, these flats start. The residents complain that the value of their flats have decreased because of its location. A resident said he wanted to sell his flat but was not able to find a customer. The second hand scooter market on Sundays has added to the woes of the resident. The residents said the Apani Mandi of the Muncipal Corporation has granted permission to five people to sell second hand scooters. Mr R.K. Mann, president of the L I G Residents Welfare Association, Sector 41-D said the unauthorized scooter market in the open space near the Sector 41 C-41 D chowk on the V 3 road was removed by the Municipal Corporation a few days back. However, he alleges that the Apni Mandi, MCC has allowed those people to open the same scooter market on all Sundays on the same place. Mr Mann said, ‘‘ Re-allowing the opening of the market is highly undesirable as it is causing inconvienence to the public’’. According to him the said market has led to traffic chaos. In a memorandum to the Chairman of Apani Mandi, the association has urged the removal of the market. The authorities could not be contacted for comments. In the area there are five small open spaces earmarked as parks. But, at three of the parks, public toilets were erected. However, on the repeated demand of the residents, two of the public toilets were demolished. But one at the park no. 1, near H no. 3016 is still due to be removed. The toilet was constructed in the days when there was no sewage in the Badheri village. In due course, sewage system was installed in the village, but the toilet still remain as it is. The association had made repeated requests to the authorities concerned to remove the toilet. Mr S.K. Juneja, general secretary of the association said they had also written to the Chief Engineer, UT for the removal of the toilet. In the presence of the toilet in the park, the residents are facing problems in finding open space. The residents are also facing problem because of the cattle from the nearby village. In the morning and evening, the villagers tie their cattle in the park no 2. The animal dung present in the park keeps the children of the area at bay. Residents complain that their children cannot play in the locality and thus they have to go to other parts of the sector to play. The association claims that they solve their problems mutually. Mr Juneja said, ‘‘Our Public Grievances Committee solves most of the problems but when it comes to the civic problems we have to depend on the government’’. |
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SPEAKING OUT CHANDIGARH, Nov 20 — The decision of the government to reduce the prices of the LPG and kerosene by Rs 10 and Rs 1, respectively, has not impressed the common man much. Most residents of the city want that the
government should rather cut down the price of petrol. The move of the government to hike the price of the LPG by Rs 40 and then reduce by Rs 10 has irked them. They want that the government should stick to one price for some time. Mr Rajendra Kumar, a vegetable seller, said, “The Rs 1 rollback in the price of kerosene is nothing. We spend about Rs 200 on buying kerosene every month and find it difficult to survive in such state of inflation. The government should reduce the price of kerosene from Rs 9 to Rs 5 per litre.” Ms Ruby, a baby sitter, said, “It is not economical for us to spend Rs 90 in one go on buying kerosene. We also buy kerosene in black market. The price of kerosene should be fixed keeping in view the income of the poor.” Mr Avtar Singh, a resident of Maloya, said, “Along with the hike in prices, the govenment should also increase the income of the working class. The price of kerosene should be nominal, so that, everybody can afford to buy it. Its price should be cut down to Rs 5 per litre. Mr Naib Singh, a taxi driver, said, “A person who earns Rs 1,500 per month, finds it hard to spend Rs 250 on buying kerosene every month. Inflation affects the poor the most. We can’t stop having food even if the prices are increased.” Ms Anju, a housewife, said, “The govenment has not acted wisely in increasing the prices suddenly. The increase is much higher than the rollback. The price should be reduced by at least 25 per cent.” Ms Charanpreet Ghuman, a housewife, said, “The rollback is good, but it should have been a little more. Housewives find it difficult to manage the household budget because of the inflation. The prices should remain stable for some time. A reduction in the price of petrol should also be considered.” Ms Garima Sethi, a resident of Sector 38, said, “A sudden increase in prices upsets our monthly budget. A nominal rollback in the price of LPG cannot solve the problem. If the inflation continues like this, people will have to start using angithis again.” Ms Amarpreet Rawat, a housewife, said, “To live with inflation it is tough for the salaried class. The increasing prices of petro products are making it more tough. The government just increases the price of an item by Rs 50 and then reduces it by Rs 10. The government is just mocking the common man. The way things are going, we may have to switch to using kerosene again.” Mr Sunil Jain, a marketing professional, said, “Though the government has reduced the rates of the LPG and kerosene, but they should also consider decreasing the price of petrol. The price of petrol should be between Rs 25 and Rs 26 per litre. With the increasing prices of petrol and low fuel average of cars, bicycle will soon be the only economical vehicle left.” Mr Harpreet Singh, a resident of SAS Nagar, said, “A nominal rollback in the prices of kerosene and the LPG will not be good enough. The hike in the price of petrol is also not justified. Government is not interested in reducing its expenditure, but believes in burdening the common man. These sudden increases in prices should be stopped and the prices should be kept stable for some time.” |
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Book released CHANDIGARH,
Nov 20 — The Punjab Lekhak Sabha yesterday held a seminar on the new book released by Dr K.S. Raju. The book, titled Aman Paigambar — Guru Gobind Singh, was released today on the premises of Punjab Kala Bhavan. Eminent historian Dr Kirpal Singh, Dr Kharak Singh and Dr Raman Rattan read papers on the book. Dr Kirpal said that Dr Raju had interpreted historical facts in a modern context. He applauded Dr Raju's attempt at portraying the Guru as a messiah of peace, whereas earlier he was regarded only as a warrior. Dr Kharak Singh, Head of the Institute of Sikh Studies, praised the efforts of the author in conveying the message of the Guru to a common reader. Dr Raman Rattan, Editor of the Panjab University Text Book Board, described the book as informative and research-oriented. She pointed out that the approach of the author is inclined towards the weaker section of society. But this view of Dr Rattan was countered by Dr Kirpal and Dr Amrik Singh Pooni. Dr Pooni, who was the chief guest for the day, said Dr Raju's presentation of the salient features of the life of Guru Gobind Singh was indeed laudable. He added that Dr Raju had also proved successfully that the Guru advised his followers to resort to the sword only after all means of peace failed. Mr N.S. Rattan, Financial Commissioner of Punjab and Dr Madan Lal Hasija, Director, Languages Department, Punjab, also participated in the seminar. |
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40-yr-old trees to lose
branches CHANDIGARH, Nov 20 — 40-year-old pelkan trees along the road dividing Sector 15 and 16 ( Udyan Path) are under a threat as a large number of their leafy branches are set to be chopped off. Local horticulture authorities say the huge branches of the trees are jutting out on the road almost horizontally thus posing a threat to passing buses. Besides this, the branches stop street light from reaching the road, say officials. Lieut-Gen Baljit Singh (retd), who is on the board of well-known Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), says, barring one tree along the road there was no need to chop off the branches of the other trees. The trees are home to several birds, one of them being the green pigeon, says the general, who is also a trustee of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The trees have been marked with white paint to indicate the branches to be chopped off. Soon the authorities will decide the future of these trees that provide shade to cyclists and pedestrians. |
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Slum cleanliness
drive launched CHANDIGARH, Nov 20 — A slum cleanliness drive was launched at Sector 26 Bapu Dham colony, today, by the Servants of the People Society, as part of the Lala Lajpat Rai martyrdom fortnight observance programme in association with the Samaj Sewa Kendra Catholic Church, Sector 19. Staff members and associates of the society and the church, headed by secretary, Servants of the People Society, Mr Onkar Chand and Father Dominic Bosco, participated in the cleanliness drive. The objective of the drive was to educate the slum dwellers about the importance of cleanliness and motivate them about keeping their houses and surroundings clean. A number of boys and girls of slums under the banner of Jeevan Jyoti youth group joined in the cleanliness drive. |
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Fire in provision store CHANDIGARH, Nov 20 — A fire that broke out in a provision store in Sector 27-D in the wee hours of today morning, was brought under control by the timely action of firemen. The cause of the fire and the extent of losses are yet to be ascertained. The officials of the Fire Department swung into action as soon as they received intimation about the outbreak of fire in Sharma Provision Store in Sector 27. Four fire tenders from fire stations in Sector 32, Industrial Area, Phase -I and Sector 17 reached the spot to control the fire. The fire extinguishing operation was carried out under the supervision of the Station Fire Officer, Mr Sushil Kumar Gosain. On the orders of the SFO, the shutter of the shop was broken open and the fire was brought under control within 15 minutes. However, it took over two hours to extinguish it completely. Sources in the department said that short circuiting of a tubelight which was left on by the shopkeeper last night could be the possible cause of fire. In the process of fire extinguishing, firemen Deedar Singh got injured and was rushed to Sector 16 General Hospital for treatment. The team of fire personnel safely took out an amount of nearly Rs 1,50,000 from the cash box and returned it to the shopkeeper. |
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CBI inquiry
demanded KHARAR, Nov 20 — The local Municipal Committee at its special meeting held here today under the presidentship of Mr Ranbir Singh
Kala, unanimously passed a resolution requesting the Punjab Government to pass orders for a CBI inquiry into the Khanpur land issue. According to a resolution, the committee demanded the inquiry into the allotment and sale of this land ever since 1947 and to find out how this common land was allotted to charand of the village. The land which is about 1,000 bigha is worth about many crores of rupees and they demanded that it should have been under the municipal committee,
Kharar. The meeting deputed four members, Mr Charanjit Singh, Mr Natrajan
Kaushal, Mr Om Parkash Aggarwal and Mr Roshan Lal, to study all documents regarding this land. |
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Tapping youth for peace
promotion CHANDIGARH, Nov 20 — Mrs Raka Rashid, Regional Director, Commonwealth Youth Programme at the Asia Centre Chandigarh, has behind her 10 years of a development mission in Bangladesh, and 11 years as a financial and management consultant to a private voluntary organisation. A specialist in enterprise development, poverty reduction strategies, and rural and urban credit issues, Mrs Rashid believes that many young men and women are unable to make full use of their time because they are poor, or are busy with their careers, their academics or are simply not motivated enough to take the initiative and devote time to others. She has designed a model for expanding women’s participation in business and commerce, which has been adopted by several development organisations in this country. Educated in Bangladesh, the USA and France, she holds an MBA degree in finance and insurance from the Business School of the University of Pennsylvania, USA. The main objective of the Asia Centre, she says is to encourage individual efforts to improve the status of the youth, innovative ideas on youth work in Asian Commonwealth countries, recognise exemplary work for the well-being and status of the youth, promote programmes that benefit the youth, tap the expertise of youth workers for future programmes and create awareness and promote Commonwealth youth programme activities in the region. She says the Commonwealth Asia Centre at Chandigarh is engaged in several activities to protect the rights of the adolescent, women and children in conflict situations. The organisation is assisting member countries to protect the interests of women, children and the adolescent by helping in the implementation of the Convention of the Rights of the Child. The Centre aims at empowering young men and women to contribute to conflict resolution and peace in their communities. The youth can play a role in preventing and resolving conflicts, particularly at the grass-root level. Every year, the organisation gives awards for excellence in youth work to recognise the initiative of young persons, who strive to make a difference in the lives of others. The media, she says, has the potential to protect the rights of children, women and the adolescent and contribute to peace and reconciliation. The media can assist communities to monitor, document and report on human rights violations. |
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Seminar on engine
corrosion CHANDIGARH, Nov 20 — It has been experienced that a large number of aero engines get prematurely withdrawn from operational units due to corrosion, which in turn results in loss of power and failure of material. In order to improve operational preparedness of helicopter units and transport fleet, the problem of corrosion, especially due to hostile environment, needs to be addressed on a war-footing. It is with this background that experts from the Air Force and related civilian institutes assembled for the first ever seminar on “Engine corrosion and its prevention” at No. 3 Base Repair Depot here today. The 2-day seminar is being organised jointly by 3 BRD and the Chandigarh Branch of the Aeronautical Society of India. In his keynote address, Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal VA Patkar, said that all over the world the concept of Aircraft Structural Integrity Programme (ASIP) has been introduced to extend the life of ageing aircraft and aero-engines. One of the key elements in this programme, he said, is the techniques employed to control and prevent corrosion. Corrosion in aero engines, both in military and civilian aircraft is mostly seen in costal regions due to saline and humid conditions, he said. Stressing that more emphasis must be given to explore the various possibilities of overcoming degradation of material due to environmental conditions, Air Vice Marshal Patkar added that there has been considerable improvement in the design, materials, coatings and manufacturing techniques. In his presidential address, President of the Aeronautical Society of India, Air Marshal P Rajkumar, gave an overview of the society’s activities in various fields. He said that the society’s membership, which had remained stagnant over the years at about 4000 members, has now crossed 5000 this year. He said that the aim is to have about 10,000 members in the next 10 years. Speaking on the occasion, Chairman of the Chandigarh branch, Air Cdre Arvinda Agrawal said that the true symptoms of corrosion, which could lead to material failure, are detected only during preventive maintenance, often too late to institute any preventive measures. He said that the search of higher output, while at the same time reducing the size and weight of the engines, has resulted in high engine temperatures, pressures and stress on the material. Unburnt fuel particles, swirling flows, high speed of rotation and extreme temperatures all play havoc on engine components, he stated. Air Cdre Agrawal said that the search for super alloys to withstand elevated temperatures, extreme stress levels and operations in hostile atmospheric conditions faces a challenge from corrosion. He added that search is also on for coating material to overcome effects of saline atmosphere and erosion of surface due to high temperature and dust. Technical sessions were also held, where experts presented papers on studies carried out by them on corrosion, its effects and preventive measures. |
Case registered in
car burning case SAS NAGAR, Nov 20 — The police today registered a case in connection with the burning of a Zen car of a Municipal Councillor at his Phase 7 residence here on Saturday night. The councillor from Ward 11 had alleged that some unidentified persons had been sent by the opposite group of councillors to set his car on fire. A case under Sections 427, 436, 452 and 506 of the IPC has been registered on the basis of a complaint in this regard given by the councillor. 2 women held Accident Hit by bus |
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Job consultancy
raided PANCHKULA, Nov 20 — The local police raided the premises of a Sector 7 job consultancy here this afternoon. The consultancy had recently inserted an advertisement in leading dailies promising jobs to people, and had, in fact, received bank drafts from many job aspirants. Though no police official was available for comment , sources said the premises of Max World International, located on the first floor of a Sector 7 house, were raided by the police. The entry to the premises, which houses a number of other commercial establishments, was sealed by the police before the Superintendent of Police, Dr CS Rao, visited the place. Apart from the proprietor of the organisation, Ajay Gautam, two other persons had reportedly been identified by the police. It could not be confirmed whether the suspects had been arrested. The organisation was allegedly duping people on the pretext of providing jobs. The consultancy was reportedly charging exorbitantly as consultation fee from job seekers. Sources revealed that, despite taking money from the applicants the latter were not given job placements. While Rs 110 was being charged as consultation fee from the applicants who used to apply for the post of either a computer operator or a clerk-cum-cashier, Rs 140 and Rs 160 were being charged for the post of field officer and branch manager, respectively. |
Call for national policy on
rehabilitation CHANDIGARH, Nov 20 — The International Conference on Construction Industry, Disaster and Environment Management called for a national policy on rehabilitation of people displaced owing to initiation of new projects by the government. Rehabilitation measures like adequate compensation, employment etc. would assure smooth processing and completion of the projects, it was stated. More than 150 papers about construction industry, challenges for sustainable development and disaster and environment from different countries were discussed on the concluding day of the three-day conference, which was organised by The Institute of Engineers (India). The conference recommended several measures for environment management , economic measures for disaster management, use of new technology in construction etc. The conference also recommended inclusion of environment as one of the compulsory subjects at the school level. Television programmes on the ongoing projects in the country, their details, problems etc also needed to be telecast, it was opined. The paper from Pakistan stated that the construction industry had lost its ability to undertake works for national development in view of tax laws, labour laws, bid bonds etc. In order to infuse new life into this industry, contractors had to be prepared to the same and laws relating to the same need to be framed, it was stated. The participants, which included delegates from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan and several other countries opined for sustainable development quality control measures had to be adopted. “Safety clauses should be included in the terms of the contract before initiation of any project, said Mr Jagman Singh, chairman, IEI. “Experts from different fields like engineers, architects and even geologists should conduct a detailed study before a project is started in order to get the best of the output”, said he. He also said a regulatory system for control of pollution and maintenance of good environment was required. Disaster management measures should include not only preparedness for natural calamities but also problems like traffic jams and the government should create public awareness apart from taking other effective measures, he added. Er. N. S. Gill emphasised on the prevention of delays in compliance of the projects. He said proper planning was the foremost requirement for the success of any project but an equal emphasis had to be laid on execution of the plans which have been framed. It was recommended that latest technologies, procedures and information relating to construction industry should be included in the technical courses. The participants also said the residents of different areas should be made aware regarding the type of construction material to be used on the basis of the geographical features of their area. People in areas prone to earthquakes should not use stones for building their houses. The reasons for time and cost over run, financial constraints and faulty documentation of contracts were also brought out in the conference. The recommendations which were put forward would be sent to the state government and the Central Government. |
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