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| Saturday,
March 10, 2001, Chandigarh, India |
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Three killed
as bus overturns Lakhnaur (Kurali), March 9 The deceased have been identified as Jaspal Singh Grewal, (50), Harbhajan Singh, (45), and Balihar Singh, (40). While Jaspal Singh and Harbhajan Singh, both residents of Mohali died on the spot, Balihar Singh, a resident of Chandigarh, succumbed to his injuries on way to the hospital. Incidentally, all the three deceased persons had boarded the ill-fated bus for Anandpur Sahib in order to participate in the Hola Mohalla celebrations. The 10 injured persons were rushed to the various hospitals in Kharar, Kurali and Chandigarh. While most of the injured were discharged after preliminary treatment, three of the seriously injured patients have been admitted to the PGI and another couple has been admitted to the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32. Their condition is stated to be serious but stable. Tilak Raj, a resident of Dadwa village in Chandigarh and an unidentified person have been admitted to the PGI with head injuries, while another city resident, Satish Kumar was admitted here with a spinal injury. Another couple from Sector 45, Mr S.S. Oberoi, and his wife, Pritpal Kaur, are also recuperating in the Government Medical College and Hospital. According to reports the bus had left the Chandigarh Bus Stand at 12: 23 pm today for Amritsar and the accident took place around 1 p.m. A cyclist en route Vaishno Devi shrine reportedly came in front of the bus and the driver applied the brakes. However, the survivors claim that they heard a loud noise of something in the bus being broken and after that the driver lost control of the bus, it overturned and fell off the road on the opposite side. On a visit to the spot, The Tribune team was witness to heart rending scenes . Relatives of the deceased , had reached the site of accident. A few villagers, who had been working in the nearby fields said they heard the deafening sound of a crash and shattering of glass. “On reaching the site, we saw the bus overturned and heard the cries of help of the passengers. Someone informed the police and a few people began extracting the injured”, said a resident of Lakhnaur village, Jasbir Singh. The in charge of the Sector 43 bus stand, Mr Sohan Singh, who had also reached the accident site, while talking to TNS said it was likely that the axle of the bus gave way when the driver applied the brakes with some force in order to avoid hitting the cyclist. The driver of the bus, Kulwant Singh, who was arrested by the police under Sections 279, 337, 338 and 304- A of the IPC at police post Chanalo, too, confirmed that the steering wheel of the bus went free after he jammed the brakes in order to avoid hitting the cyclist in front of the bus. He, however, denied that he was driving at a fast speed. |
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Floor-wise sale of property likely Chandigarh, March 9 A meeting in this regard was held two days ago where opinion was in favour of the implementation of the Punjab Act. The Finance Secretary, Mr Rakesh Singh, confirmed that the Deputy Commissioner-cum-Estate Officer, Mr M. Ramsekhar, and the Chief Architect, Mr Sarbjeet Singh Sandhu, had been given time to study the ownership and architectural aspects, respectively. The next meeting is to be held on April 9 to finalise the issue before sending the matter for approval to the Administrator, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd). Since the Administration is considering implementation of the Punjab Act in toto, the need to get an approval from Parliament will not arise. However, if any modification is incorporated, a nod is required from Parliament. Under the provisions of the Reorganisation of States Act, 1966, it was easier to implement a Punjab Act than an Act of any other state, said sources, adding that the Punjab Act has been derived from the Delhi Apartment Act. After implementation of the freehold system, the apartment Act will be required for legal purposes in case of Chandigarh Housing Board or group co-operative housing societies flats. This Act has to be introduced to enable the transfer of a portion of residential or commercial buildings. The sale will be allowed on a floor basis, sources said, explaining that the conversion to freehold cannot be implemented in isolation. The apartment Act, which will legally permit the transfer of a first floor or a second floor flat, in the buyer’s name, has to run alongside the conversion scheme, officials said. Besides this, several people who are presently living is houses and need to sell a floor due to financial or social reasons, cannot do so. The apartment Act will also allow such sale. The idea to adopt the apartment Act is an addition to the major proposal of the Chandigarh Administration, cleared by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, to convert all leasehold property in the city into freehold. |
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Major Bhatnagar moves HC for bail Chandigarh, March 9 In his petition, Major Bhatnagar has prayed that the court summon the records of the case and issue a writ directing the respondents (Union of India), to decide the statutory complaint dated July 31, 2000. Major Bhatnagar had filed a statutory complaint under Sections 27 of the Army Act against his superior officers, alleging that he is being made a scapegoat as he had tried to expose their misdeeds. The petitioner has also sought that the proceedings of the GCM be stayed till the statutory complaint is disposed of. Stating that the mandatory time frame for disposing such complaints, according to Army Regulations, is six months, the petitioner has questioned whether the authorities can be allowed to sit over statutory complaints. The petitioner has further contended that the action of the authorities to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the petitioner without first disposing of the said complaint is illegal and contrary to the provisions of law.. While seeking release on bail, it was contended that the petitioner, who had been attached for disciplinary proceedings since October 1999, was placed under arrest on January 5, 2001, without valid reasons and justification. In this manner the rights available to the petitioner to produce his own defence have been curtailed, he added. Alleging that relevant documents which the petitioner had sought during the hearing of charge and recording the summary of evidence were not available, the petitioner claimed that pre-trial procedures were conducted in non-compliance of Army Rules 22, 23 and 24. Claiming that his trial by GCM is a farce and that no fair trail can be expected, the petitioner has sought that all relevant records be summoned by the court as the grant of even the copies of these have been declined to him. He added that proceedings were not being recorded in ink and even the demand to get the statements signed from the witness, the presiding officer or even the judge advocate on a day to day basis has been declined. |
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Conversion policy a non-starter Chandigarh, March 9 With the authorities and the GPA holders sticking to their guns on the clause of removal of violations and alterations in the flats by the buyers before the flats were transferred to the names of the GPA holders, the much-awaited conversion policy seems to be doomed from the very beginning. Even as the formal notification is yet to be issued”,
”flaws” in the policy have already come to the fore, alleges Mr Nirmal Datt, chairman of the CHB Residents’ Welfare Federation, an apex body of 25 welfare associations, which wants the clause on the removal of the alterations and additions to go completely. He demands the regularisation of the bulk of additions and alterations through concession in the covered area on Punjab and Haryana patterns since a majority of the “violations” were “need-based”. What the Chandigarh Administration should immediately do is to delink the clause seeking the removal of violations from flats for giving the ownership to the GPA holders as it will net huge revenue to the authorities through conversion charges. The issue of the violations and the alterations can be tackled separately on the merits of each case, he adds. Echoing the same sentiments, Mr RK Mann, president of the LIG Residents Welfare Association, Sector 41-D, asks why the CHB authorities allowed the additions to take over the years. Now you cannot ask the allottees and GPA holders to remove the alterations overnight, he asserts. He also demands reduction in the
conversion charges, which he terms on a “higher” side. On the other hand, the board authorities, which have already granted certain concessions to the allottees, do not seem to be in
agreement with the GPA holders. They view major violations such as additional rooms, as endangering the structures of buildings which could not be regularised. If the board regularises the alterations, it will be open a pandora’s box and there will be no end to it, official sources say, adding that in a way it will be unfair to the GPA holders and allottees, who had not made the alterations and additions. But Mr Vinod Joshi, an architect, seems to differ with the CHB authorities. He contends that most of the additions and alterations have been made by the allotees and GPA holders keeping the safety factors in mind. He disapproves of building of additional rooms on the encroached government land. In fact, he wants the CHB to change the future designs to the “frame designs” from the “brick designs”, alterations to which will be much safer. Over 20,000 board flats had been sold on the GPA in the city and a majority of them had additions and alterations, a substantial number of them “major” alterations. In fact, the federation had been spearheading a campaign for the regularisation of the “need-based” changes for a long time. The local MP, Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, has also written to the Adviser, Ms Neeru Nanda, not to make the conversion policy a “non-starter” by tagging to it the clause of “violations” in the flats. |
CHB rejects Prof Puri’s plea Chandigarh, March 9 Legally the professor can file another appeal before the Board of Directors of CHB within 30 days, contesting the latest orders passed by the chairperson of CHB, Ms Neeru Nanda, two days ago, well-placed sources in the CHB confirmed yesterday. Professor Puri’s flat was cancelled in April last year when it was detected that the former VC had allegedly suppressed facts that he had been on a list of members who were allotted a chunk of land under the PUSHPAC group co-operative housing society, Sector 49, in December 1994. The society was to construct the flats and further allot them as per rules. About 7 months later, in July 1995, Professor Puri was successful in a draw of lots for a flat in MHC, Mani Majra, sources said, adding that in July 1995 the professor filed an affidavit, saying he had no residential property. The CHB had then said under CHB allotment rules any person who already had residential property in Chandigarh, Panchkula or S.A.S. Nagar, was not eligible for a flat. The professor approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court in July 2000 against the CHB. The High Court asked him to appeal before the CHB. In his appeal before the CHB, Professor Puri claimed that at the time of sending in an application for a flat in MHC, Mani Majra, he had no residential property. Professor Puri had also claimed that when he filed the affidavit, the co-operative housing society had not allotted any land to him and no possession had been given. The CHB, in its latest order, specified that a list of members was supplied to all co-operative housing societies and this list could not be changed. The list in relation with PUSHPAC co-operative housing society contained Professor Puri’s name |
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Sec 17 needs a
facelift Chandigarh, March 9 In fact, the sector currently presents a study in contrast, with the SCOs and office complexes with shops on the ground floor in almost all buildings. Surely, the planners must not have planned that the ground floors of a number of government-owned building such as 30 Bay and 17 Bays Buildings, otherwise designed like shops, will be used as offices. Since the space where the offices are functioning is prime commercial space, it could fetch handsome revenue to the state exchequer if leased to prospective entrepreneurs. During the holidays and evenings, the sector, barring T-shaped Piazza and shopping arcade in the Neelam Theatre row, wears a deserted look. The faulty use of the buildings, not planning, is to be blamed for the present state of affairs, says Mr RP
Malhotra, president of Samadhaan, a group striving for social justice. Observers feel that the existing offices, including government public-dealing office, could be shifted to more spacious and cheaper office space in other parts of city. The proposal, apart from easing traffic and parking problems, shall give the much-needed uplift and life to the whole of the otherwise “dead sector”. The MCC had engaged a Delhi-based firm, Infrastructure Professionals Enterprise, to conduct a study. The firm had suggested the formation of a joint venture company — the Sector 17 Enterprise Limited — and the main emphasis was on uniform development of the 260-acre complex. The proposal of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh to develop and maintain the sector as the “model sector” had been hanging fire. Hardly anything had been done beyond the overbridge and other parts to attract the tourists. Light and sound water feature in this side would go a long way in attracting tourists, revenue generation, value enhancement, better quality of life, additional employment and business and benefits to society. Suggestions: *Use ground floors as shopping centres *Shift venues of Plaza Carnival and Divali mela *Declare Sunday open day *Install water features and musical fountains at other places
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Lord Chaitanya’s birthday celebrated Chandigarh, March 9 The birthday of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, an incarnation of Lord Krishna , was celebrated at Hare Krishna Dham, Sector 36-B, here today with great enthusiasm. Hundreds of devotees thronged the temple on the occasion. The programme began with ‘Mangla arti’ at 4.30 a.m. followed by ‘Sringaar arti’, offering of new dresses to Lord Chaitanya and Sri Radha Madhav, kirtan and pravachan and mahabhishek of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Later in the evening 1,008 bhog (delicious items) were offered to the Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and than distributed among the devotees. A play on “Chand Kaji” was also staged by the students of ISKCON Youth Forum at temple premises. |
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BJP chief
to visit city Chandigarh, March 9 Mr Laxman would be accompanied by Mr Narinder Modi, party general secretary, and Mr Om Parkash Kohli, MP, and the party’s central observer for Punjab. Mr Avinash Jaiswal, General Secretary (Organisation), Punjab unit, said more than 10,000 party workers would attend the ceremony. All the party ministers, MLAs, municipal councillors, mayors, chairmen of various boards, corporations and others would also be present. Three categories of party workers from Punjab would be felicitated on the occasion. These will include senior workers, families of those killed by militants and those who laid down their lives during national agitations like “gau raksha”, Ram Janmbhoomi and other such agitations, Mr Jaiswal added. |
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HC Judge bereaved Chandigarh, March 9
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Spraying D.D.T. on garbage I am surprised at the report that suggests spraying of garbage dumps with DDT. In this information age, our authorities are so ill informed about environmental pollutants which have been banned the world over. DDT is a chemical which is abused and overused, despite volumes of data confirming its negative effects on the biosystem. It is known to remain unchanged in the food chain at unacceptable levels. The presence of DDT has been found in the milk of mothers fed on foodgrains laden with it. Its harmful effects have been listed in medical literature. In this situation, it is difficult to understand the instructions of the Mayor that this pesticide be used on garbage dumps. The solution to the problem of insanitary conditions is not to spray the dumps with harmful insecticides, but to eliminate such dumps by organising an efficient garbage disposal system. Vivek Khanna Pension account After retiring as Chief Engineer in Punjab, I had to open a pension account in Chandigarh. Accompanied by my wife, I visited the State bank of Patiala branch in Manimajra to open my pension accounts, so that I could draw my monthly pension conveniently. But the manager was willing to open the account only if I made a long-term deposit of the amount I had received as retirement benefits. I could not meet this condition since I had to meet some urgent commitments. We had to return without opening the account. There should not be such conditions for deposits before opening a pensionary account. S.P. Singh UT’s Journal While the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation plans to start its newsletter, the publicity magazine of the Chandigarh Administration, ‘‘Open Hand’’, has not been in circulation for several years. No one in the administration has, over these years, taken the initiative to revive this magazine. The Chandigarh Administration is perhaps the only Union Territory which is without a publicity magazine. The Administration has enough staff to bring out the magazine without any problem. ‘‘Open Hand’’ remained in circulation for quite some time and was simultaneously printed in Hindi, Punjabi and English at a time when the UT Office was not so heavily staffed as it is now. Narinder Singh |
50 pouches of whisky seized Chandigarh, March 9 Tippler arrested: Scooters stolen: Five injured: Suicide bid: PANCHKULA Three persons who reportedly occupied a house in Sector 17 yesterday by throwing out the household items of the house owner have been arrested by the police. The alleged accused — Trilok Singh, Gurpreet Kaur and Randeep Kaur- threw the goods out of the house of Mr N.R. Goswami and occupied the house forcibly. The complainant, Mr Goswami, had reported to the police about the incident saying that three accused came with a gang and entered his house. After arresting them a case under Sections 147, 149, 188, 342, 447, 452 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code has been registered at Sector 19 police station. The three were later produced before a Panchkula court today, where Trilok Singh was remanded to judicial custody while Gurpreet Kaur and Randeep Kaur were released on bail. |
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For the teeny-bopper brigade, there was no confusion over “real holi celebrations”. Armed with plastic pistols and water grenades, they flushed out the willing victims out of their homes. Ignored their mock protestation. Pushed them against the walls. And shot them mercilessly with high-powered water pistols. 
