Thursday, March 29, 2001, Chandigarh, India |
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ANANDGARH
CASE Chandigarh, March 28 As the notification stands revoked by the court of law, the Punjab Government’s entire strategy behind the ambitious project comes under a cloud. And while the government picks up bits of fractured ambition, the villagers are already rejoicing, as now no more land will be acquired. The news of the High Court ruling spread in the villages which were to acquired for the project like wild fire. It seemed that everyone in the 29 villages happened to know the news. The villagers were in jubilant mood and distributed sweets. Over 30,000 people are directly effected by the judgement. According to the highly placed sources in the Punjab Government, the government would be immediately filing a special leave petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court. The SLP is likely to be filed in a couple of days. When contacted Mr R.K. Verma, Additional Chief Administrator of the Anandgarh Development Authority, said, ‘‘We are waiting for the copy of the judgement and the government would be moving to the Supreme Court after consultation with the Advocate General, Punjab’’. Residents of the Kansal village, which was recently in the news because of the purchase of land by some Punjab MLAs, welcomed the High Court judgement. Ratan Chand, sarpanch of the village, said the judgement is widely welcomed by the residents of the area. However, the credit go to the Anandgarh Hatao Sanjhi Sangharsh Committee for its sustained struggle against the project. It was the committee which kept the Anandgarh movement alive among the villagers. Mr Jasbir Singh Dhaliwal, General Secretary of the committee, called up the Tribune office and informed about the ruling. Capt Amarinder Singh, President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, has too welcomed the decision of the High Court. He said the decision of the High Court has saved thousands of residents of the villages in the vicinity of Anandgarh project from displacement. Mr Dewan Singh, sarpanch of Mullanpur — Garibdas village, which was to be acquired for the project said, ‘‘It is the victory of the people and their united fight against the Badal government’’. Arvind Puri, another resident of the village, feared that the Punjab Government would be moving the Supreme Court. He distributed sweets in the village. The mood in the Sanimajra village was also the same. Prem Singh, son of Bakshish Singh, sarpanch of the village, said finally they have won the battle. |
Architect Satnam Singh dies at PGI Chandigarh, March 28 A product of the Chandigarh College of Architecture, he started his practice in 1966. Mr Satnam Singh was one of the consultant architects for Anandpur Sahib for the Khalsa tercentenary celebrations. He designed Nishan-e-Khalsa. In November, he won the competition for designing the proposed city of Anandgarh. He was also the chief architect for Baba Farid Medical University in Faridkot. He also won an all-India competition to design a new naval academy near Cochin. He is survived by his wife, Namita, also an eminent architect of the city, and a son and a daughter. Mr Satnam Singh had won several prestigious awards, competitions and contracts as an architect, planner and designer. He also headed the North Zone body of the Architects Association.
He will be cremated tomorrow at the Sector 25 cremation ground at 11.30 a.m. |
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B.Sc (hons) in computers and
biotechnology Chandigarh, March 28 Prof K.N.Pathak, Vice-Chancellor, has announced extending the BCA course in colleges by one more year to make it a four-year course for those desiring to do an honours degree. A new course in Masters in information science would also be introduced in selected colleges. “ We believe that this five-year course in MIS would provide an opportunity for higher education in the field of information technology’, according to the statement. The university has also announced that it was in the process of starting two other courses MBA (Information Technology) and Masters in e-commerce. This was being done with the twin objective of meeting the requirements of society for professional, degree and vocational courses, as also to mobilise additional financial resources ‘. The university has also announced restarting the Master degree course in defence and strategic studies from the forthcoming session. The course existed till 1998 before it was closed down. It was pointed out in the last senate meeting, that a centre, with particular reference to Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asia was the need of the hour under the changed world scenario. The Correspondence Studies Department will start new courses in M Com, B.Lib and MA (sociology). The PU regional centre at Muktsar will start classes in MCA as reported earlier. English (compulsory), which is a subject in the first year of the B.Sc will now be compulsory in B.Sc II instead. BA, B.Com BBA and BCA courses have the subject in the first year itself. For admission to B.Ed courses, courses in BBA and BCA have also been included as options. The university will now also have a post graduate diploma in women studies (two semesters), and an M.Phil in gender studies in addition to Ph.D. A Bachelor in Business Administration student, will now be eligible to appear in the entrance examination for admission to M.Com. Earlier only those students who had done their Bachelor degree in Commerce (B.Com) were eligible. The university has also proposeda semester system, instead of the annual system in the MCA course. With particular reference to the MFC course, a candidate who has qualified for the award of MFC degree will be allowed to re-appear as a private candidate in case he wants to appear for improvement. |
BHATNAGAR CASE Chandigarh, March 28 Stating this in reply to the court’s question on the locus standi of his orders when the matter was referred to the GOC, 3 Division, after briefing on June 15, Brig Devinder Singh said the GOC himself was coming the next day to meet the company commander and that further instructions were to be conveyed to him by the GOC from Kargil around June 17. Brig Devinder Singh added that he had already been informed that the CO, 5 Para, Col A.K. Srivastava, was being moved to the location to take stock of the situation that had arisen in the company. Replying to another question, the Brigadier said that the attack operations at Point 5203, for which the assault was launched on the night of June 20, had commenced immediately after our own positions had been consolidated after the partial capture of the Point 5203 feature, which was on June 9 -10. Brig Devinder Singh also stated that he had made it clear to the accused officer during the briefing that he had to undertake an operation, including the capture of Point 5203, and that the company’s problem of fatigue and understrength was brought to him after the briefing. He also said that he did not remember if he had met Major Bhatnagar before the briefing on June 15. Meanwhile, the prosecution’s question, asking Brig Devinder Singh about the stages of attack, which had stirred a debate on its admissibility yesterday, was disallowed by the court today. In reply to another question, the Brigadier stated that he did raise the issue of giving Major Bhatnagar another chance of attack with the latter’s CO, Colonel A.K. Srivastava, after June 18. However, the CO did not give Major Bhatnagar another chance due to the criticality of the situation. The Brigade Commander also stated that as per the GS pamphlet, there were three stages of attack: preparation, assault and re-organisation. Preparation, he added, included briefing, planning and the issue of orders, if any. Chandigarh, March 28 In a paper, “Status problems and constraints of Punjab and Haryana agriculture in relevance to WTO”, Mr Chand stated that although much had been made of the benefits provided to the farmers in terms of giving a remunerative MSP and an effective MSP by marketing operations to the advantage of farmers of Punjab and Haryana, it actually needed to be really evaluated as to how far the MSP had been meeting their cost of production. Mr Chand, who is also a member of the committee headed by Mr Y.K. Alag, which has been working to formulate a strategy to safeguard Punjab and Haryana’s interest in the WTO regime, said the cost of production of wheat increased from Rs 118 per quintal in 1981-82 to Rs 464 in 1998-99. The cost of production, culled from the cost of cultivation data of the Government of India funded scheme, had some methodological underestimation of the costs. He cited, for instance, that the land rent, a major fixed cost, was restricted to actual or one-third of the value of the produce as per the State Legislation Act, whichever was less. However, Mr Chand argued that in 1981-82 , 18 per cent of the farmers’ land rent was more than 30 per cent of the total value of output, but in 1992-93, 72 per cent of the farmers were paying a rent of more than 30 per cent. According to Mr Chand, comparison of the absolute increase in cost with the increase in the MSP showed that in nine out of the 17 years between 1981-82 and 1998-99, the increase in cost was more than the increase in the MSP. In certain years, the increase in MSP was Re 1 per quintal compared with Rs 12 per quintal increase in the cost of production. During 1994-95 and 1995-96, when the cost of production rose by Rs 24 and Rs 44 per quintal, the MSP was raised by Rs 10 and Rs 20 per quintal, respectively. In 1997-98 and 1998-99, when the MSP was stated to have been raised substantially by Rs 35 and Rs 40 per quintal, it was not enough to cover the increase in cost which was by Rs 49 and Rs 52 per quintal, respectively. Mr Chand wrote that the absolute increase in the cost of production per quintal of wheat and paddy in Punjab between 1981-82 and 1998-99 had been Rs 346 and Rs 261, respectively. The absolute increase in the MSP during this period had been Rs 408 and Rs 390, respectively. |
READERS WRITE TWO ninth standard students died in a road accident in Sector 38. Both died due to head injuries. These teenagers fell victim to their youthful exuberance, immaturity and an impatient desire to overtake everything in life. If only they had worn helmets, today they might have been planning their vacation. It is common to see two-wheeler drivers as well as pillion riders hanging their helmets on their arms instead of wearing these on their heads. The helmet is a life saving protective gear and not a cumbersome baggage to be carried to avoid a
challan. How many more lives have to be sacrificed before we realise the utility of the helmet? As long as doting parents keep giving two-wheelers to their underage school-going children, such accidents will keep happening. If we love our children, then we should forbid them from driving till they reach the age of maturity. A little effort by the Principals in schools, the traffic police on the roads and the parents at home, can make a difference. The youngsters should be educated about road safety and the risks of underage driving. Harinder Mohan Singh Inflated bill I have received electricity bill for 482 units in respect of my house No 1576, Sector 33-D. But I have been billed Rs 9892 including a surcharge of Rs 90. The bill includes sundry charges of Rs 8950. I am not aware of how this amount of Rs 8950 has been included in my bill. My enquiry to the Engineering Department has brought no response. Their stock reply is that the bill includes arrears of electricity charges. No one is ready to say anything beyond this. Knowing the high-handed attitude of the Engineering Department, I deposited the money so that electricity supply to my house is not discontinued. I would like the authorities to hold a full and proper enquiry into how this amount of Rs 8950 was included in my bill without any reason. I am sure if a property inquiry is held, I shall be entitled to a refund with interest.
G.S.Maingi Commemorating Kairon The Punjab Government has decided to organise year-long celebrations to mark the bicentenary of the coronation of Maharaja Ranjit Singh which falls on April 12. The 100th birth anniversary of Sardar Partap Singh
Kairon, a great freedom fighter and the builder of modern Punjab, who gave us the city of Chandigarh and institutions such as the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Research, the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, and Punjabi University, Patiala, also falls this year on October, 2. So far the Punjab government has taken no step to celebrate his birth centenary in a befitting manner, despite the fact that his grandson, Mr Adesh Partap Singh, is a cabinet minister in Mr Parkash Singh Badal’s cabinet. The Punjab Government has also constituted a committee to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of artist Shobha Singh, this year. Himachal Pradesh has named the Horticulture and Forestry university at Nauni near Solan, after Dr
Y.S. Parmar, but there is nothing in Punjab to perpetuate the memory of Partap Singh
Kairon. This ommission needs to be corrected. Narinder Singh Pre-nursery classes Admissions to pre-nursery classes are made when children are about three years old. There are a large number of English medium schools for this purpose. The fees charged by these schools are so high that even middle class parents find it difficult to afford the expense. These fees are higher than those of university classes or engineering colleges. There are some vernacular schools but these exist is the slum areas. The Government will have to come to the rescue of the parents of these
children. Gian Singh |
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Sweating out to get water meters replaced Chandigarh, March 28 After receiving a number of telephone calls from irate residents who complained of a callous attitude of officials, ‘Chandigarh Tribune’ decided to find out the truth. This reporter reached the Sector 18 subdivisional office at 9 am. About 20 persons were in the queue (which is normal in Chandigarh) outside Room 3 that was locked. Half-an-hour later, an official opened the door, softly humming a tune. “Switch on the fan,” he told a person in the queue before settling down. Those in the queue were then asked to deposit Rs 65 in Room 1. They obeyed, only to be told that they would have to return the next day for the receipts. “Engineer ‘sahib’ is out in the field,” the official said. Another day has been wasted. The next day, the residents return for the receipts before handing over the meters to the official. They are asked to get the meter tested. They fail to follow the logic because the meters are ISI-marked. They get these tested, nevertheless, but the trouble is not over yet. For days together, either the husband or the wife misses the office and stays home waiting for the plumber to come and install the meter. They are angry at being harassed. Surveys of the other centres revealed similar stories. Mohinder Pal, a government employee, has made more than three visits to the Sector 32 office of the Subdivisional Engineer to get his meter replaced. Another person said the officials were supposed to be present in the office from 9 am to 1 pm, but they blatantly told consumers that there would be no one in the office after 11 am. A number of persons like these, even after paying the required charges and getting the meter tested, are waiting for the plumber to come and replace their meters. A resident of Sector 47 has even approached the area councillor to help him get his meter replaced. With only a few days to go before the deadline expires, about 70 per cent of 54,000 or so defective meters remain unchanged. A visit to to the Public Health Offices of Divisions 4 and 5 revealed that piles of meters were lying there for testing. Due to a shortage of staff, these are now being returned to consumers. When contacted, the Superintending Engineer of Public Health, Mr Manmohanjit Singh, said the department had already replaced about 15,000 meters in the city and he had not received any complaint. He, however, said some persons might be facing these problems indeed. He said the problem had risen as the deadline was near near and the number of persons wanting to get their meters replaced was increasing every day, making it difficult for the staff to cope up with the rush. On an average, 200 meters are being installed everyday and the rush is expected to increase in the next few days. This is because of the fear of penaly after the deadline expires. He said, though the deadline had been extended two months ago, residents had ignored it till now and suddenly the deadline was near. He said no rent would be charged from those buying these meters at Rs 350. He also said they would actually be saving Rs 60 anually, thereby, recovering the cost of the meter in the next five years. However, the others who had not changed the meters would have to pay the rent. Service charges, enhanced recently by over five times, would be charged from all consumers. The notification with regard to passing the responsibility of maintaining and replacing defective water meters to consumers was issued on June 5, 2000. Those who fail to comply with the order, will be charged double the rate of the average consumption of water. The exercise would ensure that bills in future are issued on the basis of true readings and not average consumption. Mr Singh has asked those facing any problem in this regard to contact him in his office on telephone number 713727 or the Executive Engineer of Public Health-II, Mr Swaran Singh Kanwal, on telephone number 746118. |
HEWO’s draw of plots Panchkula, March 28 A large number of employees, serving and retired, had gathered at the venue where a draw for 85 houses in the super delux category, 106 in the delux, 115 in the utility and 111 in the economy houses category and 81 houses for the economically weaker sections was held. These flats were built under the first scheme launched for the HEWO and flats were built in Gurgaon and Faridabad. With the draw of lots for flats in Panchkula, the first phase of handing over possession of flats has been completed. On account of greater demand for these flats after the successful completion of the first scheme, enrolment was opened to members for the second scheme during 1998. Under this scheme, the HEWO had been allotted 10 acres at Gurgaon, five acres at Faridabad and 3.50 acres at Panchkula.
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Agitations in police ‘cause for concern’ Chandigarh, March 28 Stating that such agitations should not take place, he cautions that if the police forces are not content, it will adversely affect the law and order situation and the justice system. He was speaking to mediapersons at the Basic Training Centre, Bhanu, near here, today. Mr Kaul, who was on a farewell visit here, retires on March 31 after a stint of about three years as DG. Mr S.C. Chaube, an Uttar Pradesh cadre officer of the 1996 IPS batch, will succeed him. At present posted as DG (Administration) in the state police in Lucknow, Mr Chaube has had a stint as DG, Indo-Nepal Border Police, a wing of the UP police. Mr Kaul said that among other reasons, discontent and mismanagement in the police forces was the result of a lack of understanding and interest in the executive and
political leadership. This had become a problem as the current or upcoming generation of political leaders did not know how to handle police administration. All these issues and other causes of discontent in police forces, he said would be taken up in a book, “Police Agitations: Causes and Effects,” which he would be writing after retirement. Mr Kaul said that he was at present engaged in writing a book on the history of the ITBP, which would be completed in about six months. Stating that this task was turning out to be more difficult than imagined as information pertaining to the 1960 - 78 period was scanty, he added that the book would bring out interesting stories about valour, sacrifice and adventure. Another book he would be writing was on Dalit Cinema. Dalits, he said, played a very important part in Indian politics. He cited the example of Tamil Nadu, where cinema based on the Dalit community had profoundly affected the political scenario. He, however, ruled out the possibility of being appointed the Governor of a state, adding that he would instead prefer working in the Himalayas in the field of disaster management. Stating that he was retiring with the satisfaction that he had touched every “corner” of the ITBP, which none of his predecessors had managed, Mr Kaul said that there had been a qualitative change in the facilities that hadbeen put in place. Claiming that there had been some “record achievements”, the outgoing DG stated that the ITBP had become the first police force to receive the ISO 9002 certificate, for the services provided by it. The challenge, he added, now lay in maintaining the standards. Another major achievement, he said, was the government agreeing to grant 50 per cent concession in air fare to the ITBP for transporting personnel and material to Ladakh. This concession came after a private airline had already agreed to grant a similar concession.
Chandigarh, March 28 Revealing this while addressing ITBPF personnel at the Basic Training Centre, Bhanu, near here today, the outgoing Director-General, Mr Gautam Kaul, said that the training period for raw recruits had been increased from the earlier 36 weeks to 52 weeks. Stating that no other police force in the country was being trained in the manner in which ITBPF personnel were moulded as professionals, Mr Kaul said that in the last two years the ITBPF was working towards improvements and changes required for effective performance in the 21st century. Speaking on the occasion, the Additional DIG, Mr S C Nayar, said that the training curriculum for recruits, besides basic training in drill, weapons, firing and field craft, now incorporates aspects of counter-insurgency operations, information technology and tactics. Earlier, presiding over an impressive passing out parade and attestation ceremony, Mr Kaul reviewed the parade and took the salute. As many as 237 recruits were absorbed into the ITBPF on completion of basic training today. The recruits, which included three women constables, are from the 126 and 127 batches. The ITBPF chief also gave away prizes for outstanding achievement in various disciplines. The toppers from 126 and 127 batches, respectively, are Chur Singh and Anusuiya Prashad (over all), L Ramesh and Sunil Purohit (drill), Suresh Kumar and Sanjay Semoral (PT), Ajyesh Singh and Jetendera Rawat (weapons), Balwinder Singh and Gambhir Singh (firing). Head Constable Balraj Singh was declared as the best instructor. Later, the Director-General visited the ITBPF transport battalion near the Chandigarh airport and inaugurated a workshop established to fabricate bodies for truck and bus chassis purchased by the ITBPF. He also inspected a guard of honour and was given a warm send-off by the battalion Commandant, Ms A S Chhina, officers as well as other ranks. |
IT offices to remain
open on March 31 Panchkula, March 28 Parwanoo: As per Mr
S.P. Gupta, Income Tax Officer, Parwanoo range, the local income tax office will remain open on March 31 to receive income tax returns and other documents. |
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Gianiji’s biography releases skeletons out of cupboard Chandigarh, March 28 The former President’s Officer on Special Duty and close aide, Manohar Singh Batra, has written this book based on his four-year-long interaction with Gianiji. In the prologue, Batra writes that Gianiji assigned him to pen these memoirs when he took over as the OSD in 1986. The memoirs have been published after about six years of Gianiji’s death, but the author says that the President had read the and approved the final drafts. Batra says that, “Gianiji wanted his memoirs to be published only after his death.” The Constitutional relations between the Head of the State and the Head of the Government form an important feature of these memoirs. This book is also about human relations, capable of baffling any person. It contains an account of the late President’s tenure that was marked by controversies and Constitutional clashes. According to the memoirs, the late President’s address to the nation on Doordarshan and All-India Radio was censored twice — on August 14, 1986, and January 25, 1987. The memoirs say that Giani Zail Singh wanted to bid farewell to the nation on radio and television and the government wanted to know the contents of his speech. In the book, Gianiji says, “This was my personal message, for which, I did not need the advice of my council of ministers.” The book that has 50 chapters, is about Gianiji’s childhood, his struggle against the Maharaja of Faridkot and the British. Chapter 30 is about Operation Bluestar and Chapter 35 is about Gianiji’s differences with Rajiv Gandhi. The memoirs say that the former President never wanted a second term and he had informed the Prime Minister about this five months before his retirement. Chapter 45 — ’‘The Indian Post Office (Amendment) Bill, 1986’ — is about the former President not signing the Bill that had already been passed by both Houses. Gianiji neither approved the Bill nor returned it to the Parliament. The author says that Gianiji did not use to maintain any diary or notes all through his public life and depended entirely on his memory. |
BSP wants PM to quit Chandigarh, March 28 The party condemned the ministers, politicians and officials of the NDA government who are allegedly the main culprits in the defence deal. The party demanded that the Prime Minister should tender his resignation on moral grounds. The leaders demanded that the guilty should immediately be arrested and punished as per the laws. The leaders said that while our soldiers sacrificed their lives for the motherland, politicians, ministers and officials were making money through defence deals. The Enquiry Commission was meaningless and would not serve any purpose. This was a serious crime and the alleged culprits should be booked without delay.
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Peoples’ participation must
for development: experts Chandigarh, March 28 Rural water supply scheme depends upon the maintenance of pumps. The quality and access to drinking water largely depends upon the skills which the pump operator possess, opined the experts at a three-day workshop at Mohali. The Jan Shikshan Sansthan has organised a training programme of these grassroot technicians to equip them with the skills to efficiently operate and maintain pumps ensuring clean drinking water with the active involvement of the community. The Director of the Institute for Development and Communication, Dr Parmod Kumar, while talking to Chandigarh Tribune, said the community needs to be involved in proper use and timely maintenance of pumps. The workshop would help in improving the functional utility of the pumps thereby ensuring the availability of the safe drinking water. During the three-day technical workshop, 135 operators and technicians participated. The first session discussed the problems faced by these operators and technicians like irregular power supply, non-availability of funds and infrastructure for repair and lack of people’s running these schemes. The Chairman of the Jan Shikshan Sansthan, Prof J.N Joshi, stressed that how the people’s involvement in the common welfare programmes can be beneficial for the development of a village community. |
CHB to work on Sector 51-A Chandigarh, March 28 |
Rain in city Chandigarh, March 28 |
Husband, brother-in-law booked Chandigarh, march 28 The case has been registered on the complaint of the father of the deceased, Mr Pratap Chand, who has alleged that his son-in-law, Chaman Lal, had been continuously harassing her daughter for bringing less dowry. He also alleged that his daughter took the extreme step when she could no longer bear the torture. The deceased had been married to Chaman Lal, a mechanic in the Telecom Department, four years ago. After a few months of marriage, he had allegedly sent the deceased to her father’s house in Sanheka village in Kangra district. However, it was upon the interference of the village panchayat of Gangat, Chaman Lal’s native village, that Saroj Bala was taken back and the couple began residing with the elder brother of Chaman Lal, Jagdish. It has also been alleged that when the deceased became pregnant, he was again sent back to her father’s house and relations further strained between the couple after a baby girl was born to her. When the deceased came back here she hung herself and ended her life on the intervening night of March 26 and 27.
Sodomy cases on the rise Chandigarh, March 28
Sodomy is lurking in the city for quite some time now. The figures available from the police show that such cases have increased manifold during the past five years. According to the figures available, it was learnt that such cases, though haven’t become a rule, but from a minimal one or two cases to as many as four to five cases were being reported in the city for the past two years. As many as five such cases were reported from different parts of the city last year, four cases in the year 1999 as against one case each in the year 1996 and 1997. It is impertinent to mention here that the police itself claims that the total number of reported cases would not even be 50 per cent of the total cases that take place in the city. The social stigma attached with such cases and the fact that usually the accused are either close relatives or acquaintances, forces the victim’s families to let go off such crimes, opines a senior police officer. The police also maintain that though these crimes are criminal in intent, they are more of a sociological concern. Says the UT Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr Parag Jain, “The police on its part take a serious note of any such case. In cases, where there is a continued offense or the accused is a repeat offender, history sheets are prepared and bails are generally opposed as there is possibility of the accused striking again.” |
One killed, two hurt
in road mishap Chandigarh, March 28 Kanhaiya Lal and Gurprashad were being ferried in a rickshaw by Rajinder Prasad when they were hit by an unidentified vehicle. All of them were admitted to the Sector 32 Government Medical College and Hospital where Kanhaiya Lal succumbed to his injuries.
A case under Sections 279, 337 and 304-A of the IPC has been registered. Theft Liquor seized Purse snatched One injured |
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