 |
|
| Saturday,
May 19, 2001, Chandigarh, India
|
|
||||
|
Chandigarh bypass to
ease road congestion SAS Nagar, May 18 The proposed dual carriageway will bypass Kharar, Zirakpur and Dera Bassi and join the Chandigarh-national highway near Bakarpur. After conducting a preliminary study of the proposed alignment of the alternative road linkage, the Town and Country Planning Department has forwarded it to the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board for further action. An official of the board has confirmed that a proposal in this regard is being moved by the Town and Country Planning and the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Board (PUDA). Various factors like cost of the project, viability and the final alignment of the linkage were yet to be worked out. The Punjab Government is also considering commercial exploitation of the area along the proposed road so as to the absorb the expenditure to be incurred on the ambitious project. Sources in the town and Planning Department say two different proposals have been forwarded to the board. From Sector 81 of SAS Nagar to Bakarpur, bypassing Dera Bassi, the length of the road section is around 15 km. In the alternative proposal, the length of the road section from SAS Nagar to Singhpura — near Bhankarpur bridge on Ghaggar river — is around 13 km. The linkage touching the proposed main bus stand in Sector 77 of SAS Nagar will touch the Kharar bypass at Desu Majra to join the Khanpur intersection, ahead of Kharar, leading to Ropar. The Town and Country Planning Department had also proposed that another road from Maloya village, near Sector 39 of Chandigarh, can join the Kharar bypass for the convenience of vehicular traffic coming from the Chandigarh side. According to sources, the proposed road alignment from Dera Bassi to Kharar — requiring at least two bridges, one each on Ghaggar river and Patiala KI Rao Cho — will pass close to the proposed railway station at Kambala village along the Chandigarh-Ludhiana rail link. |
|
Private party to install CT scan at
GMCH Chandigarh, May 18 Tenders inviting private parties and seeking details of their proposals will be advertised within one week, sources said, while adding that the UT Administrator, Lieut Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), asked the Chandigarh Administration officials this morning as to how such situations could be averted in the future. Actually the proposal was caught in red tape. However, the unfortunate death of Ms Pradeep Virk, a resident of Sector 46, in a road accident has spurred the project, admitted officials. Official sources confirmed that the rates will be comparable with PGI rates if not at par with PGI. Bringing the rates at par with PGI will not be possible as the institute enjoys inbuilt subsidy. However, a vast difference in rates will not be accepted as the target is to have the rates lesser than the market. The huge volume of CT scans will make it viable for the operator, estimates the Administration. Calculations of the Administration and the GMCH authorities has shown that the rates at the PGI are about 25 per cent lower than those prevailing in the market. The private party will have to observe some checks and balances and maintain specifications listed out by the GMCH. Penal clauses will be incorporated into the agreement in
case
Had the GMCH waited for government clearance it would have never come as the project to set up CT scan or magnetic imaging resonance (MRI) machines would have cost around Rs 6 crore. Now the Administration does not have that kind of money and nor will the Union Health Ministry sanction such a project in the near future. Meanwhile, the GMCH authorities today said when Ms Pradeep Virk had been brought into the hospital around 7.45 a.m. on May 16. She was unconscious, had a very feeble pulse, was for breath, had dilated pupils and minimal reaction to light. |
|
Childhood desecrated in Mani Majra school Chandigarh, May 18 The frail-looking boy, who is a student of Sarva Bharati Model School, Mani Majra, sustained major injuries on his back, legs and arms as a result of about 27 cane-strikes, which were administered by his Principal. She hit him so hard on the head that he fell unconscious and remained so for about three minutes. The moment Parvinder regained consciousness, beating started again. These facts are based on this correspondent’s investigation. The incident took place on the school premises this afternoon, when the class teacher of Parvinder took him to the Principal’s office to “teach him a lesson for playing pranks in the class.” Following the horrid incident, the boy was unable to walk. After he came out of the Principal’s office, the entire school took notice of the situation and there was utter chaos there. Kamaljeet, a student of the same school, said. “My friend was beaten up very badly. The Principal beat him up in a locked room for about 15 minutes. We could hear his cries.” Parvinder was helped by a friend who managed to take him home. The mother of the
victim, Ms Paramjit Kaur, when contacted; said, “I was shocked to see his state. I rushed to the school and confronted the Principal. All she said was that she cared two hoots : Kar le jo karna hai.” Later, one of the elders of Parvinder went to the Mani Majra police station and lodged a complaint. The police then accompanied the child and his relatives to the local hospital and to the General Hospital, Sector 16, where four X-rays of the boy’s body were taken. Mr Baljit Singh, Parvinder’s uncle, said: “The FIR will be lodged tomorrow on the basis of the medical report.” A DDR has been registered. Meanwhile, the Principal, when contracted by The Tribune at the police station where she had been summoned for investigation, admitted her fault: “I am very sorry for what I did. I did not intend to harm the child. But I must say that he is very careless and naughty.” Whereas the Principal resorted to the outdated and now banned practice of giving corporal punishment to a student, Parvinder seemed to be picture of quiet grief. |
|
|
PEC to be a deemed
varsity Chandigarh, May 18 Mr Atray said that the number of the seats in the Bachelor of Information Technology course would be increased from the current 30 to 60, “and even more”, in the coming years. Schools of excellence would be created in the college which would provide specialised training to students to meet industry-specific requirements. More than 25 students of the college received college colours from Mr Atray at the annual club prize distribution function. The principal gave away 60 appreciation prizes to the students who had taken part in extra-curricular activities. Those who received college colours include Jitin Talwar, Himanshu Sharma, Mudit Singhal, Gaurav Aggarwal, Pranchal Saxena, Megh Varun Panth, Vikas Aggarwal, Pankaj Taneja, Dheeraj Adhya, Aman Sapra, Capri Jalota and Vipun Gupta. Addressing the students, Mr Atray said: “You are studying in one of the top engineering colleges of the country which is going to be upgraded to a national-level institute and very soon our dreams will be realised”. Talking to TNS later, he said that the formal proposal for upgrading PEC had been sent to the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development while a detailed proposal for its exact status would follow. |
|
Is city haven for drug traffickers? Chandigarh, May 18 1996 13 — 23.5 g 4.96 kg 12 kg 1997 16 1.4 kg 12.29 kg 5.5 kg 69 kg 1998 21 — 2.76 kg 5.2 kg 40 kg 1999 19 3.2 kg 12.226 kg 7 kg 8.80 kg 2000 37 9.22 kg 163.75 kg 10.30 kg 132.50 kg According to the information available from police sources, the narcotics in the region are being routed through the city from these three states, besides Madhya Pradesh. It is from here that poppy husk and opium find their way to the city not just for local consumption, but most importantly for consumption in the inner rural reaches of Punjab. While opium is being brought to the city from the neighbouring state of Himachal Pradesh, the major supply of poppy husk comes from Rajasthan. Sources say this poppy husk is smuggled into the country from Pakistan in a big way from Rajasthan border from where, it finds its way into Haryana and ultimately the city. It is learnt that the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have licenced poppy husk vends and poppy husk is easily available there. It is alleged that drug peddlers and traffickers in the region have been getting a regular supply from the licenced vends in these states. Residents of these areas buy poppy husk from the vends in bulk and after bringing it here in trains and buses, take them to the rural areas of Punjab, where many consumers can be found. Sources, however, maintained that there is no organised gang of drug traffickers operating in the city as such but, the total supply for the city— mainly of poppy husk, is first brought from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan to Shahabad Markanda near Ambala. From there, carriers are engaged to bring the haul in the city through the Panchkula-Ramgarh-Naraiangarh road. “As for the opium, the supply is mainly from Himachal Pradesh, where a large number of foreign tourists are alleged to be clandestinely involved in the trade. In fact, the Himachal police has been investigating the role of foreigners in the opium racket in the state,” informed a senior police officer, on condition of anonymity. In fact, the local police has seized many a consignment of drugs from the meant for Punjab Inter State Bus Terminus, at Sector 17 and Sector 43, recently. The vigil at these places has been increased over the past couple of months following the seizures from these places. On May 14, the city police had arrested two drug traffickers from near the Sector 43 ISBT and 18 kg of poppy husk was recovered from them. They had brought this consignment from Rajasthan and were carrying it to Balachaur in Nawanshahr district for sale. Meanwhile, a survey of various parts of the city, especially the slum and labour colonies, revealed that the drug addicts of the area were not just addicted to opium and poppy husk, but also to various contraband drug. On further investigations revealed that a few foreigners residing in the city and its satellite town were supplying these drugs to them. Jitendar, a drug addict from Janta Colony, while talking to TNS said the drugs would be tied in packets and the supplier would leave the packet at a particular place and wait for his customer to keep the money and pick up the drug. For those addicted to various medicines like Fortwin, Avil and Phensidryl, the location of satellite towns of Punjab and Haryana proves to be a boon as these medicines can allegedly be obtained without a doctor’s prescription. It is learnt that the drug users were getting these drugs from easily Naya Gaon, Mullanpur,
Mohali and Panchkula. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
‘Protest’ by Markfed board Chairman,
directors Chandigarh, May 18 It was a typical case wherein the ‘’authority’’ itself was protesting against the holding of the meeting scheduled for 11.30 a.m. Informed sources said that the main grouse of the Chairman and the directors was that the Managing Director seldom took them into his confidence over Markfed issues. Even the meeting agenda was not got approved from the Chairman as required. Mr Bains, sources said, was taken aback at this “protest”. His pleas that amends could always be made did not cut much ice with the Chairman and the elected directors and the meeting had to be postponed. The three government nominees who were present left the venue. Sources said that there were 20 items on the agenda, of which 11 were “regular” and nine “supplementary” included after approval was sought from the Registrar, Cooperatives on May 17. Information gathered by TNS showed that the directors had taken exception to the manner in which transfers and postings were done in Markfed without consulting them and also the move on the “restructuring” of Markfed’s technical cell without their knowledge. Yet another point was the proposed foreign jaunt by the Managing Director, this time again to the UK, the usual justification being attending of the “food festival” there. Mr Bains, on his part, told TNS that the directors were unhappy over transfer orders in respect of district managers issued on May 15. They felt that they should have been consulted. They were told, Mr Bains continued, that the Minister of Cooperation, Mr Ranjit Singh Brahampura, had ordered certain transfers on April 24 and the execution was done on May 15. But the directors objected to this being done in the middle of the wheat procurement season. They should have been consulted at least in respect of those shifted from their districts. “Äfter all, government orders have to be carried out”, Mr Bains added. Mr Bains said he repeatedly pleaded with them that there were certain important items on the agenda, including administrative matters, that should not be allowed to be deferred affecting the day-to-day functioning of Markfed. Any issue beyond the agenda could certainly be taken up at some other time in a regular, proper manner. But this did not work and hence the meeting had to be postponed, he added. |
|
Pollutants in nullah: HC issues notice of motion Chandigarh, May 18 In his petition taken up by Mr Justice R.S. Mongia and Mr Justice K.C. Gupta of the High Court, the SAS Nagar-based Civil Welfare Council stated that the discharge of the pollutants into the nullah was a matter of grave concern. Giving details, the petitioner stated that the concentration of affluents was injurious not only to the health of human beings, but also to the plants. The organisation added that mosquitoes and poisonous insects were also breeding in the dirty nullah water. Seeking directions for checking pollution, the petitioner also sought action against the government agencies concerned, as also against the residents guilty of disposing of waste in the water. Counsel for the petitioner had added that representations had been addressed to officials in the Chandigarh Administration and in SAS Nagar but in vain. He had added that a legal notice had also been served upon the respondents. Taking up the petition, the judges issued notice of motion to the state of Punjab, Chairman of Punjab Urban Development Authority, Adviser to UT Administrator and eight other respondents for July 23. |
On a visit to the city? Hire a two-wheeler! Chandigarh, May 18 In scooter market, Sector 21, one can get scooters of different models on hire.”
The way the city is planned necessitates the need of having one’s own conveyance. But if you do not require it for long, the situation is quite complex. Letting out two-wheelers on hire is a profitable venture”, said a mechanic. These two-wheelers, mostly scooters, are let out by mechanics who buy second-hand vehicles. To get a scooter on hire, one has to pay an amount equal to what one would buy the same scooter for. After using the vehicle for, say a month or so, one has the option to return it to the mechanic who pays you the balance amount after deducting the rental. “We do this so as to avoid any complexities arising in future”. An’ 84 model of Bajaj chetak ,for instance would be available for nearly Rs 6,000. Rental on this is Rs 1,200 a month. The vehicles that are given on hire are second-hand vehicles which are repaired and till they are sold, these prove out to be a good revenue-generating source for the mechanics. “We hand over the papers et al of the vehicle to the person so that in case he wants the vehicle for a longer time period, he may even retain it”, said another mechanic. Mopeds are also available at similar rental. A Luna, for instance, can be bought for Rs 2,000. “Most of the people who take vehicles on rent are those who are on a temporary visit to the city These are mostly tourists and at times students. It saves them the cost of buying the vehicle during that time period”, said another seller. Among the commonly taken scooters are Bajaj followed by Kinetic and mopeds.”
On an average, we do get a demand for four to five scooters a month,” a mechanic said, who feels that the demand is not really encouraging. “That is why the supply depends upon availability. We do not keep many scooters in hold and prefer to sell them whenever the demand is there”. |
|
Jacob wants parks in Sectors 48 and
49 Chandigarh, May 18 Meanwhile, the General also pointed out that roads in these sectors needed immediate repairs as these had been worn out due to ongoing construction activities. He also asked the Chief Engineer to improve the outer roads of these sectors and instal traffic lights in consultation with the Inspector-General of Police. He expressed concern over rising number of accidents in these sectors and said traffic regulation needed improvement. The Chief Engineer was asked to lay emphasis on greening these sectors as population density in these sectors would be much more than the Phase-I and Phase-II sectors. He also instructed the Chief Engineer to take suitable measures to avoid encroachment on land by unauthorised persons. Accompanied by the Secretary Cooperatives and the Chief Engineer, the Administrator first went to Pushpak Society in Sector 49. Highlighting their problems, members said the managing body of the societies was not taking the members into confidence and they were not getting the financial accounts audited. The general body meeting of the societies had not been called for the last two years. The Administrator asked the Secretary, Cooperatives, to issue necessary directions to the erring societies and get their accounts audited by any auditor appointed by the Registrar, Cooperative Societies. They should be also instructed to hold the general body meeting. He said societies themselves should take responsibility of internal development of the roads. The Administrator said the societies should deposit their security for electricity connections at the earliest so that temporary connections with loose wire posing dangers to the residents could be removed at the earliest. Stressing discipline and cooperation in the society, the Administrator said the society should work for the internal development of their property and inculcate a cooperative culture. Later, the Administrator went to Homoeopathic Dispensary in Sector 47. The dispensary had recently shifted to the new premises and the Administrator was pleased to see cleanliness and sanitation in the dispensary. The Administrator was informed that 80 patients on an average came to dispensary daily. The Administrator said most of the rooms in the newly-built dispensary were lying vacant and there was need to properly utilise the infrastructure of the dispensary. He said he would explore the possibilities of opening one dental, eye or ENT section in the vacant rooms of the dispensary to serve the population effectively. While going back, General Jacob also interacted with the students of Divya Public School, who were going to a ground to play cricket.
|
|
|
FENG SHUI TIPS Wear red at weddings IN Indian as well as Chinese weddings, the bride is mostly dressed in elaborate red dresses. Red is a symbol of yang energies. The wedding dress is customarily decorated with beads, crystals or sometimes even gold. It will bring great wealth and good fortune to the family of the groom. Apart from that, the outfit should have elaborate embroidery with symbols depicting happiness and joy. However, brides should not buy or make their wedding dresses until they are definite about getting married on a particular day to a particular person. It is believed that buying a wedding dress prematurely will reduce the chances of one’s getting married. One colour that should be absolutely avoided during weddings is black. Black is the colour of Yin. If a bride plans to wear black, it is believed that it could lead to illness, or a severe misfortune for the father of the bride. Harshna Address your Feng Shui queries to:
Chandigarh, May 18 Talking to mediapersons here today, Ms Ranjana said the gherao of the houses of the councillors was just a political stunt in view of the forthcoming MC elections. She also voiced her resentment against Mr Dhawan for leaving out his wife, Ms Satinder Dhawan, a Congress councillor, from the gherao schedule. She demanded that the Dhawans should first tender public apology to their voters whom they have betrayed and do self introspection rather than going to the doorsteps of councillors. Drawing a comparison between the public welfare works done in her ward with those undertaken by Ms Satinder Dhawan in her ward, she pointed out that 100 per cent work of strengthening and recarpetting V-6 and V-5 roads in her ward has been completed, while in ward 1 these figures were 65 per cent and 50 per cent respectively. Ms Ranjana said major rehabilitation of Sector 31 colony was undertaken in her ward after two decades. |
|
Religious channel
launched Chandigarh, May 18 Promoted by Mr Amarjit Singh Chandhok and Mr Bakshish Singh Chandhok, both industrialists from Mumbai, and Mr RS Sachdeva, a local industrialist, the secular channel, which has already been on the air since February this year, will telecast religious programmes round-the-clock. Apart from Gurbani, the channel would telecast programmes of all religions. Talking to reporters here, Mr Amarjit Singh Chandhok said the channel, which had already tied with several gurdwaras in Delhi, would concentrate mainly on North India. Besides, the channel had tied up with Penta Media and would be available worldwide through Internet at wwwnumtv.com. Saying that the channel would avoid pop and film music besides the obscene advertisements, he said the main emphasis would be to get the entire programmes sponsors by the big business houses. Mr Sachdeva informed that the channel was currently being relayed for 14 hours a day and would go round-the-clock in September. |
|
Fresh applications
invited Chandigarh, May 18 A total of 67 candidates were selected in this recruitment, but this was later quashed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. A fresh recruitment was also ordered by the court. According to an official press release, the checking of records showed that the application forms of a few of the candidates — 12 in the general category and 29 in the reserved category — were missing. These candidates have been asked to apply again . The physical measurement test for these candidates will be held between June 20 and 29 at the Sector 26 Police Lines. |
|
Industrial workers stage dharna Chandigarh, May 18 The workers protested against violation of labour laws by mill owner, contractors, brick-kiln owners and government department. While addressing the dharna the president of the union, Mr Balwant Singh, said the SAD-BJP government had given free hand to contractors to violate the laws. He said the minimum wages of the workers after the period of five years had fully exposed the anti-workers face of the Badal government. The secretary of the union, Mr Raghunath Singh, said about 7,000 industrial units were closed down and lakhs of workers had lost their jobs. |
Ten held for
fraud Chandigarh, May 18 The cops booked Ram Bali, Babu Lal, Safat Hussain, Gauri Lal, Badri Prasad, Daya Ram Singh, Raj Bahadur and Prithi Pal. Two property dealers — Darshan Singh and Anil Sharma — were also arrested. They and 16 other persons were booked under Sections 419, 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120- B of the IPC. A large number of jhuggi-dwellers from Colony No 1 and 2, Coal Depot area, Faidan Colony, near masjid Burail, near Kali Bari Mandir and jhuggis in Sector 35 had been resettled in Mauli Jagran in 1990-91. There were a total of 957 plots and 650 were allotted. The remaining plots were lying vacant and it was for these vacant plots that the forgery was committed. The modus operandi followed by the accused was to get the plot allotted on fake slips of the Estate Office in fictitious names. A person was produced under a fictitious name and the plot was got allotted. Sources in the vigilance cell said the role of the officials of the Estate Office was yet to be ascertained by the police. As a result, no official had yet been named as the accused. The arrested persons were today produced before the Judicial Magistrate, First Class, Ms Dimple Vijay Sharma. They were remanded to three days’ police custody. The police was also conducting raids at various places in order to nab the remaining accused. Meanwhile, the Estate Officer, Mr M. Ramsekhar, said no employee had been suspended so far as action would be taken only when the arrests were effected and communicated to the office. Sources confirmed that the entire staff of the Estate Office, other than those on leave, were present today. |
|
Two more held in murder case Chandigarh, May 18 Another weapon used in the murder and the attack on the brother of the deceased Praveen was recovered from the Kumhar Colony this evening. Balinder was stabbed to death and his brother, Praveen was seriously injured following a drunken brawl between two groups of relatives. A case under Sections 302, 307, 147, 148 of the IPC had been registered. Five of the accused had been arrested on May 16. |
|
Woman robbed of ornaments Chandigarh, May 18 According to an FIR registered under Sections 420 and 34 of the IPC, the complainant has alleged that she met a sadhu and a woman in the mandi yesterday. The two accused convinced her that the sadhu could double her gold ornaments. The woman reportedly gave them two gold bangles, one gold chain and a pair of earrings after tying them in a piece of cloth. The con man pretended to recite some mantras and handed over the bundle back to the woman. She was told that she could open the bundle once she reached home. However, when the complainant reached home, she found the ornaments fake. Daylight burglary Three
injured In another accident, a pedestrian, Sohan Singh, was hit by a Haryana Roadways bus ( HR-07B-8774) on Thursday near the Sectors 21-22 dividing road. He has been admitted to the PGI. Case registered |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 121 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
