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June 15, 2001, Chandigarh, India
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PUDA to hold grand “clearance sale” Chandigarh, June 14 A decision to this effect was taken here today at a meeting of the Finance and Accounts Committee of PUDA, presided over by the Punjab Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Dr Upinderjit Kaur, and attended among others by Mr K.B.S. Sidhu, Chief Administrator, PUDA. A “tatkal option” has also been introduced for those in a hurry to acquire a booth site in Mohali by paying a 10 per cent premium over the normal price. The booth sites are located in Sector 55 (Phase I), Sector 54 (Phase II), Sector 60 (Phase 3BII), Sector 59 (Phase V), Sector 56 (Phase VI), Sector 61 (Phase VII), Sector 63 (Phase IX), Sector 64 (Phase X), Sector 65 (Phase XI), Sector 70 and Sector 71. Each site is expected to cost between Rs 8 lakh and Rs 12 lakh depending on its size and location. Some of the booth sites have been lying unsold for the past nearly three decades. The total capital locked up in unsold booth sites is stated to be in the region of about Rs 60 crore. The decision to sell booth sites through allotment, marks a departure from the present policy that the commercial properties, including booths, should be disposed of through an open auction. However, it has been seen that inspite of various sectors and phases of SAS Nagar having been in existence for over two decades, even these small commercial sites have not been completely sold through auction. The slow disposal of booths via the auction route was discussed at various levels in PUDA. During the discussion, it was felt that PUDA needed to explore alternative methods of disposing of these booths, in face of obvious failure of the auction route. It was felt that the matter be comprehensively examined and, if the case was found fit, necessary approval got at the appropriate level for disposing of booths by calling applications and following the allotment procedure by a draw of lots. The Chief Administrator held a few meetings with all concerned and the following points emerged: (i) The auction procedure led only to limited disposal. The average disposal every month was around 6-7 booths and in no year has PUDA been able to dispose of more than 100 booths by auction process. (ii) The auction process effectively limited the prospective buyers to only a few property dealers, who were ultimately looking for avenues to dispose of the same. As a result, there was significant delay in construction of booths and the economic activity intended to commence was obviously not forthcoming. (iii) Since the constructions came up late, PUDA also lost in terms of scrutiny fee pertaining to the sanctioning of building plans. (iv) It was felt that if PUDA went in for calling of applications and following the allotment procedure, it would be able to spread the market
net very wide, since it was very easy and convenient for a person sitting at even a far off place to put in an application, accompanied by earnest money in the shape of bank draft. (v) In the context of development of five new sectors, where further commercial sites would be carved out, it was imperative that the booths in the older sectors be disposed of expeditiously. (vi) Furthermore, in the coming year or so, PUDA was expected to make significant capital investment in the land acquisition of five new sectors of SAS Nagar and also the development pertaining to the same. As such this scheme, if successful, would lead to easing the cash flow and also cutting down the interest cost, apart from easing the liquidity position. (vii) In the current scenario, where the real estate prices which can at best be described as stable, if not sluggish, PUDA would not get anything by waiting to dispose of these sites at distant future dates. In fact, any delay would only be seen as an opportunity missed in terms of the interest income lost. (viii) The truncated mode of payment in the shape of three, half-yearly instalments would also ease the cash flow. While it is also proposed to start levying the extension fee earlier, the latter would discourage the non-genuine buyers and would also encourage the early completion of the booths, thereby contributing to the overall economic activity in the township. (ix) Early construction would also earn PUDA income in the shape of building plan scrutiny fee. (x) The innovative feature of the scheme is the “tatkal option” wherein 10 per cent premium over the normal price has been fixed to be charged to persons who are desirous of having a booth in a particular phase/sector. (xi) The reserve price has been fixed with due regard to the previous auction prices as well as the current trend. While in most cases, PUDA has stuck to its existing policy, in some cases where auction took place at the peak of the real estate boom around 1996, PUDA has not added the notional interest cost because that was leading to ridiculously high and unrealisable reserve price. (xii) It is being felt that a lot of surplus money is available in the market in view of harvest season. Moreover, in view of voluntary retirement scheme offered by a number of nationalised banks, various individuals have also got large amount of investable surplus in their hands. (xiii) The previous financial year having ended, most of the investors and the individual applicants are free from income tax liability and are likely to come up in large numbers for this scheme.
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Police fudges facts to save
colleague Chandigarh, June 14 Not only this , the concerned police station also wrongly told the police press wing that Mr Mittal had fled from the spot after banging into Amrik
Singh. The same was released as information to all city newspapers. Mr Mittal has been booked under Sections 279 and 337 of the Indian Penal Code. These sections mean the police alleges that Mr Mittal was indulging in rash and negligent driving and due to this, had caused injuries to the motor cycle rider. And while the motor cyclist had refused to give a statement till late night on June 10, an FIR had been lodged on June 10 itself. In reality, the fact that Mr Mittal had fled from the spot is false as he alleges that after the accident, he had even gone to the GMCH, Sector 32, to enquire about the well-being of the cop. Interestingly, it was Mr Mittal, who asked his son to call up the police control room as the accident had taken place near his house. A day later, the control room officials called back and even enquired if a PCR team had reached the spot or not. Mr Mittal alleges the cop was riding at a very high speed and was drunk at the time of the accident, that occurred at about 8.30 p.m. on June 10. “The Investigating Officer, sub-inspector Janak Rana, had assured me that he will get a medical examination done for testing the blood alcohol level of the cop, but I am not sure if this was carried out as I had told the cops that I did not want to take legal action against the injured person,’’ alleges Mr Mittal. Sources say in case one of the parties does not want legal action, then such finer points are not carried out in the
medical examination. Mr Mittal further adds that after the accident, he offered to take the injured motor cyclist to the hospital, but the latter refused and insisted on calling the police. The Station House Officer (SHO) also reached the site. The view of on the spot the police after talking to me and those of the assembled members of the public, was that the motor cyclist was at fault, the harassed resident adds. After that, Mr Mittal, on directions from the police, parked his car in the Sector 36 police station and went to the hospital with SI Janak Rana, where the motor cyclist refused to give a statement till his uncle came to the hospital. A shocked Mr Mittal says he realised the change in behaviour of the police after he came to know that the motor cyclist was a cop. |
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What does PGI offer —
treatment or infections? Chandigarh, June 14 Surgeons say infections start in the pathetically maintained operation theatres, are magnified due to poor outdated techniques and multiply due to post-operative hospital conditions. The first step towards antisepsis is air-conditioning or at least, air-cooling of the surgical wards and not allowing patients to sweat, they add. Microbiologists say air-conditioning is for patient comfort and does not actually reduce the chances of getting hospital acquired infections. “ It is the good air bacterial quality which has to be maintained. This can be done with plenum ventilation so that existing room air is expelled and changed at least 45 times in one hour,” they add. Hospital infection rates the world over range between 0.9 to 8 per cent and in tertiary and referral centres like the PGI, they are as high as 20 to 30 per cent. Interestingly, the authorities write off these figures as fiction and with no data base on the hospital infection rate, it cannot be confirmed. Incidentally, the PGI Hospital Infection Control Committee recently proposed to begin a continuous surveillance for specifically burns cases, neurosurgery and gastroenterology, where such incidences are high, so that infections can be reduced and controlled. However, faculty members admit that the PGI has probably one of the highest infection rates in the country. The hospital authorities blame the patients and their attendants for these fatal infections, but the hospital too is more than responsible as prevention, control and treatment of such infections should be the concern of any hospital administration. Unfortunately, the PGI authorities will not readily admit this. A senior PGI surgeon says it is not a practical proposition to get all the surgical wards air-conditioned and get
plenum ventilation and laminar floors installed everywhere. “There are at least a dozen surgical wards, each having as many as 70 beds, and many operation theatres. Besides, the Advanced Paediatric Centre has its surgical wards and operation theatres for children. The cost will be phenomenal and though ideally these facilities should exist, practically it is not possible as the PGI does not have the kind of resources to meet the expenses,” he adds. However, some think otherwise. They say if the PGI has the resources to fund useless research work, besides money to host lavish conferences, it can spend some amount on patient care as well. More than 70 per cent of the PGI budget is spent on salaries of engineering and clerical sections, which are uselessly overstaffed. The PGI has a non budget plan of Rs 110 crore, while the plan is Rs 100 crore PGI officials say while a few crore of rupees is spent on research, almost Rs 70 crore is spent in terms of salary and only Rs 30 crore is utilised for hospital services. The revenue generated by the hospital is also deducted by the ministry from the total budget Hospital infections result from other factors as well. The more time the patient spends in the hospital, the more are chance of acquiring hospital infection. The large number of visitors and attendants and overcrowding is yet another reason. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics, ill-maintained hygiene and not maintaining of personal hygiene are other causes. “The hospital does not cater to providing of basic items like disposable gloves, masks, glucose and antiseptics, among other items, which should be available to all patients. To ask for upgradation of operation theatres and wards is too much to expect from the PGI. It is always painful to see a patient succumbing to infection after we have worked on him painstakingly for hours all together, “ say the PGI surgeons. |
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Selective
removal of hoardings draws
flak Chandigarh, June 14 The latest in this unending point of dispute between the traders and the authorities are the huge unauthorised hoardings of the Bahujan Samaj Party at the Cricket Stadium chowk, which have been set up for the past more than one week. Highly-placed sources in the Administration said these hoardings were unauthorised and that notices for removal of these were issued today. It was alleged that in case of any other poster or banner coming up anywhere in the city, the action on part of the city police was always very prompt. “No time is taken by the city police to register cases under the Prevention of Defacement of Property Act against the defaulters, but why no action has been taken in this case is anybody’s guess,” said Mr Jagdish Pal Singh, general secretary of the Sector 17 Traders Association. He said no political party should be treated above the law. “A number of traders and businessmen are often harassed by the police in the garb of this law. The implementation of the
law should be the same for everyone,” he said. On June 12, the city police had launched a special drive against defacement, including places near the Cricket Stadium chowk, where these hoardings stand. Four cases under the Prevention of Defacement of Public Property Act were registered in different parts of the city. Owners of a coaching centre, who had pasted a banner advertising their coaching centre for inviting admission to the College of Fine Art near the college in Sector 10 — a stone’s throw away from the Cricket Stadium chowk — were also booked under this Act. These hoardings as well as the inflated rubber elephant, which is the party symbol of the BSP, were alleged to be spoiling the beauty of the area. This was also one of the accident-prone areas in the city. The putting up of these huge hoardings was alleged to be a distraction to the thousands of commuters passing through this junction each day. The police had earlier decided not to act against shopkeepers putting up banners in front of their establishments. Action would, however, be taken against traders putting up banners between electric poles and other places. Over 70 cases have been registered by the city police in 2001 under the West Bengal Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, as extended to Chandigarh. The Chandigarh police had announced it that they had no objection if the banners in front of the shops were not hiding vital public information. Police action is generally quite prompt against advertisers sticking circulars, notices and handbills on the signboards, road signs, sector guide maps, besides bus stops and other places where public information had been scribbled. In their complaints, the residents had alleged that besides the destruction of the city’s beauty, the posters had made it impossible for the commuters to read the sector numbers painted on the signboards and the bus shelters. The violators, according to sources in the police department, were liable to be fined between Rs 500 and Rs 1000 or sentenced to simple imprisonment for three months in default of payment. |
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Excise Dept raids HFCL offices Chandigarh, June 14 Raids were carried out at HFCL offices located in Chandigarh, Mohali, Parwanoo and in some places in Punjab. Officials, however, were tight-lipped about the amount of duty evasion. Sources in the Excise Department say that while documents related to production and sale of communication equipment have been taken into possession for scrutiny, some executives were also summoned by the department for questioning. According to senior functionaries, the investigations into possible excise evasion were initiated about a month ago following a tip-off. While department officials “raided” the offices of HFCL yesterday, the firm’s executives were also summoned to the Excise Department for eliciting more information. The executives have reportedly sought an extension of time to appear before the excise officials. The sources say that there is a dispute over whether some of the items being produced by HFCL come under the purview of central excise duty or not. |
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TRIBUNE VIGIL Chandigarh, June 14 A Chandigarh Tribune team today saw two tippers of the Health Wing of the MCC being washed at an “unauthorised” service station . Interestingly, it was the driver of the tipper, who was doing the job. When he saw The Tribune’s lensman taking a picture of the tipper, he immediately abandoned the work and tried to run away from the place. The driver claimed that he often brought vehicles to the service station. “Does it make any difference if I take the vehicle to any other service station?” he asked matter-of-factly. He claimed that he was not getting the job done for free. According to him, the Corporation pays Rs 170 per vehicle to the service station. “The service-station owner sends the bill and it is honoured by the Corporation”, clarified the driver. Mr Pramod Kumar, who claimed to be the owner of the station, conceded that the service station was “unauthorised”. He also claimed that he serviced more than 40 MCC vehicles a month. When asked how the MCC made the payment, he said that the bills were sent to the MCC. Sources in the MCC said that the service station was owned by a local BJP leader. Sources also informed that the one of his family members was an employee in the Health Wing. The owner maintained that it was “some acquaintance” in the MCC, who got the Corporation’s vehicles to his service station. When contacted, the Mayor, Mr Raj Kumar Goyal, directed the team to the Assistant Commissioner-I, Mr Ashok Vashisht. Mr Vashisht said that he was not aware of the service stations where the vehicles went for servicing. When it was pointed to him that two MCC vehicles were being cleaned at an “unauthorised service station”, he said. “The bill has to be paid to any service station”. According to him it was not possible to know from the bill whether the service station was authorised or not. When asked whether the MCC had approved any service stations in the city for servicing of its vehicles, Mr Vashisth said that he was not aware of any. Mr H.S. Sood, Chief Accounts Officer, also maintained that he was not aware of the service stations approved by the MCC. But he maintained that the vehicles should go for servicing at authorised service stations only. He said that the bills were passed if they came through competent authorities. |
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TRIBUNE IMPACT SAS Nagar, June 14 The committee, consisting of different state government agencies, in its first meeting held here yesterday asked the Chandigarh authorities to take every possible step to check pollution of the rivulets. The sites where the untreated sullage was being disposed of were jointly inspected by the Punjab and Chandigarh pollution control authorities. In a letter written to the Chief Engineer of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh, the housing and urban development authorities have asked the former to set up mini-sewage treatment plants in their area. The Chairman of the Punjab Pollution Control Board, who was also present at the meeting, had been asked to take up the matter with the Chandigarh civic body. It had been clearly communicated to the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh that it could go ahead with its plans to set up a sewage-treatment plant instead of a joint treatment plant, which the PUDA officials had been insisting on in the past. However, the PUDA was not ready to give permission to the UT to expand its existing treatment plant at Diggian, located in the Industrial Area, Phase IX. The committee also decided that the Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation ( PSIEC) should set up its own sewage treatment plant or direct the owners of the industrial units to set up mini sewage-treatment plants on their premises before disposing the industrial sullage into seasonal rivulets. The local MC has also been asked to share the cost incurred in disposal of the sullage away from the residential areas. At present the sullage from the town was being pumped by the Public Health Department into the rivulets. Some part of the sullage was being discharged into the pipelines connecting the Diggian treatment plant. Sources said PUDA had decided to plug all the sullage disposal points. A pipeline from an exit point near the Sports complex in Phase IX up to a point in the south of Sector 66 was being laid. The pipeline would be taken to the proposed treatment plant at Dairi on the Landhran, Banur road. The work on the pipeline, expected to cost around Rs 60 lakh, would be completed within a month. It would have a capacity to carry 10 MGD of sullage. The committee would hold another meeting with the Chandigarh civic body before taking up the issue with the Adviser to the UT Administrator. |
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Canada ‘ready’ to
open visa office in Chandigarh Chandigarh, June 14 Mr Maluka said he would request the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to again take up this issue with the Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, to accord permission to the Canadian Government to set up a visa office here. |
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MURDER MILES Chandigarh Six major accidents have taken place at this junction so far this year, causing two deaths and injuries to five persons. In one of these accidents, a scooterist was crushed to death by a truck, while he was turning towards Panchkula. According to official sources, this busy intersection records at least three minor accidents every day. The rush hours are 8.30 am to 10 am and 7.30 pm to 9 pm. Traffic from Chandigarh, mainly heavy vehicles to and from the Transport Area and the Industrial Area, pass through this crossing for onwards journey to Himachal Pradesh or Haryana. In addition, light vehicles from Panchkula and its peripheral areas around the railway station meet the traffic here. The fact that as many as 50,000 vehicles leave Panchkula in the morning for Chandigarh and return in the evening adds to the traffic congestion and also causes accidents. Accidents involving slow-moving vehicles have become routine at this junction. This junction is also the point where the highway to Shimla takes off. A number of buses and trucks are lined up here for their onward journey. A large number of workers on their cycles pass through this point on their way to work. With bus drivers unwilling to make way for the slow moving traffic, accidents involving cycle-rickshaws, cyclists and two-wheelers take place. A couple of weeks ago, a youth was seriously injured when his motor cycle was hit by a bus at this point. He was trying to go past a long line of buses ahead of him. Speeding along the highway, drivers often fail to slow down as they approach the town? Some of them confuse the Panchkula diversion with the route to Chandigarh, and the indecision sometimes leads to accidents. A number of traffic policemen have been deployed here to regulate the almost chaotic traffic, things have hardly improved but the four-laning of this road has been helpful to a large extent. Ever since the round-about here has been demolished in favour of traffic lights, the number of accidents has decreased. But the junction, being one of the widest, still remains accident prone. |
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Mayor to resume visits
to wards Chandigarh, June 14 According to the programme, the Mayor will visit different localities of two wards of the city in a week, along with the officials concerned. He will listen to the grievances of the residents and try to provide an early redressal to their
problems. The visits will be undertaken every Tuesday and Thursday of the week. During the visit, he will assess the condition of roads, the drinking water supply, sanitation, storm water drainage and other public problems. It may be recalled that the Mayor had sometime back announced the launch of this programme on the lines of Haryana CM’s programme “Sarkar Aaap ke Dwar’’. In fact, he had also made a beginning by visiting Mani Majra, which incidentally, forms a part of his own ward. But for reasons best known to him, no other programme was organised after that. The Mayor, however, said that he was keen to carry out the programme even then but since he was unable to get required support from the official machinery, he could not carry on further. But this time he is determined to carry out the visits as per the schedule, irresepctive of whether the officials accompany him or not, he said. Though there was an overwhelming response from the public at Mani Majra, but in the absence of concerned officials, most of their problems remained unattended. In fact, the Mayor has not undertaken visits of various sectors on account of being busy trying to resolve the ongoing deadlock in the House. As per schedule, he will visit sectors 23 and 24, which fall under BJP councillor, Mr R.L Arora’s ward on June 19 and that of Mrs Satinder Dhawan (Sector 1 to 11 ) on June 21. The councillors of the area concerned will also be informed about the Mayor’s visit well in advance so that they could highlight the problems of their wards. Meanwhile, the next meeting of the Finance and Contract Committee (Fan CC) has been scheduled for June 18. |
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Jacob mingles with Pak kids Chandigarh, June 14 The children, who are a part of Pakistan’s Ajoka Theatre Group, Lahore, sang and acted out a preview of a play, “Border-Border” much to the glee of the Punjab Governor and UT Administrator. Within minutes the General had won over the hearts of the children and also of the accompanying adults. Life-long memories were captured on film rolls and hand held camcorders (video recorders) as the General smiled his way through. Young Nirwan from Pakistan told the General that he wanted to be a Bollywood star leading to a loud laugh. The General in his typical smiling style turned around and told his ADC, Capt Piyush Mishra, “look at this young man’s aim”. Another child told the Governor that he was from Sialkot. At this point the Governor recollected that he was also posted to Sialkot in 1943 when no border existed between the two countries. As the police band played its tune, children oblivious of their surroundings played and made merry on the lush lawns. A little toddler received attention from the Governor and the child responded by flapping her arms. Later the General described the children as “Ambassadors of peace”. Such cultural exchange would definitely bring the people of both the countries together, the General said while adding “His will bring down some barriers.” The Pakistani children are here as part of an effort by the S.A.S. Nagar- based Besten Foundation. Children from Lahore and Chandigarh will stage “Border-Border” at the Tagore Theatre tomorrow. The delegation also called on the Haryana Assembly Speaker, Mr Satbir Singh Kadian, here on Thursday. They held discussion on bilateral relations between India and Pakistan. |
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‘Allot Kharar seat to BJP candidate’ Kharar, June 14 A resolution in this regard has been passed at a meeting of the BJP, mahila wing and the youth wing held at Sohana under the presidentship of Mr Madan Lal Sharma, president, BJP, Sohana unit. According to a press note issued here today, the Kharar seat has always been contested and won by SAD candidates and the BJP has always supported the candidate. Presently the seat is represented by Mrs Daljeet Kaur, who won on the SAD ticket but later on extended her support to Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra. The note added that, “It is the right of the BJP that this seat should be allotted to it. They have urged Mr Brij Lal Rinwa, Punjab BJP Chief, and Mr Parkash Singh Badal, SAD Chief, that they should field the BJP candidate from Kharar.” |
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Coolest
June in six years Weather conditions till June 14
Year
Rain
(mm)
Highest temp
2001
33.2
38.4°
2000
174.5
39.5°
1999
38.0
41.8°
1998
75.0
44.0°
1997
31.6
39.4°
1996
20.2
42.6°
Chandigarh, June 14 Data available with the local meteorological office has revealed that the city and its vicinity has experienced rain on eleven days so far. The maximum temperature so far this month has not exceeded 38.4 degrees celsius, which is lower than that recorded in the corresponding period since 1996. The temperature is reported to be two degrees below normal. About 11 mm of rain has been recorded in the city this month. Met officials have termed today’s showers, which were accompanied by light winds, as pre-monsoon showers. Today’s showers were the result of two weather systems prevailing in the region. Upper air cyclonic circulation over north-western Rajasthan and Haryana as well as low pressure area developing over Jharkhand as a result of moisture laden winds from Bay of Bengal are the cause of rain. Weathermen have predicted the early arrival of monsoon in the city, which has reached southern Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. While the normal date of arrival of the monsoon in the city is June 28 or 29, they are expected about a week ahead of
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Bus routes to
Kalagram Chandigarh, June 14 The following buses will be available from 6 a.m. to 9.30 p.m. with a frequency of 10 minutes. 2-A : PGI to Mani Majra via Sectors 14/15,17 (Bus Stand), 21/18, 27/30,
ITI, workshop and Durga Nursery. 2-C: PGI to Mani Majra via Sectors 16/17, 18/8, 26/28, Durga Nursery, Mani majra. 2F: PGI to Sector 4 Panchkula via Sectors 16,17 (Bus Stand), Sectors 18/8, Sectors 19/7, grain market, Housing Board Chowk. 21: to Sector 21 of Panchkula via Sectors 11, 10, 9, bus stand, Sector 18 market, Government Press, Sector 8 market, Sector 7 market, GSSC, Sector 26, grain market, Housing Board Chowk, and Sector 4 Panchkula. 24: Mohali to Nadha Sahib via Mohali Phase X, Sectors 45/46, Sector 45 market, Sector 43 bus stand, Attawa, Bajwara, Sector 17 (bus stand), Sectors 18, Government Press, Sectors 26, Mani Majra, old Panchkula. 30: Bus stand to Nadha Sahib via Sectors 22,20,19/27, 26, Mani Majra and Old Panchkula 30-A: Bus Stand to Cantonment via Sectors 22, 20, 32 hospital, Sectors 29/30, Sectors 27/28, Sectors 26, Mani Majra, cantonment. 30-B: Bus stand Sector 17 to Panchkula Sector 4 via Sectors 22, 20,19/27, 26, Housing Board, Chowk and Sector 4 Panchkula. 30-C: Bus stand Sector 17 to Ramgarh via Sectors 22, 20,27,26, Mani Majra, Sector 4 Panchkula, and Nadha Sahib. 32: Bus stand Sector 17 to Dera Bassi via Sectors 8, 18, 26, Mani Majra, old Panchkula, and Nadha Sahib, Ramgarh. 32-A: Palsora to Mansa Devi via Sectors 40, 37,Attawa, Bajwara, Sector 17 (bus stand), Sector 8/18, Sector 7/19, Sector 26, and Mani Majra. 71: Sector 38 to Saketri via Sectors 37/41, 35/36, 22/23, bus stand Sector 17, Sector 22, 20, 19/27, 26, and Mani Majra. 141: Sector 47 to Mansa Devi via Sectors 46/45, 44/43, bus stand Sector 43, Sector 36/35, 22/23, Sectors 17 (bus stand), Sector 18, 19, 27, 26, Mani Majra, and Mansa Devi. |
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Polythene
bag ban on paper Chandigarh, June 14 It was in 1998 that the Chandigarh Administration formed a committee to create awareness among the general public about the ill-effects of polythene bags. Subsequently, a notification banning the use of the polythene bags was issued with much fanfare. But soon bureaucratic indifference took over and the ban was observed more in breach. The committee held a few meetings, including those with the local manufacturers of the polythene bags, but nothing substantial came out of the discussion. The ban in only one sector ensured that it was doomed from the very beginning, alleged Mr Subhash Kataria, a member of the committee. To make the ban effective, the administration should have imposed the ban all over the city and implemented it strictly, he said, adding the Sector 17 traders had imposed a ban on the use of the polythene bags one month before the notification. Since the manufacturing of polythene bags had not been banned by the notification, it ensured that the ban could not be implemented, added another member of the committee, Mr Jagdish Pal Singh Kalra. “Our pleas to the administration to ban the manufacture of the bags for effective implementation fell on deaf ears and the scheme fizzled out,” he opined. It may be recalled that as part of the World Environment Day celebrations, the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh(MCC) had recently launched a campaign to discourage the use of polythene bags. Even as the MCC plans new initiatives on the use of polythene, the above notification seemed to have been forgotten by the administration. Observers feel the constant use of the polythene bags is not only harmful for human beings, but also for animals. Cows and buffalows, who feed on city garbage chew these bags and the polythene gets into their stomach. The toxic chemicals get into the digestive system of human beings through the milk putting the residents to serious health hazards. Also recycled polythene bags, which were even more dangerous, continued to be used freely. Observers state that almost all polythene bags ultimately find their way to the garbage bins and finally to landfills. In landfills, these non-bio-degradable bags release toxic chemicals, which percolate to the underground water table and mix with it. As these landfills rot, they spread diseases and the lure of easy money brings rag-pickers to these sites and they are exposed to these contaminants, thus forming a viaous
cycle. |
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Ropar traders contest ban on polythene
bags SAS Nagar, June 14 Mr Surjit Singh, Chairman of the Ropar District Plastic Manufactures Association, said after banning the use of the polythene bags, the Deputy Commissioner, acting on a representation had reversed his orders, thereby allowing the use of re-cycled plastic bags and containers manufactured of virgin plastic, having natural shades. Orders were also issued for recycling of plastic as per the norms of Indian Standards. The Deputy Commissioner had directed that each bag and packet should have name of the manufacturer printed on it. |
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Plan to involve NGOs for counselling women Chandigarh, June 14 Presently there are 19 women councillors, who are enlisted with the cell for providing counselling in cases of matrimonial disputes. According to an official press note, these councillors and the NGOs with which they work have been looking at various issues that concern women and require help from law enforcement agency. “Many of these NGOs and the councillors could not be involved on a regular basis due to which this scheme has not yielded desired results. Therefore, the meeting shall strive to revamp and reorganise the practice of involving NGOs and women councillors in cases relating to the cell,” informed the SP Operations, Mr H.G.S.
Dhaliwal. |
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FENG SHUI TIPS The Feng Shui practice is symbolic and each object in the environment gives out different types of energy that creates good or bad Chi. Finding out the Yin and Yang qualities of the plants gives one the idea of the balance created in the garden. Fruit trees in a garden are most auspicious. There are lots of different kinds of fruit trees but the Chinese consider the peach tree auspicious. In fact, every rich Chinese will have a peach tree in his garden. Feng Shui gives many reasons to consider these trees as auspicious. According to the Chinese, peach is the fruit of immortality, the fruit that gave external life to the eight immortals and the fruit from which Sau Seng Kong, the God of immortality, is supposed to have emerged. The peach tree can be in any part of your garden. Feng Shui directions of every thing are important, but this tree itself is so auspicious that the direction does not matter. The tree represents life so it is very beneficial for the elderly members of the family. The tree symbolises the promise of external life. A basketful of peaches given as a present to an elderly person is considered auspicious.
Harshna
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Case registered for dowry
death Nayagaon (Kharar), June 14 On June 6, a Punjab police ASI, Nirmal Singh, posted at the police station was suspended for allegedly beating Avtar Singh and his father without any formal complaint. It was alleged that the ASI was trying to extract money from the son and father. No medical examination of the son and father was done. Avtar Singh and his family members maintain that Simran was being treated for mental problems and she hanged herself yesterday morning. Her parents, who were informed about the death, had reportedly ruled out any foul play in the death in presence of villagers and the same was reportedly documented later. Mr Avtar had alleged that on June 6, a police team headed by ASI Nirmal Singh, took his father Gurmail Singh and himself to the police station on pretext of signing the papers signed by Simran’s parents and villagers. The police personnel reportedly locked the door from inside and started beating up the two. It was only after the villagers forced opened the police station door, that the father and son were rescued. Around 20 to 25 villagers had forced open the police station door and rescued the son and father. Mr Garcha Singh, member Bolck Samiti Kharar, who led the villagers to the police station said that Simran had been suffering from some mental disease and had been being undergoing treatment. He said that Simran’s parents had ruled out any foul play in the death. |
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Cash stolen from tea stall in Sector
15 Chandigarh, June 14 Police sources informed that Brij Lal and Bhagat Ram were operating a tea-stall in the rehri market in Sector 15. Early this morning, the two brothers were found unconscious in their shop. Someone informed their brother, Dharam Pal, who was at their residence in Sector 15-D. The two unconscious brothers were immediately rushed to the General Hospital, Sector 16. It was also found that the cash box had been broken and the cash was missing. The brothers had employed a new servant in the shop yesterday. The servant had identified himself as Harish Negi, alias Hari, of Pauri Garhwal. He was with the two brothers when they opened the tea stall this morning. |
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Mishap
victim succumbs to
injuries Chandigarh, June 14 Ram Chander was injured when he was hit by a DCM Toyota near Palsora Colony on June 12. He was admitted to the PGI, where he died last night. A case under Sections 279 and 304-A of the IPC has been registered. Thefts reported A sum of Rs 5200 and a stereo was stolen from the Colony No. 4 residence of Chottu Shah yesterday. A case under Section 380 of the IPC has been registered at the Industrial Area police station. Vinash Kumar was arrested from Attawa Chowk and a stolen bicycle was recovered from him. A case under Sections 379 and 411 of the IPC has been registered. Gambler arrested Held with liquor Two injured |
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