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June 19, 2001, Chandigarh, India
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Pinched cable operators may pinch you now Chandigarh, June 18
The cost of each connection is expected to go up by anything between Rs 40 and Rs 50 per connection because all channels have hiked their monthly subscription charges. The channels collect these charges from Siti Cable, main cable service provider in the city. Besides, Zee News and Zee TV have become pay channels from this month. Sony TV is expected to follow suit in the next 15 days, according to sources in the cable TV industry. Siti Cable beams the signals that it receives from satellites to the cable TV operators here, who make these signals reach your TV set. Operators pay a fixed monthly subscription fee to Siti Cable for each connection. “This fixed fee has been hiked from Rs 84 to Rs 110 per connection from this month,” Mr Sandeep Bansal, Managing Director of Siti Cable, said. Meanwhile, a cable operator said he was charging Rs 100 from each subscriber and the hike would badly affect his business. “Besides the fixed fee, operators also have to bear the maintenance cost of each connection, which is between Rs 15 and Rs 20,” said the operator. Mr Bansal said, “The Star network package, excluding Star Sports or the ESPN, will now cost Rs 30 per connection. Zee has also hiked the price of its network package to Rs 30 per connection.” Sources in the industry say that subscribing to sports channels is the costliest as bids for broadcast rights of matches run into millions of dollars. Having these channels on its network cost a main service provider like Siti Cable Rs 7 to Rs 10 per connection. Sources in the industry say that, while receiving signals from Siti Cable, operators cannot choose channels for further distribution because they are offered package deals. Zee’s package includes all its regional channels like Zee Punjabi, Zee Marathi or Zee Bangla, besides Zee Cinema, Zee News and Zee TV. As In a cosmopolitan city like Chandigarh, it is hard for operators to ignore the demand for regional channels.
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What’s PGI chief’s retirement age? Chandigarh, June 18 The special selection committee of the PGIMER, on January 5, 2000, recommends the appointment of Prof S.K. Sharma as the Director of the institute for a term of five years or till he attains the age of superannuation, whichever is earlier, and was unanimously approved. But the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, vide letter no. V17020/46/99-ME(PG) dated March 1, 2000, appointed Dr S.K. Sharma as the Director of the PGIMER for a term of five years or till he attains the age of 62 years. And the next day Dr Sharma assumes the charge as the Director of the PGIMER. Also relevant to his retirement is the PGI regulation 37A, which deals with the superannuation, clearly stating that the age of superannuation of the employees of the institute other than the teaching faculty shall be 60 years. The notification on February 24, 1999, further reads that the age of superannuation of the members of the teaching faculty of the institute shall be of 62 years. Further inquiries revealed that Dr S.K. Sharma was also holding the charge of the head of the Department of Urology, which is in direct violation of the Supreme Court orders. In its judgement on the All-India Institute Medical Sciences case, the SC held that the post of Director is not in the same cadre as the post of Professor. The order further reads, When contacted and asked whether any official could hold two posts, Dr S.K. Sharma said that it had been a practice in the institution, and even in AIIMS the present Director is also holding the charge of Professor in the Orthopaedics Department. When asked about the age of superannuation of the Director, he said that the Director is very much a part of the teaching faculty since a teaching cadre official becomes a Director. So even after becoming a Director, he can see his patient and can teach also, he added. The PGI Employees Union president alleged tampering of rules of the PGI and says that the post of Director is independent of the teaching faculty, and as per the PGI regulation 37A, the age of superannuation of the Director is 60 years and not 62. He demanded an inquiry into how the institution’s Act had been tampered with. |
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Broker’s statement to be recorded in UT Chandigarh, June 18 Though the broker was asked to appear before the Chief Secretary in Ludhiana yesterday, he could not do so as he was out of station. The Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, had asked the Chief Secretary to conduct an inquiry into an allegation made by the owner of one of the marriage palaces that a bribe of Rs 20 lakh was demanded from him to get him an NOC and a regular power connection . Mr Arora visited Ludhiana yesterday and reportedly recorded the statements of all important persons concerned. The broker, however, was not available. “I will submit my report to the Chief Minister after recording the statement of the broker,” he said, maintaining that he was unable to comment at this stage on his findings on the basis of the statements made by others connected with the case. Meanwhile, some political parties have described as mere eyewash the inquiry by the Chief Secretary into the allegation made by the owner of the marriage palace on the periphery of the Baddowal ammunition depot. Mr Harish Khanna, convener of the Janata Dal (Secular), Punjab, in a statement said that when such a serious allegation had been made against two bureaucrats, the inquiry by the Chief Secretary “is just eyewash as a fair probe is not expected from a bureaucrat who himself is a part of the government. “The Janata Dal (Secular) demands that the matter should not be allowed to be hushed up. It is imperative that the investigation be entrusted to the Chief Vigilance Commissioner, the CBI or a sitting Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. During the probe, the bureaucrats mentioned in the report should be suspended to ensure an impartial investigation. If the government does not institute an impartial inquiry into the allegations, my party will launch a statewide agitation,” Mr Khanna added. |
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Punjab, Haryana oppose Centre’s proposal Chandigarh, June 18 Official sources today confirmed that the two state governments had sent separate representations to the Centre opposing the latest proposal conveyed to the states concerned by a wing of the Union Agriculture Ministry. The Union Government had sent a letter to the state governments that the procurement and determination of the price of grade A paddy should be left to market forces. The government would fix the price only of the common variety. It is within the jurisdiction of the Union Agriculture Ministry to fix the MSP of various foodgrains. The Commission of Agriculture Costs and Prices for fixing the MSP is set up by this ministry. Different state governments make representations to the commission. The recommendations of the commission are approved by the Union Cabinet after seeking comments from the Agriculture Ministry. Informed sources said that jolted by the Centre’s proposal on paddy procurement, the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, directed his senior officers to prepare a representation to oppose it. They were also told to contact their counterparts in the Haryana Government to know their viewpoint. As both Punjab and Haryana are major producers of grade A paddy, the proposal of the Union Government to discontinue its procurement is bound to create trouble for both state governments. The MSP for grade A paddy last year was Rs 540 per quintal and for the common variety Rs 510. The Badal government cannot afford to take any risk on the paddy procurement front because of election year. As paddy has already started snowballing into an election issue in the state, the Punjab Government would like the procurement to be smooth. The Punjab Government has reportedly written to the Centre that it should not make any change in the procurement of paddy at this stage when over 50 per cent of the paddy has already been transplanted in states like Punjab, where over 90 per cent of the area is under grade A paddy. In Punjab hardly 5 per cent of the area is under the common variety, which is also known as the coarse variety. At this stage farmers could not be told what to grow. The Punjab Government told the authorities in the Union Government that if they wanted to effect any change in the procurement policy on any foodgrain, they should first invite the states concerned and hold a full debate. No unilateral decision should be taken in this connection. What has surprised the state government officials concerned is the proposal not to fix the MSP for grade A paddy. Under the World Trade Organisation regime, farmers in the country are supposed to be encouraged to transplant the best varieties of paddy to ensure the production of export quality rice. However, by withdrawing the facility of the MSP, in other words an assured market for the superior quality of paddy, the Centre would impede the production of quality foodgrains by farmers. In fact, government officials said, the Centre should come out with a proposal to give special incentives to farmers going in for the best quality of paddy. They said the expanding middle class in the country was a ready customer for table varieties of rice and not for substandard ones. The question of the procurement of foodgrains was raised in a big way at a meeting of Chief Ministers held on May 23 in Delhi under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister. After hearing the views of all Chief Ministers, who were not in agreement with the agenda put forward by the Union Government with regard to the procurement of foodgrains, the Prime Minister had set up a committee of Chief Ministers to give suggestions in this connection. Mr Badal is also a member of that committee. However, even after that meeting of the Chief Ministers and the setting up of the committee, the Union Government continued to pursue its agenda to get rid of the procurement of various foodgrains and deny the MSP to the farming community. |
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Wake up or get out: Admn tells Municipal
Corporation Chandigarh, June 18 Sources said, if the meeting was not held, tough action could be taken against the MC. The UT Administrator, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), might even order an early election to the corporation by October end, said political observers. The five-year tenure of this House is to end in December. The Secretary for the Local Government, Mr Raminder Singh Gujral, issued the order on behalf of the Administrator after considering that the MC was not performing its duties, as per the Punjab Municipal Act, 1976, extended to Chandigarh. Sources said the Administrator, who had powers under the MC Act to dissolve the corporation, had sought a report on the MC’s functioning from the Municipal Commissioner, Mr M.P. Singh. As no business of the House had been conducted for the past three month, the Administration had decided to issue not a show-cause notice, but an order to hold the meeting, a spokesperson of the Administration said today. Without the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shiromani Akali Dal combine, which is in majority, the House headed by the Mayor, Mr Raj Kumar Goyal of the Congress, cannot function. In the past three months, the House has been adjourned amid pandemonium several times. The MC will decide on a date for the meeting tomorrow because the order was received rather late in the MC office today. |
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Illegal digging of earth for hospital building
work SAS Nagar, June 18 The local Estate Office authorities appear to be oblivious of the unauthorised activity going on for the past few days. Enquires revealed that tractor- trollies were daily ferrying earth to the hospital site The site being used for quarrying is adjacent to the site on which the work of the hospital building is in advanced stage. Two craters, left due to the quarrying, were instead being used to dump malba generated from the ongoing construction activity at the site. The large-sized craters could prove to be a death-trap for children of slum-dwellers living nearby. Mr Manmohan Singh Langh, a municipal councillor having a shop near the quarrying site in Lamnbian village, said in rainy season this could result in accumulation of water in the craters “The JCB operator at the quarrying site said the earth was being removed on the orders of the hospital authorities”. The head (projects and hospital administration) of the Fortis Institute, Mr Narinder Singh, stated: “A lot of earth removed during the digging of 12 feet basement of the hospital had been dumped at the quarrying site. Now we are taking back the earth. But we require small quantity of the earth”. He said the additional land — on which the quarrying was being done — had been allotted to them. Investigations reveal that the additional 4 acres of land had been allotted to the institute at the accounts and finance committee meeting of PUDA, held on June 14. The additional land had been allotted after the original allottee, Chahal Health Care Ltd, failed to fulfil the terms and conditions of allotment. However, sources in PUDA said the allottee could not start any activity at the site unless it was issued the letter of allotment and the building plans, including basement if any, was cleared. In this case, the quarrying was going on much before the decision of the finance committee of PUDA and no permission had been taken from the officials concerned. A resident of the area said removal of mounds of earth up to the ground level — dumped while digging the basement of the hospital — was justified. But going 15 to 20 feet below the ground level to remove earth was questionable. |
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Ranjit Bajaj, Bagga granted
bail Chandigarh, June 18 Ranjit and Bagga were produced in the court of the Subdivisional Magistrate, Mr Prithi Chand, about 3 p.m and were granted bail on furnishing a bail bond of Rs 50,000 with a surety of same
amount. The magistrate also adjourned the case for July 11. Ranjit Bajaj and Bagga were arrested by the city police yesterday under Section 107 and 151 of the Cr PC, after getting a number of complaints and counter complaints from them. Counsel for Ranjit Bajaj said that Ranjit was taking lunch along with his family members and a friend on June 17 afternoon. Therefore allegations levelled by Bagga that Ranjit had threatened him and tried to shoot at him with a revolver were baseless. Counsel for Bagga argued that Ranjit Bajaj, within hours of being released on bail yesterday, reached the Bagga house and tried to kill him along with others. He also argued that Bagga was falsely implicated in the case. Enmity between Ranjit and Bagga was also evident in the court. As soon as the magistrate left the court for some time Bagga complained that friends of Ranjit Bajaj, who were sitting inside the court, were sitting at him. Later the dispute was resolved with the help of the police. Yesterday Ranjit Bajaj was released on bail by the UT Judicial Magistrate(First Class) in a case of torching the car of Bagga and intimdating him. The complainant, Mr Jagtinder Pal Singh Bagga, alleged that the accused had set his new Maruti Zen on fire and also threatened him on June 7. The city police had arrested Ranjit Bajaj on June 16 after eight days of the registration of the case under Sections 435 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code. |
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Sec 43 ISBT to have restaurant
and waiting rooms Chandigarh, June 18 General Jacob had gone to Sector 43, ISBT-II, to lay the foundation stone of a four-storeyed building adjacent to the existing bus shelter. This Rs 46.20 lakh project would have a restaurant to be run by CITCO , a waiting room at the ground floor whereas on the first floor it would have seven room for the office of State Transport Undertaking and a rest room for the crew of roadways staff. He also asked the Chief Engineer and Chief Architect to implement instructions that all future public buildings in UT should have foundations which could bear the load at least four-storeys. The Administrator said that this bus stand would also house a main electric trolley bus depot as and when the project would be approved by the Union Government. He asked the Home Secretary to make an advanced provision of land and building for the electric trolley depot. Earlier, the Governor laid the foundation of a four-storeyed block of CITCO restaurant-cum-office. The Chief Engineer, Mr Puranjeet Singh, assured General Jacob that this project would be completed within six months against the scheduled period of one year. Meanwhile, while discussing how the existing single-storey buildings could be raised to four storeys, engineers informed General Jacob that additional columns could be raised in the existing structure to strengthen it. The Advisor to Administrator, Miss Neeru Nanda, informed the Administrator that loading platforms of the bus stand had been re-designed as the earlier design of parking the buses parallel to the platform had failed. Sufficient idle parking area for buses had been added to the bus stand and provisions were being made to provide facilities to the passengers and the crew. General Jacob went around the bus stand and interacted with people. He also inspected some areas for the future expansion of the ISBT. |
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Kuldip Singh resigns
as WSC chief Chandigarh, June 18 In a letter to the Jathedar, Akal Takht, who is also patron of the WSC, Justice Kuldip Singh has stated that he was appointed President of the council as per its amended constitution in December 1997. “In spite of my best efforts, the council could not establish its independent and autonomous identity”, he said. In the past four years, three Jathedars of Akal Takht had been replaced. Each of them had been trying to run the council in his own style, he said. He said he held Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, in high esteem but what had hurt him (Kuldip Singh) was the support extended by the Jathedar to Mr Jaswant Singh Mann and his associates. The council has been bedevilled by several controversies since its inception four years ago. A tug of war was going between two groups in the council for the past few months. Efforts made by many, including Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti, to resolve the issue have failed to yield result. |
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A poll mired in
controversy Panchkula, June 18 While one group, led by Mr RC Puri, a candidate in the race for the presidentship of the association, claims that a new date for elections would be announced shortly, the other group contends that elections have already been held. In the battle for supremacy, residents are uncertain over whom to turn to for help or support in the “fight” for the chair, an issue which has become the talk of the sector. The going for the two groups seems tough in the given circumstances. A resident says, “Despite no funds or an office at our disposal, the scene is as ugly as it can get with a lot of allegations and counter-allegations being hurled at each other. If there were something in the name of these bodies, there was no saying on what we would witness in the elections of a body formed for the benefit of the residents.” When contacted, Mr Puri said that the elections last evening were held to suit the already existing body of office-bearers. “We asked them to conduct the elections by ballot which was turned down and elections were held by show of hands. This was done when over 50 per cent of the members enlisted in the general body had left the venue,” he says. Another member of the same group adds, “Elections were held when 41 out of the 95 members were left. The others had walked out in protest against the manner in which the elections were being conducted. We have announced June 24 as the new date of elections for the association and will call a meeting of all members of the general body for the purpose.” However, the other group led by Mr RC Sahni insists that elections were held and he was declared elected for the post of president. This group, subsequently, announced its office-bearers for the association. They include: vice-presidents: Mr Subhash Mehtani and Mr Sunil Jain; general secretary: Mr V.K. Kapoor; finance secretary: Mr M.R. Arora; joint secretary: Mr R.S. Rakha. |
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Ex-servicemen’s memo to
Jacob Chandigarh, June 18 In a memorandum presented to Lieut Gen J.F.R Jacob (retd), members of the War Decorated India stated that because of certain objections concerning sales tax raised by the Haryana Government, the facility of purchasing vehicles through the Canteen Stores Department (CSD), Ambala, was discontinued by defence purchasers residing outside Haryana. Defence buyers located in Chandigarh had to shift their indents to the CSD depots in Bathinda or Jalandhar. The memorandum added that vehicles purchased through CSD depots were quite cheaper than those bought in the open market. With the imposition of entry tax, which is 13.5 per cent, vehicles purchased through the depots would become even costlier than those bought in the open market. Defence buyers living in Chandigarh had been, in a way, deprived of the facility of buying vehicles through the canteen, the memorandum added. The memorandum suggested that the UT notification be amended to make vehicles purchased from CSD depots exempt from entry tax or the Haryana Government should be persuaded not to impose any sales tax.
Chandigarh , June 18 While deciding the allotment of about 936 category I and II flats in Sector 51-A, all criteria, including categories of different disabilities would be taken into consideration. Effort would be to allot ground floor to the visual and orthopeadically handicapped persons, considering the fact that there was no provision of ramps in these buildings, he said. It was not financially viable to provide ramps in proposed flats as it would increase the cost of each flat by Rs 2 to 3 lakh besides making the area more congested, said Mr Marwaha. It had, however, already been decided by the Administration that architectural design of a government building, which does not have the provision of a ramp, would not be approved . |
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Mayor dares Opposition to move Chandigarh, June 18 Addressing a joint press conference at the Congress Bhavan, Sector 35, the Mayor and the president of the Chandigarh Congress, Mr B.B Bahl, blamed the BJP-SAD combine for stalling the proceedings of the House and said that since no business has been transacted during the last 5 to 6 meetings, vital agenda items were lying pending. The Mayor pointed out that the press statement issued recently by Mr Des Raj Tandon, Leader of the Opposition in the House, and the Deputy Mayor, Mr Mohinder Singh, that the Mayor had been adourning the House without any justification, was totally mischievous, misleading and politically motivated. On the contrary, the BJP-SAD combine were misusing their brute majority to stall the proceedings of the House, for their sole motive was to defame the Congress, he added. He alleged that the combine was doing so just to cover up their failure in the last four years to run the corporation effectively. Mr Goyal said that the BJP councillors now go all out to create ruckus in the House because they were not able to digest the fact that the Mayor is working zealously for the betterment of the city. Flaying the statement of the opposition leaders, the Mayor said the BJP-SAD councillors who had failed to deliver goods in spite of their three-fourth majority were now misleading the people of the city by issuing such mischievous and politically motivated statements to cover up their failure. The Mayor has appealed to the intellectuals and the general public of the city to come and see the proceedings of the House and decide on who is responsible for stalling the proceedings. Meanwhile, Mr Goyal will restart the “Mahapaur Aap Ke dwar’’ programme’’ from tomorrow. Under the programme, he will visit all the wards and his first visit is scheduled to Sectors 23 and 24. The visit will be undertaken at 4 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday of a week. The mayor said that he will listen to the grievances of the residents and take necessary steps to redress them. He will also visit the market areas and people can meet him there with written complaints. The representatives of market welfare associations and residents welfare associations can also meet the Mayor and submit their memorandum, if any. Mr Bahl announced that Mr Vijay Pal Singh Dimpy, a former local youth Congress leader, has been suspended from the party and served a 15-day show-cause notice for anti-party activities and showing insult to the Congress flag during the visit of party’s General Secretary, Mr Moti Lal Vohra, yesterday. Mr Dimpy is considered to be a close associate of former Union Minister, Mr Harmohan Dhawan.
Chandigarh, June 18 While terming Mr Goyal as the “most incompetent and incapable” Mayor, he alleged that Mr Goyal had misused his official position by addressing a press conference from Congress Bhavan today. Mr Dhawan termed four-and-a-half -year performance of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) as the “black period”. The Mayor had no moral right to continue in office as the MCC had not conducted business during the past about six months, Mr Dhawan said while demanding dissolution of the civic body and holding of fresh elections on non-party basis. On the suspension of Mr Vijay Pal Singh Dimpy, his close associate, from the Congress, he remarked sarcastically that he congratulated the CTCC chief, Mr B.B. Bahl and the MP, Mr Pawan Bansal, the way they were “strengthening” the party by suspending party workers. |
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SECTOR
SCAN Chandigarh The gardens inside and outside the bungalows of the senior bureaucrats are well-maintained. In fact, a fleet of “malis” could be seen tending the flower beds on any given day. The roads are in good condition. The water and power supply seldom fails and the streetlights function better than in the rest of the sector. However, this rosy picture ends here. In other parts of the sector, roads have numerous potholes and no tarring seems to have been done for a long time. The roads in front of the houses of middle-rung officials of Punjab, Haryana and the Union Territory are no exception. A number of roads, particularly in the low-lying areas, are flooded whenever there is rainfall. Even the main road in front of the market is in a bad shape. Residents complain that though main roads of several sectors had been recarpeted by the Municipal Corporatin of Chandigarh(MCC), this particular road
seemed to have escaped from the attention of the MCC. The condition of the roads, which are under the jurisdiction of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), is still worse. And the maintenance of flats by the CPWD leaves much to be desired. Besides, the open spaces in the sector seem to have been overwhelmed by the wild
growth. The maintenance of certain parks and the open spaces is also not up to the mark. The removal of garbage is another problem. Bins had been placed at the road junctions. They are there to greet you as you enter the sector giving the area a shabby look, says Mr
N.K. Jhingan, a resident. The sanitation leaves much to be desired as the sweepers seldom clean the area, he alleges. Since a majority of the streetlights do not function, the roads become accident-prone at night . The residents have also been demanding a post office in the sector. The authorities concerned had promised to set up one. Stray dogs are another problem. The residents complain that the authorities had been apprised of the problem several times but the problem remains. Only when a VVIP has to visit the sector does some sprucing-up work takes place. A resident recalls that open spaces and parks were cleared of wild growth when Mr Jagmohan, a Union Minister, was expected to visit the sector. However, the visit never took place. |
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Prices of petrol, diesel may come down in UT Chandigarh June 18 Since last July, when the uniform sales tax regime came into place, city residents have been paying Rs 1.66 more for each litre of petrol than the price in neighbouring Panchkula and 55 paise more per litre on price in S.A.S. Nagar. Till now, Chandigarh used to get oil from Ambala. Now Haryana has asked the UT to pay Central Sales Tax (CST) on all ex-Ambala purchases. Later, the Bharat Petroleum and the Indian Oil Corporation were allotted land in Sector 25 to set up depots. This would enable oil companies to bill the oil directly to Chandigarh and save on CST. Now General Jacob would ask the minister to bring up this issue at the oil co-ordination committee meeting so as to first fix the price of petrol in Chandigarh and also allow commissioning of BP depot while expediting the IOC depot. |
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91-year-old tough
guy Chandigarh, June 18 Sitting in his residence in Sector 18, Thakur Hans Raj recalls the day he took charge as Inspector in November 1966. “Those were the good old days when Chandigarh was almost crime free. The population was handful and with no migrants to complicate the matter , our job to maintain the law and order was quite easy,” he says. However, his experience with the British Army was altogether different. “I had joined the British Army in 1942 under Major Kiting, an Irishman, and fought World War II at various exotic locales in North Africa, Iran and Cairo,” he says. “The weapons used in those days were not as devastating as of today. Rifles, hand-grenades and booby-traps were the only weapons we had to worry about,” says Thakur Hans Raj. “But the worst part of the war was the sand storms in North Africa and Iran which used to spoil our food,” he says. “We often used to duck under the bed with our plates to save the scanty amount of food we were given,” he recalls. His nomadic Army life came to an end in 1947 when he retired from the British Army. “I was enroute to Lahore, when I came to know about Partition and stopped at Jallandhar itself. Born in Jalandhar, Hans Raj completed his studies from Panjab University, Lahore. An LLB from Law College, Lahore, Hans Raj was equally good at sports too. “I played for the PU cricket team for several years,” he says. Memories of Lahore still stir nostalgic feelings in him.” So many happy memories are attached from those college days,” says Hans Raj. “My late wife also belonged to Sialkot district ,” he says. Was it a love marriage? “No way. During those days we were not even allowed to see each other’s face before the final knot,” he laughs. After leading such an eventful life, how does he pass his time now? “I read a lot, especially newspapers and listen to music,” he says. Any favourite in particular? “ The Tribune ,among the newspapers and in music anything —right from the platinum hits to the latest Bhangra pop,” he adds. |
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Dharna planned
on June 20 Chandigarh, June 18 Leaders condemned the Chandigarh Administration as well as the MC authorities for not accepting/implementing the demands of workers. The general secretary of the union, Mr Rajinder Katoch, has appealed to the workers to participate in the dharna of June 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. near the Chandigarh Housing Board chowk in Sector 16. The demands include transferred employees from Chandigarh Administration to Corporation should be treated on deputation with the Corporation; regularisation of all work-charged and daily wage employees; release of uniforms to Class III and IV workers; bonus for 1997-98; 1998-99 and 1999-2000; technical scale to all categories; filling of vacant posts; concession in water bill be given to water supply workers on electricity pattern ; ex gratia payment and all dues be cleared before retirement. The rally was addressed by various leaders of the union including Mr Amrik Singh, Mr Sat Pal, Mr Kaka Singh, Mr Ram Lal, Mr Chain Singh, Mr Hari Singh, Mr Shamsher Singh and Mr Rajinder Katoch.
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FENG SHUI TIPS Feng Shui can be applied to a country, your home, and your handbag — in short to virtually anything. The Chinese believe in the following expression very strongly: “The sins of the father will be visited on the son for the next seven generations”. On this particular belief, the first application by the Chinese of Feng Shui was to establish the most auspicious dates for funerals and the placement of graves. In this way they believed that they kept their ancestors, past and present, happy. Basically Feng Shui is the art of working out and influencing someone’s destiny. The first thing for this to apply practically is to make a detailed study of his or her date and place of birth, the five elements and the environment in which they live. Everyone knows that everything in this universe works in cycles of expansion and contraction. For instance, there will be a time when a business is doing well and expanding, and there are times of contraction and inevitably its demise. This demise of a business will give rise to something different. Lastly, I can say that Feng Shui can accurately predict a business or a person’s fate, and suggest when life, riches, honour, failure, poverty or love are likely to occur.
— Harshna Address your Feng Shui queries to: |
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Samiti members seek
Vice-Chairman’s removal Panchkula, June 18 In a representation signed by the members, a delegation led by chairperson Kuldeep Kaur met Additional Deputy Commissioner S.K. Goyal, who forwarded it to District Development and Panchayat Officer Rajesh Jogpal for necessary action. It is learnt that the delegation was assured that a meeting of the samiti would soon be convened under the SDM and that they could pass the no-confidence motion at the meeting itself. |
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Autopsy at last SAS Nagar, June 18 The acquaintance of the victim and officials of the Phase 1 police station had been running from pillar to post for three days to get the autopsy of the victim done. After being shifted from Kharar hospital to the Sector 32 GMCH, the body was referred to Rajendra Hospital, Patiala, by the Sub-divisional Magistrate (SDM), Mr Jai Pal Singh. Meanwhile, the Superintendent of Police( Detective), Ropar, Mr Jagdish Singh Kalon, said the investigating officials had been asked to hold identification parade of the hospital staff concerned before Mr Sanjeev, who in a statement to the police had said that he had seen two employees wheeling the victim towards the hospital gate on a stretcher on the morning of June 15. Meanwhile, the police is working on different theories to solve the mystery. Efforts are being made to reconstruct the events leading to the alleged dumping of the victim outside the hospital gate. Statements of more people are likely to be recorded by the police. The Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr R.S. Saggu, said the departmental enquiry into the case was yet not complete. |
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Awareness generation
programme Panchkula, June 18 Mr N.R. Yadav, Executive Secretary of the society, said that more than 30 women in the age group of 18 to 30 years were benefited in the programme. He said that the programme was inaugurated by Dr J.K. Kakkar,
Director, Health Services, Himachal Pradesh, who stressed on woman literacy, woman empowerment and woman status. He said, ’’If a woman is educated, the whole family is educated.’’ Experts from different fields also spoke on various woman-related topics. Mr Virinder Singh, sarpanch, assured SEWAHAR of full cooperation for the welfare programmes for the community. Mr N.R. Yadav said that the society would organise its second awareness generation programme at Government Primary School, Pulewala, soon.
Injured factory worker dies Dera Bassi, June 18 According to sources, the accident occurred when the deceased was operating a machine late last night. He got stuck in the machine
accidentally and sustained severe injuries. His colleagues assembled, when he cried for help. They rushed him to the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh, where the doctors declared him brought dead. After registering a case, the police has sent the body to Rajpura Hospital for postmortem examinations. Mr
S.L. Sethia, owner of the industry was not available for comments.
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Parti is societies’
federation chief Chandigarh, June 18 At a meeting of the board here, Mr Lal Singh was elected Vice-Chairman and Mr Surjit Chaudhry Executive Director. While Mr Bhupinder Singh Badheri was elected Treasurer/Director Finance, Mr Kulwant Singh was elected Chairman of the loan committee. |
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BSNL’s charge
against HFCL Chandigarh, June 18 |
Baby Prince contest Chandigarh, June 18 |
Briefcase containing
40,000 snatched Panchkula, June 18 Mr Manoj Yadav, SP, said the victim was an industrialist and going to his office in a nearby house. Two unidentified youths chased him and snatched the briefcase containing the money on an internal road. They pushed him which caused him injuries on his forehead. An eyewitness said that after hitting Mr Gupta the scooterist fled towards Sector 5. They were riding a parrot-coloured scooter. The victim was rushed to the General Hospital, Sector 6, by residents and was discharged after first aid. A case under Section 356 of the IPC has been registered with the Sector 5 police station. |
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5 burglaries in a week Lalru, June 18 According to shopkeepers, the burglars enter the shops by breaking open the doors and search the targeted shops and decamp with electronic goods and cash. They broke into five shops containing electronic goods, grossary items and STD booths on June 15 night. The burglars ransacked the shops and boots and took away electronic goods along with some cash. In a joint complaint by the victim shopkeepers, Sanjive Kumar, Shamsher Singh, Paramjit Singh, Rajesh Kumar and Jagtar Singh, said the Lalru police had registered a case and investigations are on. In a similar incident, some burglars broke into a dhaba in the market and took away goods worth Rs 15,000, including some gas cylinders and cash. Mr Ramesh Singh, owner of the dhaba, said the burglars entered the dhaba, after breaking open the lock of the main gate. They even took away some important documents. The increase in the number of thefts in this village for the past over two months has created an atmosphere of panic and insecurity among the residents as well as traders. Residents of the area have expressed concern over the poor law and order situation in the subdivision. They have demanded that night patrolling should be intensified. |
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2 held for stealing computer
parts Chandigarh, June 18 The two were booked under Sections 380 and 411 of the Indian Penal Code. Purse snatched: Mr Ravinder Kumar, a resident of Khuda Ali Sher village, reported to the police that three persons stopped him on the village road near Nayagaon and snatched his purse containing Rs 300 and an identity card yesterday. In his complaint he said he was on cycle when the incident took place. A case under Sections 341, 356 and 379 of the IPC has been registered. Trespassing: The police arrested two persons, Bhagat Singh and Ajit Singh, both residents of Rurki Heeran village in Ropar for trespassing into a plot in the Industrial Area, Phase I, and allegedly tried to take possession of it. According to the complainant, Mr Iqbal Gulati, the incident took place at about 2.30 pm yesterday. The two were booked under Sections 448, 452 and 34 of the IPC. Eve-teasing: The police arrested Balbir Singh, a resident of Sector 20, and Parminder Singh, a resident of Sector 16, for eve-teasing here yesterday. The two were caught from near the Radha Krishan Mandir in Sector 18. The two were booked under Section 294 of the IPC. Shop burgled:
Mr Vinod Kumar reported to the police that his shop in the main market of Badheri was burgled on Saturday night. The thieves decamped with three decks, two tape-recorders and a colour television set. The thieves reportedly entered the shop after breaking the rear wall of the shop. A case under Sections 457 and 380 of the IPC has been registered. Theft attempted:
Mr R.D. Chaudhary, a resident of Sector 22, reported to the police that someone broke the main gate lock and windowpanes with an intention of committing theft. The incident took place on the night of June 16 while the complainant was out of station. A case under Sections 457 and 511 of the IPC has been registered. Theft:
Ravish Chand, a worker at Amrit Flour Mill in the Industrial Area, Phase I, reportedly decamped with Rs 1.50 lakh yesterday. According to the police, Ravish broke open the locker of the mill and ran away with the amount. This was reported by Mr Tirloki Nath Goyel. The worker was a resident of Uttaranchal. A case under Section 381 of the IPC has been registered. |
Contractors allege illegal
quarrying SAS Nagar, June 18 Talking to mediapersons, Mr Udham Singh, president of the association, said the state government was losing lakhs of rupees as mining fee due to illegal quarrying going on at Balsanda village near Chamkaur Sahib. The association in a written statement claimed that a contractor, Mr Balwinder Singh, in connivance with the Ropar district SAD chief and son of the Minister of State for Industries was removing sand from the site. The contractors said they were losing their business even after legally bidding for the sites in an auction held on May 22. Mr Udham Singh said an auction of site at Balsanda village conducted by the village panchayat had been cancelled in the court of the District Panchayat and Development Officer (DDPO) on May 17. He said the loss due to the illegal quarrying could be gauged from the fact that an adjacent site in Salapur village had fetched the Mining Department Rs 13.51 lakh each year. Even a letter was written by the mining officer to the Senior Superintendent of Police regarding the illegal mining in violation of the Mines and Minerals ( Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. They claimed that the letter written by the mining officer was later withdrawn at the behest of the political masters. While demanding action against the illegal quarrying, the association
threatened to launch an agitation if the irregularity continued. |
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