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| Thursday,
July 12, 2001, Chandigarh, India
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Jacob walks in Subzi Mandi slush Chandigarh, July 11 The Administrator visited the mandi as he had been receiving a number of complaints of unhygienic conditions. General Jacob was appalled to see the slush and piles of garbage amid with trucks, rehras, handcarts and horse carts parked haphazardly blocking traffic. Accompanied by the SDM (east), Mr Gyanesh Bharti, Director, Enforcement, Mr Ishwar Singh, and Chief Engineer, Mr Puranjeet Singh, the Administrator reached the mandi
at 11.30 am. Mr Kesar Singh, chairman market committee informed the Administrator that the Municipal Corporation had refused to do deposit work for improving sewerage and water disposal system of Mandi and had recently returned Rs 11.96 lakh to the market committee. The Administrator asked the SDM to coordinate with the market committee and the Municipal Corporation to improve the drainage system at the earliest. He said that the mandi seems to be most unhygienic place in the city and vegetable and fruits of the whole city are being supplied from this place. The General suggested that the market committee should enforce strict rules so that vendors could dump garbage all around. The Administrator asked the market committee to purchase more equipment for lifting the garbage and make the garbage lifting process continuous. General Jacob asked the market committee to take suitable measures to check the leakage of revenue and raise their resources to set up a cold storage for fruits and vegetables. General Jacob said the market committee should also explore the possibility of putting up sheds on the unloading platform. The SDM informed the Administrator that Rs 2 crore had already been spent for acquiring land for the second grain market in Sector 39. He asked the SDM to coordinate with the Municipal Corporation to improve internal roads, drainage system and sewerage system of the mandi. |
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Postal circle to woo business
mailers Chandigarh, July 11 “As writing habit is fast decreasing with modes of alternative communication like telephone and Internet becoming widely accessible, the volume in the personal mail has been going down and business mail increasing but realisation of the full potential in this segment is difficult to achieve,” Punjab and Chandigarh Director, Postal Service, Mr Vivek Kaul, told The Tribune today. Though the department launched services like speed post at all district headquarters of Punjab to make next day delivery possible, night post vans starting, the department has been unable to meet the requirement of the business segment as the department’s orientation has been to serve the individuals, he said. Mr Kaul said the department had approached the Union Territory Administration to get the bulk responsibility of carrying electricity and water bills but could not get it because the administration said the cost of sending through post is two times higher than their own cost of Rs 2 per head. Mr Kaul said that the scheme of telephone bill collection at Rs 1 charge also could not succeed because of departmental orientation requiring the department to change fast to position itself in the changing market. The department is now bound to reach out to bulk business mailers to give them value for their money spent but it does not have specialised marketing wings, though marketing is done by the departmental people but their number and training is not sufficient. He said that as the experiment to collect telephone bills could not really take off, options like appointing agents could be considered for doing this job. Mr Kaul said to ensure next day delivery of speed post and other mail at all district headquarters and important towns in the circle, midnight motor service has been introduced with Ludhiana RMS being identified as hub for bundle sorting and exchange of mail with mail motors. He said state speed post centres, Patiala, Phagwara and Pathankot, have been upgraded to national network and independent business offices for speed post and other premium products have been established at Amritsar, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Patiala. The department has also established Internet connections at all postal and RMS divisions and set revenue targets of Rs 50 crore and Rs 95 crore, respectively, for postal life insurance and rural postal life insurance schemes. The department has also networked all 22 head offices with major sub-offices for data transfer with computerisation of all the head offices. The circle has tied up with the Western Union to hand over 72 outlets for money transfer and will accept application and passport forms in the head post offices and IDBI and ICICI Mutual Funds will be introduced in important head offices. |
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Traffic
held up for 24
hrs Morni, July 11 The heavy rain on the third consecutive day yesterday led to the land slip, at about 2.30 pm. following which tourists to the Morni Hills, commuters and two buses on Panchkula — Morni route remained stranded for several hours. Buses exchanged the passengers to reach their destinations. The road users going towards Morni from Panchkula took the Panchkula-Barwala-Raipur Rani-Morni route. They have to travel about 20 km extra distance to reach their destinations. Tourists, who were
stranded near the site of landslip, opted for the Morni-Raipur Rani-Barwala route to reach Panchkula. However, the local residents and students took short cuts through the areas. Those who came to know about the land slip at Surajpur and Panchkula even preferred the Surajpur-Burj Kotian-Morni link road. Over 35 employees of PWD, who were deployed to clear the road, could not make it in spite of best possible efforts and had to call for an
earth removing machine and a tipper to complete the work. Mr Punni Swarna, Work Inspector, said two buses, on the Panchkula — Morni — Gadren route exchanged passengers, yesterday. The stranded buses finally moved at about 11.30 am after the road was cleared partially with the help of a JCB machine. Movement of light and heavy vehicular traffic started after the clearance of road, the road was, however, not complete till the filing of the report. Meanwhile, landslide also blocked the Samrota Devi road on Tuesday afternoon and a number of villages on the other side of the spot remained cut off from the rest of the area. Residents complained that they had to face similar problems almost every year. They demanded that the government should take concrete steps to get rid of the problem. |
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One receives bullet injuries Panchkula, July 11 The injured, youth, Rajiv Sharma, was taken to the General Hospital in Sector 6 and was later referred to the PGI in Chandigarh. Police sources said Vishal Papneja and Sachit Bhasin, who were playing snooker at the computer centre, had a tiff over some issue, which led to a scuffle between them. Vishal allegedly threatened Sachit and called upon his friend. Sources said a Haryanvi man named Pratap reached the centre and threatened Sachit. He took out a revolver and fired upon Sachit. The bullet brushed the back of Rajiv’s head, who was sitting on a computer in the third cabin of the centre. The bullet reportedly brushed Rajiv’s head after piercing a glass separating the cabins. Interestingly, the incident occurred on the second floor of a showroom right in front of the Sector 6 police post at about 4.30 p.m. when almost all the policemen were present there. Sources said Pratap came in a Maruti car (HR-06-0074) and fled after the incident. Three police personnel — Mr Tarun Kumar, ASI, Mr Surinder Kumar, Head Constable, and Mr Brij Lal, Constable — who tried to chase the accused, also sustained minor injuries. Besides Vishal Papneja and Sachit Bhasin, the police also arrested Sanjay Rahi, owner of the vehicle which was used by Pratap. A car (DL-6CC-8988) with black film on window panes, which was used by Vishal, was impounded. Vishal’s father is a senior officer with the Oriental Bank of Commerce. A case has been registered. Mr Manoj Yadav, SP, was not available for comment till late this
evening. |
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Order for new abattoir
placed Chandigarh, July 11 Talking to Chandigarh Tribune, the Assistant Commissioner-I, Mr Ashok Vashishtha, said the total mechanisation of the process, which was till now being carried manually, would help ensure more hygiene, besides making standard meat available to the consumers. The contract with the firm will be signed at Rs 5.15 crore, which includes central sales tax at the rate of 10 per cent, besides payment of Rs 10 lakh as additional cost towards expenditure for the visit of foreign experts and counter visits for consultation on technical aspects of the project to bring it on a par with international standards. He emphasised that with the installation of the affluent treatment plant, in accordance with the Water Pollution Control Board instructions, the hygiene of the slaughterhouse would improve considerably. This will also help check environment pollution as waste material & water will be treated here before being released into the main sewers. The treated water in turn can be used for irrigating the parks and other green belts. Giving details, the Medical Officer of Health (MOH), Dr G.C. Bansal, said the slaughterhouse will be electrically operated on the conveyor system, where different functions such as stunning and de-skinning would be performed by staff on different machines instead of a butcher doing everything in one go. This will also go a long way in avoiding cruelty to animals as they will be subjected to electric current before being slaughtered. The employees operating these hi-tech machines will also be required to wear gloves and apron and use sterilised equipment. Further, the availability of hot water will help in pressure washing of the meat, before it is finally weighed on the electronic machine and dispatched. It is pertinent to mention here that the Central Government’s Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry has been sponsoring a scheme since 1999 for modernisation of existing slaughterhouses on 50: 50 sharing basis. According to Mr Bansal, a part of the 50 per cent grant from the government has already been received and there will be no hitch in releasing the remaining amount at an appropriate time. This was assured by the Central Government at a meeting held on January 15 this year, since it is a committed
project. The budget provision of the MC’s share has already been made and the private company at the time of signing of agreement will be required to deposit 5 per cent as performance security and 25 per cent as work money. The capacity of the existing slaughterhouse, which is 150 animals per day, will also go up
to 250 animals in about four hours time. According to information, the sheep and goats are brought by shopkeepers themselves from various places, keeping in view their requirement and they pay Rs 2.50 slaughter charges per animal. However, there is a proposal to hike the fee, which was fixed much earlier. Both the cost of maintenance and electricity will increase after the mechanisation, thereby forcing the MC to hike up the fee. The same will, however, be placed before the F and CC and the MC House for necessary approval, said an official. Mr Vashishtha, however, clarified that the MC is not looking at this modernisation from revenue point as the objective is to provide better quality meat to the residents and also to encourage shopkeepers to come here for slaughter of animals. Though the teams are constantly engaged in challaning all those who indulge in unauthorised slaughter, but still a lot of shopkeepers in Mani Majra and slums and colonies are doing so, it is learnt. According to him, the success of the project will in the times to come help the MC to bag lucrative contracts from exporters in the region and Defence personnel in areas like Leh and Ladakh, since the project when completed will be one of its kind in the northern
region. |
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Dhawan’s ouster to echo in today’s CTCC
meeting Chandigarh, July 11 The CTCC President, Mr B.B. Bahl, who has convened the meeting after initiating expulsion process against Mr Dhawan, seems to have called the meeting after the long-drawn-out battle with the former Union Minister, in an apparent bid to consolidate the party. But he may have to face strengthened dissidence because of the weakening of the party lending the rebels bargaining power against the Mayor, Mr Rajkumar Goyal. The meeting is the first after three Congress councillors led by Senior Deputy Mayor, Gurcharan Dass Kala, along with Mr Dhawan’s wife Ms Satinder Dhawan, and Ms Sunita Krishanlal, boycotted the House on June 27 and staged a sit-in before the office of the Mayor. Of the total elected 20 councillors in the MC House, the Congress has only five. The Congress Mayor, Mr Goyal had come to power due to infighting in the BJP, which led a group to support minority Congress men occupying the coveted post. But today the Mayor seems to have been left alone with the three having openly expressed themselves against the Mayor. The meeting will be attended by senior Congress leaders, party workers, besides the Mayor and party councillors. According to sources, tomorrow’s meeting is likely to be stormy, for the party councillors have been alleging that the party president, Mr Bahl and the local MP, Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, have not been lending them a serious ear. The irritated councillors are in no mood to compromise with the Mayor at any cost and Mr Kala and Mrs Dhawan are all prepared to support any no-confidence move against him. On the other hand, the Mayor is not prepared to part with his chair. Even as the majority of the Congress leaders, including Mr Bansal and Mr Bahl, have suggested to him to resign in view of the non-cooperative attitude of the party councillors, he has simply ignored the same. The reality is that from the very outset, the BJP-SAD in majority had been opposing the functioning of the Mayor. But for the budget meeting and another meeting held on the directive of the UT Administrator, no other business meeting has been held in the past six months and the same was adjourned following uproar and chaos in the House . The deadlock was partly resolved when following the Administrator’s directive, the Mayor convened a special meeting and the councillors unanimously passed the nine of the 10 listed urgent agenda items. But the situation once again deteriorated at the last meeting (June 27) when the BJP councillors en bloc supported the three Congress councillors in their protest against the Mayor, both on the floor of the House and outside. Mrs Kamlesh had not turned up at the House meeting. One faction of the party, which has been constantly asking the Mayor to resign is of the view that BJP has thwarted the attempt of the Congress to make a place amidst the public before the MC elections. |
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PGI phones play
hookey Chandigarh, July 11 PGI officials admitted that the telephone services throughout the hospital went haywire following failure of the internal exchange “ We are on the job and are trying to get the problem rectified at the earliest,” they said. The officials said the PGI administration had already passed orders for procuring a new telephone exchange “ We will soon find a latest alternative, but it is expected to take some more time The fault in the existing exchange was due to a snag in the computer software due to which about 225 telephones, which is 50 per cent of the total connections in the PGI, have gone out of order,” they added In the past two months, telephone services in the PGI had been affected at least on three occasions. Patients complained that there was not any proper arrangement for making emergency calls. Patients and regular callers to the PGI complained, “even when these telephones are functioning, operators do not respond to the calls and EPBAX number 747585 with hunting facility keeps on ringing.” If the hospital administration kept functioning this way the patients were bound to face difficulties, they added. |
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UT JE suspended Chandigarh, July 11 The UT Electricity Junior Engineers Association today held a general body meeting and passed a resolution condemning the suspension of Mr Amrik Singh and demanded the withdrawal of the order. The association said the suspension without an inquiry had hurt the sentiments of JEs. |
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Irregularities
in entrance exam alleged Chandigarh, July 11 Seeking strict action against the guilty, they stated that cases of impersonation were also reported as the admit cards issued to the students were without their photographs. They also stated that the invigilators included MA first and second year students. It was also alleged that the students who had applied in the reserved category, but had scored well, were not considered in the general category as per the rules. Denying the allegations, Head of the English Department, Dr Shelly Walia, claimed that the invigilators were not students of the department but were former students who had been teaching in the department for the past two years and were approved ad hoc employees of the university. He also stated that the whole aim of the test was to try and get the best students in the department. “And for this we are not charging a single penny from the candidates.” He also denied that no student had checked a single copy and the evaluation work was done by the faculty members themselves. The entrance test for admission to MA English first year was held in the department on July 3 and more than 600 candidates had appeared for the test. |
Rally marks World
Population Day Chandigarh, July 11 It was jointly organised by the Sports Authority of India and the UT Health Department. More than 900 children between 8 and 14 years, drawn from peripheral village schools, converged this morning at SAI STC, Sector 18. Rain did not dampen spirits of the children, anxiously waiting for the signal of Dronacharya awardee Desh Prem Azad, who flagged off the rally around 9 am. The three-km route was manned by coaches of the SAI and few senior payers. After taking a round of Sector 18, these children, wearing T-shirts with slogans on population inscribed on these, reached the venue. They were received by Regional Director in charge of SAI, Mr Kunwar Rajender Singh, Deputy Director of SAI, Mr Sanjeev Sharma, and Assistant Directors, Ms Ritu Pathik and Mr Ashok Pathik, among others. Later Ms Pathik, in charge of the STC, who supervised the race, said for the past two days, they had been visiting various schools located in slums. A school in Mauli Jagran had sent a maximum of 170 children, followed by 60 from Gwala Basti and 54 from Janta Colony. The children were given refreshment after the conclusion of the race and were told about the meaning of population
control. |
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Kashmiri sabha flays
Centre Chandigarh, July 11 The sabha held an executive committee meeting here today under the presidentship of Ms Chand Sadhu to express anguish over the fact that no views were ascertained from the community before the summit. Meanwhile, The Panun Kashmir Movement, Chandigarh unit, has expressed its anguish that representatives of the Kashmiri pandits have not been invited for talks by the government and it has preferred to discuss the issue with the person responsible for the recent Kargil episode. A press note issued by Mr Vinod Kaul, unit coordinator, said the Chandigarh unit resolved that home land for the pandit is the only solution to the problem. “The unit is also shocked to see that the APHC has received invitation to attend the reception and may also get a chance to meet the Pakistan President”, the note added. Mr Kaul said the unit opposed the proposed talks between Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee and Mr Pervez Musharraf. |
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Patwari
stays as villagers meet DC Kharar, July 11 The deputation included Panches and Sarpanches of Jhampur, Taroli, Thaska, Husainpur and Manana villages. They handed over resolutions passed by these Gram Panchayats to the Deputy Commissioner in which they had mentioned that the Patwari, Mr Hardeep Singh, was an honest man and had been working, here, for the past many years to the satisfaction of villagers. They told the Deputy Commissioner that the Patwari was transferred earlier also, a few years back, and then also his transfer had been cancelled on the request of the villagers. It was reportedly learnt from a press note released here yesterday that the Deputy Commissioner had later cancelled the transfer of the employee
concerned. |
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Sweat’s out, boredom’s in Chandigarh, July 11 Being drenched is an incredibly frustrating experience. The gloomy prospect of spending hours indoors is facing one much sooner than expected. The rain spells stretch even into the nights, leaving messy foliage and perpetual puddles. The roads are a veritable hazard of concealed potholes and huge puddles. Venturing out is an adventure in itself. Even if one is brave enough to face the rain the question arises as to where to go. Swimming is out because of infections carried by the rain water. The hills are probably too cold. Skating, cycling, golfing, all are out. Pool joints are packed to the limit with boys of all ages. Girls gossip and kids either watch television or play games. Parties have turned into a bore. Even these menacing grey clouds have a silver lining. A game of cricket or basketball in the pouring rain is an exhilarating experience. Getting drenched and then hairag steaming pakoras and a hot cup of tea should be done at least once in the season. Ponds spring up everywhere and offer pure joy to many in splashing around. |
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Govt grants
compensation Kharar, July 11 Mr Devinder Singh, SDM, Kharar, was the chairman of the disbursement committee. The other members of the committee were Mr Malvinder Singh, BDPO, Kharar, Mr Nagar Singh, chairman, market committee, Kharar, besides two representatives of the farmers and one representative of the Ahartiyas, and the Food and Supplies Officer. The identification of the farmers was done by this committee. As per the instructions of the government, a video film of the disbursement function was also prepared. |
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Transport staff’s demands Chandigarh, July 11 Mr Jagdish Singh, General Secretary of the union, said its workers had staged a dharna in front of the office of the Director of Transport. The demands include payment of bonus for the past four years, abandoning the scheme of plying mini buses run by private operators in Chandigarh and from ISBT, appointment on compassionate grounds to wards of the deceased employees, removal of illegal cut of overtime, meeting of inter-state time table committee by the STA, promotion and confirmation of all categories of posts, filling of vacant posts. |
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30 neem saplings planted Chandigarh, July 11 It may be noted that this complex spread over 52 acres was recently freed of encroachments. The training centre of the Chandigarh Police will be set up in this complex which would also have administrative blocks and residential houses. |
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Sector
19 residents sore over Admn’s neglect Chandigarh, July 11 |
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PSSF members hold dharna Chandigarh, July 11 |
FENG
SHUI
TIPS Water has potential to overflow and overwhelm the earth just as the earth can overcome water. If one thinks deeply, one would realise that the things that can destroy water is earth. But on the other side, one may realise that water also enriches earth. Water and earth together create proper circumstances for trees and plants to grow. Water and earth, therefore, can create the abundance of growth and can be hospitable to the element wood. So the best way to develop a personal liking for the energies of earth is the luck of earth itself. Harmony of earth’s energy has to do much with earth’s interaction with the other elements — water and wood. If you see closely the only element that has life is “wood”. Earth and water together produce it. Try to infect these into elements in your environment. Plants and trees grow in earth, using up the food earth offers. Real plants kept inside your house can energise the environment. Water — as a pond of fish, or a bowl with a couple of fish, can also be kept in a home or in a garden. A pond of fish will really benefit a house with old people. Earth
colours, which is brown and beige, can energise the harmony of a home. So keeping these things in mind, one can bring luck to a home.
Harshna
Address your Feng Shui queries to: Postal address: C/o
F.S. TIPS |
Film and X-ray rolls stolen from factory Chandigarh, July 11 According to the information available, the miscreants allegedly entered the factory premises after breaking open the lock on the main door. The police suspects that after breaking open the lock of the main gate, the miscreants could have easily gone inside and continued with their searches. The lock on the entrance of the main building was also broken. After stealing cash worth Rs 25, 000, the miscreants went to the godown located in the basement and stole film and X-ray rolls. A case under Sections 457 and 380 of the IPC has been registered on the complaint of Mr Ramesh Toshiwal, Manager of the
company. |
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Kurali
resident booked SAS Nagar Attacked Chandigarh Booked Arrested Cycle stolen Trespass Gambling Scooter recovered |
‘Make financial standing
of Puncom public’ SAS Nagar, July 11 Addressing a press conference, members of the Joint Action Committee said the balance sheets of the company projected a profit with each passing year. The audit was done by the AG, Punjab, and after every three months auditors came from the Electronic Development and Production Corporation.”
If the ECP knew the company was going in loss why it kept on sleeping on the issue”, said a member of the committee. Accusing the ECP of selling the company worth Rs 325 crore for Rs 33 crore on the basis of recommendations of IFIN, the employee said the entire process of completing the formalities to sell its shareholding to a private party was being got done by the ECP at a fast pace. They alleged that the report of the Head of Department about the financial statistics — which had been approved by the Puncom board — was hidden from the board members of the corporation and the Punjab Disinvestment Board. The employee said the government was experimenting with a company which was giving dividend to its share holders. Instead it should go for disinvestment of the other units going in loss. The employee alleged that while evaluation by IFIN was in progress, the ECP ensured that the shares of the company remained depressed on the stock exchange and even the IFIN report was tailored. The 44 per cent shares of the corporation were being sold to a private party for Rs 33 crore in a hurry so that the process was complete before the general elections in Punjab. Countering the claims of the ECP that the company was failing, the employee said as per the audit done by government auditors, during 2000-2001 the profit was Rs 6.98 crore against a profit of Rs 1.63 crore during 1999-2000. The company has orders worth Rs 310 crore. They said of the Rs 171 crore of the company, Rs 45 crore were in fixed deposits, Rs 68.64 crore were in inventory and Rs 56.9 crore were with debtors. The company had technology for producing 45 different products. They said evaluation of the company had not been done by IFIN on the basis of technology. The value of the assets had also not been included. The committee has demanded enquiry into the entire case by a High Court judge before the ECP reduced its shareholding. When asked about the stand of the management about the move, they said the management was also kept in dark. They admitted that the management of the company had failed to convince the government about the financial standing of the unit. They feigned ignorance about an alleged move by the company management to prevent the true facts from being made public. |
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Interest
rate up for senior citizens Chandigarh, July 11 A press note issued by the bank stated the benefit of this scheme would extend to term deposits for 15 days and above as against the minimum period of one year and above earlier. Senior citizens would now earn 11 per cent interest on a deposits for three years and above as against the normal rate of 10 per cent. The press note further stated that under the Suraksha Scheme, launched in May last, any individual of the aged 60 years and above would be eligible. The scheme would also cover joint account holders, provided the first name was that of the senior citizen. The joint account holder could be any other individual. Earlier only the spouse could be accepted as a joint account holder. Now the bank was offering free issuance of two drafts of Rs 5,000 each (upper limit) and collection of two instruments with the upper limit of Rs 2,000 each per month to those senior citizens who maintained a deposit aggregating to Rs 2,500 and above. |
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Beopar
mandal office-bearers Chandigarh, July 11 Addressing a press conference, Mr Arora informed that Mr Prem Kumar, Mr Raj Kumar Goyal and Mr Baldev Gulati would the advisers of the mandal. While Mr Harbans Lal Gulati would be the senior vice-president, Mr M.P. Kohli and Mr P.S. Sawhney would be the new vice-presidents. Mr L.C. Arora would be the new general secretary. The mandal would have new spokesman in Mr Neeraj Bajaj while the post of the finance secretary would be handled by Mr Radhey Lal. Mr Jagdish Pal Singh Kalra would be the organisation secretary, while Mr Bhupinder Singh, Mr Romesh Khandelwal and Mr Arun Malhotra would be secretaries. Mr R.S. Bhalla would be the chairman of the police sub committee and Mr Ram Karan that of the health and consumer affairs sub-committee. Mr Arora said the mandal membership had been opened to the unrepresented markets. And to have better interaction among traders, regular monthly meetings would be arranged in different areas of the city where business and related problems would be discussed and forwarded to the Chandigarh Administration. Announcing that the general body meeting of the mandal would be convened later this month where he would formally take over as the president. He announced that supplementary lists of office-bearers and executives would be issued soon in which all sections of the traders would be given representation. |
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