The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

ADMINISTRATION

11,000 saplings distributed
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 18
As against the target of 10,000 saplings, the Forest Department had distributed 11,000 saplings by July 16.

According to Mr Ishwar Singh, chairman of the Greening Chandigarh Task Group, the department had completed 90 per cent of the plantation task and rest of the work would be completed by July 20. Besides, the department had fixed a target of 10,000 saplings free of cost as against 5,000 saplings distributed last year. Over 500 saplings were also distributed by the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) at subsidised rates.

During the last two weeks’ members of task group visited various schools and tendered their advice to school teachers on the saplings to be planted and their upkeep.

Meanwhile, the Adviser to the Administrator, Ms Neeru Nanda, visited government nurseries to take stock of the saplings available.

Licence of parking lot contractor cancelled
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 18
The Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) has cancelled a licence granted to a contractor for running the parking lot in front of the Sector 17 District Courts on account of default of payment of instalments. An order to this effect was issued by the Assistant Commissioner-I, MCC, Mr Ashok Vasishtha recently.

According to information available, the parking lot was auctioned for Rs 4 lakh. The contractor, Mr Raj Kumar, had paid Rs 1 lakh ( 25 per cent) of the total amount as token money and was required to pay six-monthly instalments of Rs 50,000 to make the balance payment. Sources disclosed that he had made the first monthly instalment due in May through a post-dated cheque which on being presented bounced, but following the issuance of a notice, he deposited the amount in cash. But despite being served notices, he has till date not deposited the instalments for the months of June and July. Subsequently, his licence has been cancelled.

In the order, Mr Vasishtha has further directed the Executive Engineer Roads -I, Mr S.K. Chadha, to take charge of the parking lot and get the same managed by his staff till the same is re-auctioned. It is also specified that the MCC would continue to charge Rs 5 per car, Rs 2 per scooter and Re 1 per cycle.

It may be recalled that the MCC had got the highest bid of Rs 4 lakh against the reserve price of Rs 2.20 lakh for this site.The lease period of the site had expired on March 28 and the same was re-auctioned for one year. Besides, the MCC had netted Rs 6.60 lakh by auctioning two other parking lots adjoining Kiran and Jagat cinemas. Sources says that the MCC is further losing revenue as there have been no takers for the parking sites outside the remaining five cinema halls even after the reserve prices have further been reduced.

PUDA allots land for MC office
Tribune News Service

SAS Nagar, July 18
The Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) finally offered around one acre of land to the local Municipal Council at a rate reportedly not acceptable to the civic body. The land was offered in Sector 68 to the civic body at a meeting between PUDA officials and officials of the MC at Chandigarh today.

Sources in the civic body said initially the land was offered at Rs 11,000 per sq yard but then it was brought down to Rs 7,200 per sq yard, meaning the cost of land would alone come to around Rs 3 crore. On the other hand, the council had earmarked Rs 1 crore for the cost of land and the building. The issue would be taken up at the next meeting of the civic body.

Other issues like land for a cattle pond and a proper land fill site, land for a meat market and a planned transport area were also discussed at the meeting.