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| Tuesday,
August
28,
2001, Chandigarh, India
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Admn turns down residents’ demand
Chandigarh, August 27 This means the consumers will continue to pay for power which at times is not even consumed by them. In the past two months several people have protested with the Chandigarh Administration seeking a roll back of a newly implemented regulation which forces them to pay for power despite not consuming it. Today a final decision was taken to maintain status quo, well placed sources told The Tribune this evening. Last month the Engineering Department had put up a proposal to the Administration saying if the MMC was to be reduced the subsidised power tariff in the lowest slab need to be hiked to meet the expenses. The department also cited how similar charges had been imposed in the neighbouring states while forgetting that these states run populist schemes whereas there is no such scheme in the Union Territory. Sources said the MMC had been hiked to primarily meet the target of profit set for the power department. In the past the department has never made a loss but has been making a marginal profit thus the hike in MMC is not justified. In its proposal the Engineering Department also argued that all calculations of sanctioned load are being made on the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) pattern. Several people had lodged protests pointing out how they never even consume power at par with the minimum charges. The demand was that the Administration should charge on actual units consumed by consumers as this provides an incentive to save power. “The imposition of high minimum charge does not promote conservation of power,” added a Sector 15 resident. Since February this year bi-monthly bills of residents have witnessed a jump since the Chandigarh Administration hiked the minimum monthly charges on a per kilowatt basis of sanctioned load. This was jacked up from Rs 6 per kilowatt to Rs 35 per KW in March this year. Under the new formula a bill is issued on the total minimum monthly charge or for the actual consumption of units, whichever is higher. The catch in this, however, is that anyone having between 8 to 10 kw of applied load always has to pay on the minimum monthly charge. In case of a 10 kw connection the minimum charge works out to be Rs 700 for a bi-monthly billing cycle. Several old couples who live alone consume less power but end up paying for the power they never consumed. As per electricity norms power engineers calculate that not more than 33 per cent of the sanctioned load is used at any given time in a normal home. In case an air conditioner is installed the usage is about 66 per cent. This is calculated that a person uses an AC for almost eight hours in day. Engineers admit this is not possible if the AC is installed in a working couple’s home or for people with touring jobs. These calculations are based on maximum usage and they do not apply in case of Chandigarh where the number of nuclear families is more, said a source. Another person said a large number of old people have AC’s in their guest rooms where their children or grandchildren come to stay for a short period during summer holidays. Another complainant has argued with the Administration that a power point where an AC is set up is never used in the winter and vice versa a power point for geyser is never used in summers. But due to extreme weather conditions residents have to maintain both points. Mixer grinders or food processors in the kitchen are never used for more than 3 to 4 minutes. Constantly running appliances like refrigerators do not consume more than 40 units in month, another resident had pointed out in his protest to the Administration, while seeking a roll back of the minimum charges.  |
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CTU
buses for pvt schools now Chandigarh, August 27 “This is a contingency measure as all private school buses are more than 15-year-old, which means that these should have been phased out long ago,” the UT Home Secretary and Transport Secretary, Mr Raminder Singh Gujral, said here today. He said the Administration was not considering an extension of the August 31 deadline. Past week, the Chandigarh School Bus Operators Welfare Association had demanded that the deadline be extended and implemented from the next academic session. The Director Transport has been asked to coordinate with the Director Public Instructions (schools) and ask private schools authorities if they needed the services of the CTU. Schools will have to pay for the CTU bus service and provide the Administration with persons who would help drivers get familiar with the routes and students. According to the estimates of the Administration, about 45 schoolbuses that are more than 15-years-old are on city roads. These would soon have to be put off-road. “Services of the CTU are being offered to save parents, schools and students from any harassment that they may face after these buses are off-road,” the Home Secretary said. From September 1, the Administration will initiate action against drivers and owners of old schoolbuses. |
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Shock
treatment for power thieves Panchkula, August 27 A team of three junior engineers of the nigam conducted surprised raids on the residences of Hari Kishan of Sector 7 and Amod Kumar of Sector 16 and found them pilfering electricity and tampering with electricity meters. These persons had allegedly used X-ray film pieces to stop the consumption indicator in the meters from rotating. Mr R.K. Bhardwaj, Assistant Executive Engineer, said that Rs 1,10,000 penalty had been slapped on Hari Kishan, while Amod Kumar would have to pay Rs 47,500 as penalty. He said the nigam had recovered Rs 3.5 lakh from five pilferers so far. Three JEs of the UHVVN were attacked by a consumer when they conducted a raid on his house in Sector 16 here on August 19. |
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Recharging
trouble for ‘spent’ police cell Chandigarh, August 27 Earlier this year, the UT police had declared that it planned to reorganise the cell on the lines of the one in New Delhi. The decision was taken on the basis of an observation that the cell had become redundant with terrorism no longer being a major problem here. However, after it was found that several members of the Uttar Pradesh underworld were hiding in the city, the top brass of the city police decided to give a new direction to the CBO Cell. It was decided that the cell would look after all kinds of organised crimes in the city. On February 15 this year, the city police, in a joint operation with the Rishikesh police, had arrested Nazim ‘Shamim’. Shamim has been accused of committing at least 23 crimes, including nine murders, six attempts to murder and three violations of the Arms Act . Shamim was arrested from Mani Majra by a police team led by the Rishikesh SP, Mr Umesh Kumar. The police of several areas, including New Delhi and parts of Uttar Pradesh wanted to arrest him. He had been working for Pratap Singh gang and there had been a reward of Rs 50,000 on his head. He had also been featured in the TV programme ‘India’s Most Wanted’ a few weeks before his arrest. In June, a team of the Special Crime Cell of New Delhi arrested Manjit Singh Mange, a member of the Babloo Srivastava gang, from Panchkula. His friend-turned-foe, Balwinder Pal Singh Bunty, and his three accomplices, too, had been staying in a rented accommodation in Sector 15 of Panchkula, ever since they had escaped from Bhuj jail after the earthquake on January 26. Reportedly, they had escaped to Kolkata. However, a lack of trained personnel, special equipment and vehicles, the cell cannot move in the desired direction. Highly placed police sources say that most staff members of the CBO Cell, too, consider it “a punishment posting”, where there is not much work. Reportedly, the cell personnel do not have sufficient vehicles to carry out their normal duties. “The cell is dealing with organised crime like drug trafficking, liquor smuggling etc in the city,” said a senior police officer. |
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No
bidders for shop sites SAS Nagar, August 27 According to information available, at least five shop-cum-offices (SCO) sites and five booth sites were put under the hammer. The reserved price for an SCO site was Rs 25.80 lakh and for a booth Rs 8.60 lakh. The officials waited for over two hours before calling off the auction. |
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Murder
accused re-arrested Chandigarh, August 27 According to information available, Abhay Singh, an accused in a murder case in Mahendragarh in Haryana, had been arrested by the CBI a few days ago and was on a police remand . Sources said that early this morning, he asked to be let off in order to answer the call of nature. As he went out, he saw that he was not being followed and managed to slip out of the CBI building. Immediately, the CBI formed special teams and these were despatched to all directions. |
Wife of disowned son alleges dowry harassment SAS Nagar, August 27 Earlier, on August 22, the mother-in-law of the complainant and widow of Major Ved Parkash
Pathak, Ms Pushpa Pathak (73), who is suffering from a terminal disease, had sought protection from the Punjab Human Rights Commission
(PHRC) from her disowned son and husband of the complainant, Dr Raj Kamal
Pathak, Professor of Anthropology, Panjab University. She had alleged that her son wanted to throw her out of her house and was adopting every means, including abusive language, threats and occasional violence to achieve his aim. Suits in connection with the ownership of the house in Phase II and the eviction of Dr Raj Kamal from the premises are pending in courts at
Kharar. The wife of Dr Raj Kamal Pathak, Ratna, said in her written complaint to the Governor on Friday, copies of which were sent to, among others, the PHRC and the
DGP, that she was from Imphal and belonged to the Meitei Hindu community and her mother-in-law had never approved of her marriage to her son, a Punjabi, as it was an inter-caste and cross-cultural one without any consideration of dowry. They had two minor children. Ms Ratna Pathak said after her husband joined Panjab University in 1998, she and her children began living with him in the aforesaid house, which belonged to his late father. She alleged in her complaint that after she shifted to the Phase II house, her mother-in-law started abusing, harassing and threatening her with dire consequences for not bringing dowry. She also alleged that she had been beaten several times by her mother-in-law, sister-in-law Suman and her husband, Dr Satish Sharma of the Sociology Department,
HPU, Shimla. She claimed that her sister-in-law and her husband wanted to “kick us out” of the house and grab the property, regarding which a suit was pending in a Kharar court. Ms Ratna Pathak further charged that on August 22, when her husband had left home for work, her in-laws tried to burn her, but she saved herself by bolting herself in a room and informing her husband. Ms Ratna Pathak said she was still being threatened by her in-laws to make her leave the house and feared that an attempt would be made again to kill her, especially during the frequent visits of Dr Sharma from Shimla to the house. She said she had no option but to report the matter to the Governor and the police and seek protection. Ms Pushpa Pathak and Ms Suman Sharma have denied all allegations levelled against them. |
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5,000 aspirants for 30 TA
vacancies Kalka,
August 27 The fact that the TA is
only a part-time profession and personnel may be embodied for just two
months in a year did not deter a large number of youth, mostly from
rural and economically weaker sections of society, from all over the
region from converging at Kalka for an opportunity to seek
employment. While for some joining the TA is continuing with the
family traditions, for the vast majority it is apparently a means of
earning a livelihood as was apparent from the statements of some of
the aspirants who spoke to TNS. Having studied only up to class-V,
Bhawan Kumar from Mandi said that there was little scope of employment
for him outside. His meagre qualifications make him eligible to enroll
in the TA as a tradesman. Another aspirant, Pradeep, said that his
height made him ineligible to join the regular Army, but different
qualitative requirements for the TA gave him an opportunity to join
the forces. For Ravi, hailing from Bhiwani, it is the age-old charm
of wielding a rifle that has attracted him to don the olive green,
while for several aspirants such as Nirmal Singh, hailing from a
neighbouring village, it was continuing with the village tradition of
serving with the forces. According to Lt Col K N Jetly, the
presiding officer for the recruitment rally, the response this time
has been much greater then the previous rally organised in February.
He attributed this to publicity given to the recruitment programme via
the media. Meanwhile, it is learnt that the process of raising six
new TA battalions has commenced. Sources said that a few companies
from the already existing TA units have been shifted to the new units
to form a nucleus, while the balance manpower required to build up the
units to their requisite strength will be recruited by the respective
units. Sources add that more vacancies are likely to be released by
the TA directorate shortly for recruitment to both, the old as well as
the new units. New TA units are being raised include those affiliated
to the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, Punjab Regiment, Sikh Regiment and
the Bihar Regiment. For the first time, a TA infantry battalion for
deployment in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is being raised and it
will be under the operational command of the Fortress Commander at
Port Blair. |
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26-hr-long power cut in village Zirakpur, August 27 The villagers were forced to use kerosene, which further forced them to fetch for the commodity at specific shops in the local market. Mr Paramjit Singh, a resident of Singhpura village, complained that he had to go to his work without taking a bath. Children had a tough time on the second day today and had to bear mosquito bites during the night. The local authorities of the PSEB admitted that a Singhpura-based transformer had developed a snag and that the power would be restored by evening. |
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Footpath
cycle workers seek better
deal Chandigarh, August 27 The president of the union Mr Ram Miloan Gaur, stated in a press note that all 2,274 footpath workers who had been covered under a survey conducted by the Administration should be issued identity cards immediately. Further, the footpath workers left out must also be covered under a new survey. The enforcement staff should not confiscate the belongings of the footpath workers without violation on their part of the norms. They complained that at present the enforcement staff confiscates the rickshaws and rehris without any violation on the part of workers. “Only the violators should be penalised and not everyone, they added. They should be allowed to put tarpaulin to save themselves from the vagaries of weather. The 439 cycle repair workers should be allotted booths immediately and those who have Footpath Cycle Workers Union identity cards should not be removed. |
MC
employees stage dharna SAS Nagar, August 27 The employees were joined by the local MLA, Ms Daljeet Kaur, some municipal councillors and leaders of political parties. Leaders of the employees said the civic body did not have any other major source of income other than the octroi. Unlike other civic bodies in the state it did not have any property in its name nor did it have its own office complex. With the existing other sources of income, paying the electricity bills, rents of accommodation and the salaries of the employees would not be possible. Ms Daljeet Kaur, said she would take up the issue with the Local Government Minister and would raise the issue in the Assembly. Mr Manjeet Singh Sethi, Ms Harbans Kaur, Mr S.S. Grewal, Mr Manmohan Singh Langh and Rajinder Sharma, all municipal councillors also joined the protest. The Punjab Municipal Sanitary Inspector Union was represented by Mr Gurdeep Singh Cheema and Mr Harinder Pal Singh, senior vice-president and vice-president, respectively. Mr Avtar Singh Kalsia, an employee of the council, also addressed the rally. Mr Krishan Lal Saini, general secretary of the Municipal Employees Union, spoke on the demands of the employees. The employees decided to constitute a committee to fight for the cause. Mr Amrik Singh Tehsildar, Mr S.S. Barnala, Mr Najar Singh and Ms Paramjit Kaur also protested against the abolition of octroi. Mr K.B.S
Kang, leader of the youth wing of SAD (Badal), alleged the fears of the employees that their jobs would be at stake if the octroi was abolished. The president of the civic body, Mr Kulwant Singh, said the government should make some alternative arrangement before abolishing the octroi. HIGHLIGHT A senior political functionary in the SAD (Badal) today indicated that the government could impose a new type of entry tax on the goods entering the state. The entry tax collected would go to a common pool from where it would be distributed among the civic bodies — depending upon their collection from octroi in the past. |
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546
commuters challaned Chandigarh, August 27 According to the information available, the police also impounded 11 vehicles - two cars, six motorcycles, two autorickshaws and a tractor, for violating the traffic rules and regulations. It is learnt that the police had laid nakas at 32 points across the city. All the Subdivisional Police Officers and Station House Officers were posted at different places for this drive. Commuters were checked for various offences like driving without helmets, over speeding, triple riding , black films, wrong entry, wrong turn, jumping red lights, under-age driving etc. |
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SECTOR
SCAN Chandigarh This sector is an ideal place for the people of all religions as it houses a gurdwara, a temple and church. Besides, the Jama Masjid in Sector 20 and the Jain Temple in Sector 27 are a stone’s throw from this sector. Its cosmopolitan character apart, the sector is a shoopers’ delight with a full-fledged market besides the Palika Bazar and the Sadar Bazar. The latter two markets cater to all kinds of shoppers and remain crowded all day long. This sector, which houses bureaucrats, Judges, journalists, lawyers, businessmen and government employees and other
professionals, however, has its share of problems. The roads in the sector (A, B and D) had been recarpeted and are in good shape. In Sector 19-C, however, the roads seemed not to have been recarpeted and are dotted with potholes. The water and power supplies are normal and a majority of the streetlights are functional. While the major parks are in a satisfactory condition, the maintenance of smaller parks needs much to be desired. Garbage removal is another problem. The Sector 19-D market continues to be plauged by problems. Since it is an old market, parking is a major problem, particularly in the evening hours. The result is that many customers prefer other markets which affects their business, alleges Mr Jagdish Kapoor, president of the market. Similarly, no pruning of the trees has been done for a long time, he adds. Encroachments continue to be the bane of the Palika Bazar and the Sadar Bazar. With shopkeepers encroaching upon the corridors, people have difficulty in passing through the area. Repeated drives by the enforcement staff have failed to curb this menace. In the absence of adequate parking space, people park their vehicles on the road, making it an accident-prone area. Flooding is another problem in the market and in the monsoon season certain portions of the market are flooded, posing problems for the shopkeepers as well as the shoppers. The Sadar Bazar faces similar problems. In the absence of a parking space, scores of vehicles remain parked on the road. |
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Bank
employees’ dharna today Chandigarh, August 27 A press note issued by the union said the dharna would be part of an agitation launched by the All-India Central Bank Employees Federation throughout the country in support of its demands. The demands include recruitment to fill vacancies of sub-staff and clerks, promotion to scale I vacancies with matching recruitments and fill of all special allowance posts. The press note said there would be an all-India strike on August 20. |
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Residents’ panel burns CHB chief’s
effigy Chandigarh, August 27 According to a press note, the protesters gathered in front of the rehri market and condemned the manner in which the CHB had chosen to handle the issue of violations in the dwelling units. The rally was addressed by various leaders, including Mr Devinder Singh Babla and Mr Sandeep Singh, Chandigarh Vikas Manch, Mr R.S. Sandhu, trade union leader, Mr Subhash Chawla and Mr K.S. Panchhi, Congress, Mr Ajit Singh, BSP, Mr Gurbachan Singh, NCP, Mr Inderjit Grewal, CPI, Mr Harish Kapoor, labour leader, Ms Lalit Joshi, Mahila Congress, and Mr Jatinder Bhatia, Mr B.S. Chadha and Mr Nirmal Dutt, all leaders of the CHB Residents Federation. |
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MCC
move on rehri market opposed Chandigarh, August 27 According to a press note, since the sector had been declared as “model sector” the committee was making efforts to maintain cleanliness and beautify the area. The shifting of the rehri market in the green belt till pucca booths were ready would be negation of these
efforts. |
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Training
programme for office attendants Chandigarh, August 27 About 40 attendants from various departments and organisations will participate in the programme to be organised at SCO 313 (first floor) in sector 38-D, according to a press release here today. The Sansthan will organise follow-up programmes judging from the response of the first programme tomorrow. The guest faculty will be from the Panjab University, Food and Nutrition Board, State Institute of Education and Fire Department, Chandigarh. |
Girl dies as door falls on
her Chandigarh, August 27 According to an FIR registered under Section 304-A of the IPC, it is alleged that Nirmal Singh and his worker were attending some work in the house, when a wooden door fell down on the daughter of Mr Sushil Kumar. The girl was seriously injured and was rushed to the GMCH, Sector 32, where she
succumbed to her injuries. Girl abducted: A 21-year-old girl is alleged to have been abducted by Abhishek Kapil, a resident of Sector 35 and hailing from Yamunanagar. According to an FIR registered under Section 366 of the IPC, the victim’s brother, Kanwaljit Singh, has alleged that the girl was abducted on Saturday night at about 9 pm. However, police sources inform that this is a case of elopement. Five cases of theft: Five cases of theft have been registered in different parts of the city during the past 24 hours. A scooter (CH-01L-6325) was stolen from outside the Sector 40-D residence of Mr S.K. Chopra during the intervening night of August 25 and 26. In another case, the front wheel of Mr Ravinder Kumar’s scooter was stolen from outside his residence during the intervening night of August 25 and 26. In the third incident, the battery of a Kinetic Honda scooter was stolen from Sector 38 West during the intervening night of August 24 and 25. In all the three above mentioned cases, the police has registered FIR’s under Section 379 of the IPC. A briefcase containing documents, registration copy of a TVS moped and Rs 4,000 was stolen from the residence of Mr Bachan Singh in Daddu Majra Colony on August 24. In another case, two LPG cylinders were stolen from the Raipur Khurd residence of Mr Prithi Chand. A case under Section 380 of the IPC has been registered in both these cases. Stabbed: A man was allegedly stabbed by his neighbour in Gobindpura Mohalla here this morning. It is learnt that Ajit Singh had received stab wounds on his head when he was attacked by Nishad after an altercation between them. One dead: One person, Mangal, was killed and three others were injured when a truck (PB-12A-4636) in which they were travelling overturned today. It is learnt that the accident took place on the Sectors 36-37 dividing road. All the injured were rushed to the General Hospital, Sector 16, where one of them later died. Suicide: A 25-year-old labourer committed suicide by hanging himself at his residence in Ram Darbar. It is learnt that the victim, Rajesh, alias Raju, was staying alone at his residence. |
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Three
cars recovered Panchkula, August 27 The Ford Icon (HR-03D-1889) has been recovered from Kharkhoda, while a blue-coloured Maruti car (CH-03-5995) was recovered from the Kalka road and the other one was recovered from Agra. The police also claims to have arrested two
persons, Amrit Pal and Baldev Singh, in a scooter theft case. The accused were involved in several other theft cases in Chandigarh and SAS Nagar. |
BIZ CLIP HDFC: Mr Rishi Aggarwal, Director JCBL Ltd,. launched HDFC Bank’s ATM on the Ambala-Chandigarh road at Lalru on Monday. The total number of ATMs in Punjab rises to 23.
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