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February 25, 2003, Chandigarh, India
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MC levies 2 per cent tax on commercial buildings HIGHLIGHTS
* Annual plan increased to Rs 64.57 crore
* 2 per cent tax imposed on commercial buildings and property and 1.5 per cent tax on Government buildings.
* Pawan Bansal promises 1 crore for sanitation projects.
* Anu Chatrath elected as F&CC member.
* Heated exchange between opposition and treasury benches on the inquiry report of auction of hotel site.
* Jatinder Bhatia of the Chandigarh Vikas Manch demands special funds for development of southern sectors.
* Former Mayor Harjinder Kaur stresses upon emergency funds for repair of roads. REACTION SUBASH CHAWLA (Mayor): Claimed that the budget was most 'realistic' and said major thrust is on development works and generating resources. PAWAN BANSAL (local MP):
Termed it as a well balanced budget but stressed upon the need to increase funds allocation for sanitation projects. GIAN CHAND (BJP): ‘‘Nothing more than a figure work with hardly any details of development works to be initiated in the next financial year’’. PRADEEP CHABRA (Congress): ‘‘One of the best budget presented in the past few years with complete focus on development works in all the areas’’. HARJINDER KAUR (SAD): ‘‘Funds were not adequately allocated as per the requirement of the areas’’. JATINDER BHATIA (CVM):
‘‘Southern sectors were neglected in development works’’. Chandigarh, February 24 Member Parliament Pawan Bansal, who is the ex-officio member of the MC promised to reserve a sum of Rs 1 crore apart from the annual plan of the MC, from his contingency fund during the next financial year especially for sanitation projects. Annual plan passed:
The proposed budget allocation for electricity division was increased from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore, construction of roads in Mani Majra from Rs 50 lakh to 1 crore, public health division expenditure in Mani Majra from Rs 60 lakh to 1.5 crore, development works in colonies from Rs 1.5 crore to 3 crore, development works in four villages from Rs 30 lakh to 1 crore and Rs. 2 crore especially for initiating development works in southern sectors. However, the Mayor, Mr Subash Chawla, clarified that this increase in the amount was subject to the increase of grant-in-aid demanded by the Corporation from the UT Administration. Two bylaws deferred:
The amendment of the existing Chandigarh Municipal
Similarly, the draft proposal of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (parking of vehicles) bylaws - 2002 was also deferred to the next meeting for certain amendments. No increase in councillors’ allowance:
Kajauli project:
Two committees approved:
Anu Chatrath declared elected:
Referred to LR:
Review petition moved:
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Over 50 ‘bonded labourers’ rescued SAS Nagar, February 24 These labourers wanted to leave their workplace but were allegedly not allowed to do so by another group of workers employed in the same place. The labourers, according to members of the NGO, Volunteers for Social Justice, had been ‘‘brought from Jammu by the head of a group of labourers on the promise of better wages, but were not paid by the brick-kiln owners for months. And when the labourers came under debt, they were stopped from leaving the premises.’’ The SDM, Mr Darshan Singh Sandhu, along with members of the NGO and a legal adviser, visited the brick-kiln and after talking to the labourers, ordered that they be allowed to leave. On this, the brick-kiln owner said this action was unfair as the labourers were not under any bondage, nor were they being stopped from going away. “These labourers owe us more than Rs 50,000 which they had taken as advance and for this, they still have to work,” said Mr Dilpreet Singh, son of the brick- kiln owner. The labourers, however, alleged gross exploitation by the other group of workers whom they considered to be permanent employees of the owner. Stating that they had not been paid a single penny since December, 2002, these labourers alleged that they had no money to feed their children. The labourers also alleged physical atrocities by the other group of workers. According to Ms Prabhjot Kaur, a member of the NGO, the labourers had approached the Labour Commissioner, Punjab, through a union leader. The Commissioner then marked the enquiry to the Deputy Commissioner, Ropar. When contacted, the Labour Commissioner, Punjab, Mr Sanjay Kumar, confirmed that an immediate release of the labourers had been ordered. ‘‘The fact whether the labourers were in actual state of bondage or not will be ascertained after a complete inquiry is conducted in the matter,’’ he said. |
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Spring from Belarus Chandigarh, February 24 The programme started with a song called “Pradivesna”. A few marriage songs gave a glimpse of the Belarus customs. OC
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Conditional
tests find favour with students Chandigarh, February 24 When asked about the reason for this teachers said the main reason for the increase in the number of candidates appearing for the conditional tests could be an effort on the part of the students to improve the aggregate marks obtained in the house tests, which will be counted towards internal assessment in the final examinations to be conducted by the university. Conditional tests are held for those students who are unable to secure the minimum aggregate of 25 per cent marks in the two house tests conducted by colleges during the months of September and December. Panjab University regulations stipulate that a student needs to secure a minimum of 25 per cent marks in aggregate to be eligible to appear in the final examinations conducted by the university. As far as internal assessment is concerned, 10 marks out of 100 in the final exams are devoted to these house tests. The written exam is of 90 marks. Of these 10 marks, four marks will account for the assessment of September tests, while six marks will account for the assessment of December tests. ‘‘The increase in the number of students appearing for conditional tests sends a message that they are getting serious about the academic performance,’’ Prof Charanjit Chawla, a lecturer in one of the colleges where conditional exams began today, commented. As many as 300 students took the tests today. Teachers say this would improve the overall results of the college, which would benefit the institute as well as the students, even if it meant that teachers would have to mark a few extra answer sheets. While some students concerned are unable to secure the minimum required aggregate marks, some are unable to appear for the house tests on account of participation in various extra-curricular activities, sports, youth festivals or on medical grounds. In some colleges, appearing in conditional tests is also counted towards the number of lectures attended by a student. This has also given rise to another issue. Since shortage of lectures becomes an important issue virtually every year, some lecturers suggest that tests should also be made mandatory in university departments and be counted towards the number of lectures attended. |
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PU not to accept “care of” forms Chandigarh, February 24 According to a statement issued here, candidates who have submitted their forms without actual address have been advised to send their actual residential or permanent address to the Joint Controller of Examination, Panjab University by March 7. Candidates who fail to submit their actual address will not be issued roll numbers under any circumstances. support withdrawn: The Haryana Students Association (HSA) in a press note issued here on Monday decided to withdraw its support from the Panjab University Student Union alliance . The
association has decided to withdraw its support due to the alleged misuse of power by council president Malwinder Singh Kang during the Gurdas Mann nite on Friday. Satinder Dahiya, general secretary of the council, has also criticised the "attitude" of the president, the press note added. |
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Surjewala denies report on beef eating by Vajpayee Chandigarh, February 24 Reacting sharply to the demand of a former Union minister, Ms Uma Bharati, that the Congress should apologise for levelling baseless allegations against Mr Vajpayee, Mr Surjewala said Mr Vajpayee, the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, and Ms Bharati herself should apologise for launching a “completely false smear campaign” against the Congress and its youth wing to get political mileage in the Himachal assembly elections and for vitiating political atmosphere in the country. “Political battles are not won by creating issues out of non-issues. They are won by winning the hearts of the people,” Mr Surjewala said at a press conference here. He said the BJP leadership had been unnerved by the attacks launched against it by one of its own kin, the VHP, which had openly accused Mr Vajpayee and Mr Advani of using the Ayodhya issue to get power. “Today the BJP is gheraoing the BJP,” he remarked in obvious reference to the VHP-sponsored gherao of Parliament by saints in Delhi today. Mr Surjewala said it was strange that when many of the RSS and BJP leaders had used abusive language against the Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, during the Gujarat assembly elections, the Prime Minister did not intervene and stop the vicious campaign against a woman. He said Mr Vajpayee should take the lead in establishing certain minimum norms of decency and morality in politics as the leader of the nation. He should not encourage the “lumpen elements in his party” in launching malicious campaigns against their political rivals. Mr Surjewala gave figures to show how the export of beef from India had gone up from about 1.60 lakh metric tonnes in 1995-96 to about 2.43 lakh metric tonnes in 2001-02. This year, he said, the export had crossed the 3.50 lakh metric tonnes mark. These figures, he said, had been provided by a government agency, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Exports Development Authority. He said the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh had a policy to protect the cows, and the Youth Congress was supporting it. He admitted that the Youth Congress in Madhya Pradesh had coined certain slogans in support of cow protection but it never alleged that Mr Vajpayee was a beef-eater as claimed by Ms
Bharati.
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Modi
stops over in city Chandigarh, February 24 BJP leaders and workers present at the airport also prayed for BJP’s victory in Himachal Pradesh following wins in Gujarat. After his brief stop over for about 15 minutes at the airport, Mr Modi flew to Banikhet in Himachal Pradesh on board a private helicopter. |
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MUNICIPAL POLL Kharar, February, 24 Mr Om Prakash Aggarwal (president BJP Kharar) has filed his nomination papers from ward no 14 as
independent candidate and Mr Vikas Aggarwal as his covering candidate. Mr Balbir Singh Sidhu, a rebel Congress leader who also contested as independent in the last Punjab Vidhan Sabha elections has announced the formation of Kharar Vikas Morcha and would field candidates from all 15 wards of Kharar.
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Encroachment
on govt land? Kharar, February 24 The NTC had sold the land on February 14, 2003. The land, which touches National Highway No. 21 as well as the Bukhri road, was sold for Rs 1 crore and 37 lakh. The possession of the land was given to the company on the same day. The company allegedly constructed a boundary wall and in addition to 8.28 acres, it also took illegal possession of 2 more acres, sources said. The mill authorities have written to the company and asked it to demolish the boundary wall. They have also warned of legal action in this regard. |
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LEAF FROM HISTORY
The written word has been the most democratic and the cheapest form of transmitting knowledge. It also has the added advantage of having a longer life, being relatively fixed in time and available to the recipient without any interlocutor. No wonder that historians, master memory makers that they are, involved constantly in creating, recasting, evaluating and transmitting memories from the past, give so much importance to the written word and the institutions that preserve the word. Ask a historian where he works and he begins to provide a list of libraries and archives. Equal importance in history, therefore, is given to those who set up libraries and preserve them. In Punjab we have had the marvellous example of the Lalchand Research Library that was set up in Lahore in 1917, currently housed at the DAV College in Sector 10, Chandigarh. Created out of a handsome support from Lala Lalchand, the first President of the DAV College management committee, this library was set up with the express aim of promoting the learning of the traditional texts of the Hindu religion. The early 20th century was a time when denominational learning was given much priority by the social leaders of modern India. Over the next three decades the library, under the leadership of its founder director Pandit Bhagwat Dutt, collected a large body of texts. Printed books, palm leaf manuscripts, hand-written texts, folios of various sorts were collected from all over the country and made available to scholars on the premises of the DAV College in Lahore. It had some 9000 books, many of which were already out of print then and are rare to find today. In addition the library was able to collect over 8000 manuscripts in various scripts. Devanagari was the script for 6462 of its manuscripts. In addition there were 919 manuscripts in the Grantha script, 404 in Andhra, 290 in Malyali, 46 in Nandi nagari, 15 in Tamil, 197 in sarda, 17 in Utkala, 7 in Banga and even 1 in Vartula. All these were in the Sanskrit language. The riots of 1947 brought their own quota of trouble for the library. Dr. Vedprakash Vachaspati recounts in his recollection on the journey of the library to Chandigarh, that initially it was hoped that the library would remain in Lahore even after partition. However, in July 1947, Acharya Vishwabandhu, the then director of the library, came to know that the marauders would target the library. He then decided that the library should be shifted to India. That, however, was easier said than done. In the following days Acharya Vishwabandhu along with s/sh. Ved Prakash, Devdutt and Raghunath personally supervised the packing of the books, manuscripts and records in discarded ration sacks and had them transported to Amritsar. Books and such like were not high priority items for being rescued by the military in those days. Yet, with considerable Punjabi perseverance and tact the library-in-sacks was shifted to Amritsar where under the guidance of Capt. Dr. Tulsidas, a renowned opthalmologist who went on to become the founder-director of the PGIMER, Chandigarh, they were stored. Subsequently the entire collection was shifted to Hoshiarpur to the Sadhu Ashram of Lala Dhaniram Bhalla. In 1959 Acharya Vishwabandhu had a detailed catalogue published of this collection. In later years the Panjab University also allotted a sum of Rs. 80,000 for the microfilming of the rare books and manuscripts. Still later the DAV College management thought that shifting the library to Chandigarh would make it more easily accessible to scholars. Here its priceless collection has been used by scholars working on the history of medicine as also various indological subjects. |
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FAUJI BEAT THE Centre for Defence and National Security Studies (CDNSS) of Panjab University, has been facing difficulty over the past few years to get teachers with the requisite qualifications. As a result, the posts of a professor and a lecturer are lying vacant. Though a large number of retired senior defence officers with professional expertise in security and strategic studies are available in this region, they do not meet the requirement laid down by the University Grants Commission (UGC) of possessing a Ph. D degree and of having passed the National Test. To overcome this difficulty, the university is preparing a project report to seek funds from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to fill the post of a professor by a serving or a retired defence officer of the rank of Lt-Gen/Maj-Gen or equivalent from the other two services by relaxing the UGC qualifications. The tenure of each incumbent will be two to three years. The Honorary Coordinator of the Centre, Dr T.R. Sharma, says that some universities have been given funds by the MoD for Defence Studies Centres. These include Pune and Chennai universities.
Recruitment rules A recruitment rally was held by the Army at Nawanshahr (Punjab) on February 6 to carry out recruitment for the Sikh Light Infantry Regiment. The composition of this regiment is composed of Sikh Scheduled Castes i.e. Mazhbi and Ramdasia Sikhs, unlike the Sikh
Regiment which recruits Jat Sikhs. Some of the youths who did not have caste details mentioned in their certificates could not be recruited. Some of them said there was no caste division in Sikhism. However, recruitment to each infantry regiment is done according to specified class composition.
IMTRAT’s raising day It was four decades ago that India undertook to train the Bhutanese army and sent its training team, Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT), to Bhutan on the request of the late King Jigme Wangchuk, the third King of Bhutan. The training institution established by the Indian Army has not only trained the Bhutanese army, but also helped in fostering a lasting friendship between India and Bhutan. The 40th raising day of imtrat was celebrated recently and the Prime Minister of Bhutan, Dr Kinzang Dorji, was the guest of honour.
Kargil on air map The Kargil airfield has been developed for the landing of a fixed wing aircraft. With Kargil having come on the country’s air map, the IAF flew its first AN-32 flight with 18 civilian passengers on board from there to Srinagar. The IAF will operate a regular hopping flight for civilians a from Kargil to Srinagar, Jammu and Chandigarh. Pritam Bhullar |
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READERS WRITE THERE are certain blots on the face of the City Beautiful which need to be
removed immediately by the authorities. Repeatedly, the issue has been brought to the notice of Municipal Corporation, but there has been no result so far. Stray cattle and dogs continue to roam the roads and streets. We seem to have the largest number of dog bite cases. Uncollected garbage and filth is found all over the city. A large number of pet dogs are daily taken out for strolls on city roads, and the animals urinate and defecate on roadsides. This is over and above the “bottle brigade” of the labour that descends on the open spaces in the mornings. Steps must be taken to curb this evil. Roads are not uniformly lighted, and are thus an indirect cause of avoidable accidents. Uncontrolled and unregulated traffic takes a heavy toll of life and limbs of citizens, besides causing avoidable loss of property and burden on insurance companies. All this is a terrible national waste. The city requires a concerted drive on education of the public at large and stricter enforcement. The traffic police of the city is a miserable failure. We might consider following the Bangalore patron of a citizens’ traffic police, to assist the regular police organisation. Uncontrolled use of the loudspeakers at social and religious functions is a terrible nuisance. People insist on having loud music at their celebrations. This is something that can easily be controlled by a vigilant police. However, they also seem to be deaf or indifferent to the nuisance. COL BIS CHEEMA,
Preserve aviation history Apropos ‘Work on digging out plane wreckage ends’ (Chandigarh Tribune, February 9, 2003). More than 20,000 English Supermarine Spitfires were built during World War II. With a wing span of 36 feet, and able to achieve a maximum speed of 656 km/hour, these flying machines were primarily lightweight, small, monoplane, single-piston engine, fighter planes used for dog-fights against the German air power. As one of the most famous war planes of the World War II, Spitfires played a significant role in air combat. One only hopes that this chance find of the almost intact vintage aircraft and its recovery do not end up at some scrap dealer’s place. It would be a shameful waste to lose this part of aviation history. If the Air Force Museum or some other government institution are not interested in keeping it, I hope they at least restore it as far as possible, and then put it up for auction for interested private parties to bid. VIVEK KHANNA,
Approach roads in poor shape While the main roads of Chandigarh are reasonably in good shape, the ones leading to Mohali apart from the main highways are in real bad shape. One example should suffice. The road from Sector 41-42 is good up to the roundabout near Beant Singh Memorial. But after the roundabout, it suddenly becomes extremely bad, full of potholes and rough surface up to the octroi post of Mohali. The stretch of this bad patch is just about a kilometre or so but it is a real torture to traverse this short distance. One is a witness to the fact that this stretch of the road has not been maintained or repaired, leave aside carpeting it, for the last six years. Being a small stretch, monetary considerations do not seem to be valid. Perhaps the Chandigarh
Administration is just not aware of its existence, or it is just an oversight on its part since it is meant to be used mostly by Mohalites. Will the authorities kindly take notice of this and do something about the roads that have been neglected for so long, may be by default? BRIG HARWANT SINGH (retd) Mohali
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Baba Hardev Singh birth anniversary Chandigarh, February 24 In a taped message played during the samagam, Nirankari Baba Ji referred to the prevailing tendencies that were threatening the country's unity, integrity and social harmony. The best source to harness the mind was to link ourselves with the God, the supreme source of all values, he added.
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Employees
plan march to Delhi Chandigarh, February 24 The committee said fixing of 75 year as limit for pension was against the interests of senior citizens. The lowering of interest rates on amounts of the General Provident Fund accounts
was a big blow to the employees who have no other source of income
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Amarinder
to meet Press Chandigarh, February 24 Earlier met-the-press programme scheduled to be addressed by Mr Pramod Mahajan, BJP
General Secretary, at 9.30 a.m. has been cancelled. Only regular and candidate members are allowed in the programmes.
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Prasad
appointed BJP spokesman Chandigarh, February 24 |
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Underweight Verka pouch Chandigarh, February 24 |
Burglary in Panchkula house Panchkula, February 24 According to information, the Kotharis had gone to Sirsa on Saturday and returned this morning to find that their
house had been broken into. The miscreant(s) had reportedly decamped
with gold and silver jewellery worth Rs. 20,000 and Rs 10,000 cash. The family suspected the hand of labourers employed at a nearby house and the police has rounded up four persons. Meanwhile, the police has arrested Gurdial Singh from a bus stand in Pinjore on charges of pick
pocketing and recovered Rs. 130 from him.
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Body sent for autopsy after
24 hrs Zirakpur, February 24 A team of police personnel headed by ASI Jai Kishan reached the spot and took the body. Joginder’s brothers Mr Ganesh Sahani and Janardhan Sahani and friends accompanied the police team. Joginder Sahani was electrocuted, while he was working at the terrace of the house in the colony. The high-tension electricity cables crossing over the house touched his head killing him on the spot. A case has been registered with Lohgarh police post on a complaint filed by Joginder’s brothers. |
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Charas
seized Chandigarh, February 24 In another case, Harish Abdul was arrested and eight bottles of country -made liquor was seized from his possession in Sector 25. Raju, a resident of Sector 25, was arrested and 26 bottles of country-made liquor was seized from his
possession. Both have been booked under the Excise Act. Brought dead:
Panchkula
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MIA forms TQM foundation SAS Nagar, February 24 He said the need for the formation of the institution was felt in view of global competition fuelled by turbulent market conditions, which were forcing even the established organisations to restructure and maintain their leverage. Mr Baidwan said Dr Y.S. Rajan, Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Technical University, and Adviser, Science and Technology, Government of Punjab, was the Chairman of the foundation while Mr Chander Mohan, a former Managing Director of Punjab Tractors Limited, Mr Satish Bagrodia and Mr Arun Anand, both industrial unit owners, were its trustees. Three members of the MIA would also form part of the foundation. Meanwhile, the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI)-organised a two-day seminar on “Productivity and Profitability through Six Sigma” began at MIA Bhavan here today. In his keynote address, Mr Chander Mohan, Chairman, 21st Century Batteries Limited, said in an era of globalisation, quality was the only tool which could help organisations have a competitive edge. The two-day seminar would prepare the participants to come up with an action plan targeting 99.997 per cent accuracy by eliminating defects from every product, process and transaction in their respective organisations.
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MARKET PULSE Chandigarh, February 24 Life insurance in India had traditionally been sold and bought in India for tax-saving purposes. “Our effort has been to sell life insurance for protection against possible death,” he said. In 21 months of operations, the MNYL has had Rs 4,400 crore as sum assured and sold in excess of 118,000 policies. “While other players were launching investment products, we were among the first players to present the true value of life insurance by launching Whole Life policies. Over 70 per cent of the company’s business comprises protection-oriented Whole Life policies,” he added. The company has over 3,100 life insurance agents. Emphasis is laid on the selection process for the agents. Once selected, the agents are trained in-house to ensure optimal control on quality. Each agent is trained for 152 hours as opposed to the mandatory 100 hours stipulated by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority. The company has amongst the highest agent pass rate in IRDA examinations. Last year, 26 agents of the company had qualified for the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT).
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Indian
oil check and win draw Chandigarh, February 24 Five mobile phones, under second category were given to Mr Sultran Singh, Darshan Singh, Mr Satish Kumar, Mr Ajit Singh and Mr Amrit. Mr Shyam Lal, Mr Sandeep Sheghal, Mr Krishan, Mr Kul Mohan, Mr Santram, Mr Shiv Dayal, Mr Aman Thakur, Mr Kamal Singh, Mr Chottey Lal. |
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LPG project Chandigarh, February 24 He claimed that the quality of gas was better than other companies, as the ratio of butane and propane was 60:40 as compared to 80:20 in case of other companies. The company would provide 12 kg of gas
cylinder for domestic supply at Rs 252 in Chandigarh and at Rs 258 in Panchkula. In case of commercial supply, the company was offering 17 kg cylinders whose rates were lower than other
companies, he claimed. |
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