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| Thursday,
July 10, 2003, Chandigarh, India
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Gupta case: CBI fails to file charge sheet till 3.30 p.m. Chandigarh, July 9 According to reports received, the CBI had not filed the charge sheet. It, however, had the time to file the same till 12 in the night. The 60-day deadline for filing challan in the Gupta case expired at 12 in the night. However, till 3.30 p.m. today, the CBI had not presented the challan documents in the court. If the CBI fails to file the challan till 12 midnight, it will open doors of bail for the accused judicial officer in the case. Gupta was arrested by the CBI on May 11 on the charge of corruption. Cashing in on the turn of events, Gupta counsel's immediately moved an application for bail of his client. The application states that ''since the period of 60 days from the date of production of Gupta in the court on May 11 expired today, Gupta deserves the concession of bail." The case had been registered against Gupta and suspended UT Judicial Magistrate (First Class) S.S. Bhardwaj in Chandigarh on May 9 on the basis of a written complaint lodged against them by Gurvinder Singh Samra. As per law, the CBI was expected to file a challan in the court today. The investigation agency, however, could not file the charge sheet under Section 167 of the Criminal Procedure Code till about 3.30 p.m. The counsel further pleaded that as the CBI had failed to submit the challan within the stipulated period, Gupta may be ordered to be released on bail in the interest of justice. It is established under the law that if the challan is not filed against the accused in a certain case, the concession of bail become the right of the accused. |
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Moral policing: brother,
sister taken for ride Panchkula, July 9 Mr Arjun Malik, employed with an MNC, and Ms Dimple Malik, a journalist with the Financial World, were taken around the city in their car in a bid by the two persons posing as policemen to “confess to being lovers”. After failing to do so, the two men, well-built and in their early 30s, let them off at the General Hospital in Sector 6 after over an hour and fled with the car, a brand new blue Indica. The car was, later, abandoned at the Labour Chowk in Sector 16. The drama began when the brother and sister, accompanied by a friend, went to get food packed from Vatika in Sector 6 around 10:30 pm. As soon they stepped out of their car, “They began by asking us our relationship. When we said we were brother and sister, the two dismissed our reply with a shrug and took away the car keys, saying that we would have to prove our identity at the Sector 5 police station. The friend accompanying us was slapped when he tried to intervene and convince the ‘cops’ of our relationship,” said Mr Arjun Malik. The “cops” pushed them into the car and, instead of heading for the police station, took them to different sectors, asking them to “admit” that they were not brother and sister. “One of them even hinted that he could let us off the hook if we gave them Rs 20,000. He said if we were brother and sister, our parents should come and secure our release from the police station. They asked us our address and we, in turn, urged them to talk to our father. They even came to our society in Mansa Devi where our friend was released and the security man at the gate was ordered to call up our house on the intercom and call our father downstairs. Meanwhile, I tried to step out of the car but in vain and we were whisked away,” recalls Ms Dimple Malik. While one of them drove the car, the other kept vigil to ensure that no calls were made from the mobile phone. From here, the “cops” made their way to the deserted parking lot of the General Hospital where a second “round of talks” was held between the victims and the “cops”. While the “talks” were on, the parents of the victims made a call on Dimple’s cell phone to find out what was taking them so long. “I asked Dimple where she was and all she said was General Hospital, Sector 6. Worried that the children had met with an accident, we rushed to the hospital only to find them strolling in the parking area and the car was nowhere to be seen. After they narrated the incident, we went to the police station and made a formal complaint,” says their mother, Ms Neena Malik, also a journalist. Meanwhile, suspecting trouble after the parents got to know about the whereabouts of the children, the two men drove off in the Indica only to abandon it in Sector 16. The Superintendent of Police, Mr Ranbir Sharma, said, “We set up nakas in the city as soon as we were informed of the incident and that is why the culprits abandoned the car and fled. Fingerprint experts have been called from Madhuban and they will give us their findings. The sketches are ready. On the face of it, the culprits seem to be by young men on the lookout for quick money. We are investigating and a case has been registered under Section 420 of the IPC.” The police is not ruling out the involvement of off-duty cops or the CID. The two men seemed to be in their early 30s and were well-built though not very tall. While both were stocky, one had sharp features with curly hair while the other had a square face. Both of them spoke Haryanvi and had the “cop” effect in their walk and talk. By evening, the police had prepared sketches based on the description provided by the victims. “We will release these sketches only to various wings of the police. Making them public could hamper investigation,” SP Ranbir Sharma said.
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IT park project under legal shadow Chandigarh, July 8 A case regarding the allotment of industrial plots/sheds by CITCO to certain applicants in an area earmarked as forest reserve land which has dragged on for over two decades, has somehow got clubbed with the IT Park. The development has stalled further progress on the IT park project. As a matter of fact, India’s IT giant, Infosys, which had already signed an MoU with the Administration to set up base in the IT park, could not be handed over possession of land in April as promised due to the legal hurdle. Several other companies, including the Swiss multinational ST Microelectronics, American giant GE Capital and a Singapore-based computer manufacturing company, e-sys, have also been forced to wait in view of the case pending in the Supreme Court. “We are trying to solve the problem,” said Mr Vivek Attray, Director, Information Technology, Chandigarh in a talk with TNS here today. “Plenty of land is available for allotment to the CITCO allottees in Mauli Jagran and areas around it. The only question to be decided by the Supreme Court is the rate at which the plots are to be given. While the High Court had ordered that the plots should be given at the reserve price, the Administration was of the view that the allottees should pay the market rate for them and, therefore, knocked at the doors of the Supreme Court. “The apex court ordered at the last hearing that pending outcome of the case, it should be kept informed about any allotments the UT might make. “The case is now expected to come up for hearing later this month when we hope that the issue would be decided. In the meantime, we are carrying on with the development work in the technology park.” Spread over an area of 111 acres in village Kishangarh in UT, the Chandigarh Technology Park has already attracted some of the biggest names in the IT industry, thanks to the high-grade infrastructure available in the city. It offers several types of sites to the investors, including campus sites ranging from two acres to 20 acres, build-to-suit sites and built space. The star attraction of the park is a Rs 100 crore tower to be built on the pattern of similar towers in Bangalore and Hyderabad. |
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Torrential
rain brings down temperature Chandigarh, July 9 The local met office classified it as a heavy downpour, as it rained about 3.3 cm within one hour. The Director of the local met office, Mr S.C. Bhan, said monsoon in the city was up by 5 cm for this time of the year. Normally, it should have rained 21.5 cm. But till today, 26.3 cm rainfall had been recorded. A trough of cloud passing by had caused the rain and there was a possibility of more showers. The heavy downpour exposed the inadequacies of the city’s storm-water drainage system once again. Southern sectors like Sectors 35, 34, 44, 43, 46, 45, 31 and 32 were flooded as the water came down the natural slope of the city towards these Sectors. In several low-lying areas like Mauli Jagran, operation to flush out water had begun. Mauli Jagran is a naturally low-lying area and is also on the slope. By the evening, skies had cleared up and the people flocked to parks and the lake for a stroll. |
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Mohali MC to adopt Punjab municipal bylaws SAS Nagar July 9 The bylaws prohibit certain acts which adversely affect sanitation and public health and whosoever fails to comply with any order or directions lawfully given to him shall be punished. Under the new bylaws, no person shall defecate at any place except especially earmarked for the said purpose, spit on any place or building causing insanitation, annoyance to anyone or urinate at any place not earmarked or segregated for the said purpose. The bylaws do not allow any person to deposit/ collect or dispose of any malba, garbage or any other waste material in the service lanes or road or any public place including any drain. No person is allowed to use any house or shed or premises or any part thereof for human habitation, unless he has obtained sewer and water connection from the competent authority. No one is allowed to deposit any cattle dung from any village or cattle shed in the public places/any city sector or container provided for the collection and removal of city garbage. The bylaws also do not allow any waste water, except rain water of the household, to be collected on any road or public place after cleaning or washing a vehicle of any description. The bylaws also prohibit the scattering of paper or other litter, including cigarette ends and handbills in public places. Besides, nursing homes, slaughter houses and clinics will have to make provision for a suitable incinerator for the safe disposal of biomedical waste within such period as may be given by the civic body concerned. According to the bylaws any contractor employing 10 or more whole time labourers will have to make provision for temporary latrines for them. Whoever contravenes any provision of the bylaws can be punished with a fine which may extend to Rs 1,000. In case of continuing contravention or failure, the offender will be required to pay an additional fine which may extend to Rs 500 for every day during which such contravention or failure continues, after conviction for the first such contravention or failure. The defaulter will also be obliged to restore the place/wall to its original position and in case he fails to do so he will pay the cost of the restoration to be carried out by the corporation/council. Whosoever fails to comply with the provisions of these bylaws shall be punished under Section 65 of the Indian Penal Code. Mr Kulwant Singh, president of the council, said today that all efforts would be made to strictly implemented the bylaws as had been desired by the government. |
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Villagers
protest against power cuts RUNAWAY MLA? According to the protesting villagers, the MLA, Kharar, Mr Bir Devinder Singh, had passed from the road on which the protest was taking place, but had not even bothered to stop to know what was wrong. ‘‘He managed to squeeze out of the site quietly,’’ informed a villager. SAS Nagar, July 9 The protest started early in the morning with villagers, including a large number of women, congregating at the Landran chowk on the Chandigarh-Sirhind road and sat with banners, raising slogans against the Punjab State Electricity Board. Traffic remained blocked from 8.30 am till the afternoon after the SE (operations), Mr S.C. Aggarwal, the SDM, SAS Nagar, Mr M.L. Sharma, assured the villagers of a more regulated power supply. According to villagers, they had been receiving less than eight hours of electricity each day for the past one month and despite regular complaints, no action had been taken to improve the condition. Farmers alleged that it was causing their crops to die as tubewells could not be run without electricity. PSEB officials, on the other hand, state that since the lines feeding the farm tubewells and residential houses are the same, any extra load on the tubewell line is bound to affect supply to residences. ‘‘What has been happening is that tubewells are started at the same time and the load increases sharply and we have to cut the supply,’’ said a PSEB official. ‘‘These cuts are unannounced and nothing can explain or justify the PSEB’s stance on the issue. We don’t have electricity for 16 hours every day? How do they expect us to live through the summers like this? And the electricity bills are still the same,’’
said Harinder Singh of Landran village . Capt Kanwaljit Singh, former Finance Minister, visited the site of protest and addressed the villagers. The SE (Operations), Mr S.C. Aggarwal, who reached the spot, assured the crowd that the villages would get at least 16 hours of power supply each day.
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Villagers
complain of erratic power supply SAS Nagar, July 9 The complaints were made to Mr Bir Devinder Singh, Deputy Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha and Kharar MLA, when he visited Government High School in the village yesterday. Resident said water tanks in the area remained dry on most days and as such the problem of drinking water arose. When the Deputy Speaker questioned the official of the department concerned, the latter said such a problem had not been brought to his notice. Mr Bir Devinder Singh directed the official to ensure that a complaint register was kept at every water tank in the area so that the residents could register their complaints whenever the need arose. The residents also said that they were not getting power at the scheduled timings. They often kept waiting at their tubewells for the power to be resumed so that they were able to irrigate their fields. But most of the time the wait proved futile. They had to go all over again from the village to the fields to start their tubewells whenever the power was restored. The Deputy Speaker brought the matter to the notice of the officials concerned and asked them to redress the
grievances of the residents. He said he would personally monitor whether all the essential services were being provided to the residents of the area. |
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PSHRC nod
to probe into Ranbaxy fire Chandigarh, July 9 Modifying its order to the extent that the Assistant Director Chemicals (ADC), Punjab, and the Deputy Director Factories (DDF), Punjab, may proceed with their inquiries into the cause of the fire at Ranbaxy Laboratories Private Limited, SAS Nagar, according to Section 88 of the Factories Act, 1948, the PSHRC said the rest of the order would remain same. It is learnt that the ADC and the DDF had completed more than 90 per cent inquiries into the fire incident as they have to submit an inquiry report within 30 days, according to the Factories Act. The PSHRC order followed an application moved by the Chief Secretary, Punjab, Mr Rajan Kashyap, for cancellation or modification of the stay order on conducting an inquiry into the Ranbaxy incident. Mr Kashyap stated in the application that “in case the inquiry is not allowed to continue, material evidence will be
destroyed and it will not be possible to ascertain the degree of liabilities and responsibility.” Mr Kashyap had proposed to conduct an independent inquiry into the cause of the fire suggesting that it was crucial to find out whether the provisions of the Factories Act were complied with. The Lawyers for Human Rights International had filed a complaint with the PSHRC demanding a judicial inquiry into the Ranbaxy fire and registration of a criminal case against the Ranbaxy management.
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Mohali cops raid city SI’s house Chandigarh, July 9 The Punjab police personnel had barged into the government house acting on tip-off that Anil Kumar, alias Tota, and Nitin, two suspects in the murder of a UT XEN, VK Chopra, were hiding in the house ( 1104, Sector 23). The police party led by the SHO, Phase 1 police station, Inspector Pritam Singh, had raided the house on specific information. However, no case was registered after senior police officials of Chandigarh and Punjab intervened in the matter Inquiries reveal that the Punjab police personnel had come in a Maruti Zen car and returned in a white Maruti Esteem car — the registration numbers at the front and the back of which were different. When the Punjab cops returned for the second time, SI Jagbir Singh, posted at the Sector 3 police station, had reached home and had informed the local police. The Punjab cops were not allowed to go from the spot till the DSP Central, Mr S.C. Sagar, and the SHO of the Sector 17 police station, Mr B.S. Negi, reached the spot. The younger son of the SI told TNS that he was alone at home when the cops suddenly came. “I was slapped and they started searching the almirahs, beds and other parts of our house. When they left my brother, Tejpinder Singh came. We informed our father”. Inquiries reveal that the Punjab police had information that the murder suspects, Nitin and Tota, had come to the house along with a son of the SI from Panjab University. However, none of the suspects was found in the house. Interestingly, a number of police personnel of the Chandigarh police live in the locality. To solve the matter, the DSP, SAS Nagar, Mr Daljeet Singh, reached the Sector 17 police station. The Maruti Esteem car in which the cops had come was taken to the police station. Sources said the matter was discussed at a senior level. |
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Students
threaten stir on RC issue Chandigarh, July 9 A large number of people came today expecting that it would be easy to get the dates to register their changed addresses on the registration certificates (RCs) of their vehicles, but what they faced was the usual rush. On the other hand, the Students Union of Panjab University and a number of employee’s unions opposed the Administration’s decision. A senior leader of the Panjab University Students Union
(PUSU) said that a meeting had been called to discuss the issue. He said: “If the Administration failed to withdraw its decision, especially regarding the students, we would launch an agitation.” The students’ unions condemned the Administration’s move to force students residing in hostels to change RCs of their vehicles. Said Mr Joginder Singh, a retired bank manager from Sector 28, “It is amazing that some counters have been closed down. Now we are asked to stand in the queue twice. We would have to come to get dates with all the documents documents, and to get the actual certificate for the changed address.” An employee of the RLA claimed that the new provision had rather created confusion among the public and more work for them. He said: “Now we have kept some counters simply to give dates.” Ms Sharda, working as a school teacher, said: “I have been given the date of July 16 to collect the registration certificate with changed address. Today I had come here after taking leave from the school.” The inquires reveal that not even a single VIP from Punjab and Haryana had come forward to register their changed address.
PIL filed in high court: Challenging the UT Administration's decision on the RC issue, Prof D.C. Saxena today filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, claiming that the move of the Administration was by and large not in favour of the general public and they were facing problems following its decision. The PIL is likely to come up for hearing before a Division Bench tomorrow.  |
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CBM organises rally against Rent Act Chandigarh, July 9 Later, a delegation of the Beopar Mandal handed over the memorandum to the UT Administrator, Justice OP Verma, and apprised him of the serious fall out of the new Act on commercial tenants of the city. They demanded withdrawal of this notification. Meanwhile, Mr Jagdish Arora, president, CBM, also handed over the letter offering resignation from the Administrator’s advisory council with the request that if the matter was not resolved within 15 days, it would not be possible for him to continue as a member of the council being a representative of the traders of the city.
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Punjab
needs ‘knowledge revolution’ Chandigarh, July 9 Justice Verma was speaking at the first meeting of the Child Welfare Council, Punjab state branch, at Punjab Raj Bhavan yesterday. He said by ensuring quality education to our children, we could persuade them against the evils of female infanticide, preference for boy child and the menace of dowry. The Governor said only by ensuring quality education, the state could claim to be a developed State. Stressing upon the need for ending the disparity of education between urban and rural areas, Justice Verma said this mismatch of education has to go. The Governor said though education facilities were available in villages too, only few have access to quality education. He said it was the responsibility of the state to provide quality education to all the children. |
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CSIO to develop sensors for jet trainer Chandigarh, July 9 The IJT made its maiden flight in March this year. Designated as the HJT-36 and codenamed Sitara, it will replace the aging Kiran trainers with the IAF, which have been in service for about 30 years. Hindustan Aeronautics is expected to produce about 200 IJTs, the first batch of which is scheduled for delivery in 2005. According to sources, CSIO has initiated the work of designing multi-display units for the IJT’s cockpit. Unlike conventional cockpit gauges, multi-display units consist of a screen on which information is displayed. Information pertaining to various flight parameters can be displayed on a single screen according to the pilot’s choice. This reduces the clutter in the cockpit and besides military aircraft all modern civilian airliners use such display panels. |
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Attack: no case registered SAS Nagar, July 9 The president of the colony, Mr Sarabdev Bhardwaj, said today that residents had been told by the police that an agreement had been reached between both the parties though he was not aware when such a development had taken place. The president alleged that the persons rounded up by the police yesterday had also been let off. He alleged that the residents of the colony had been attacked by some workers engaged by a private telecom company who were under the influence of liquor, injuring six persons. Mr Bhardwaj said the problem started when one of the workers of the private company was found milking a cow belonging to a resident of the colony who objected to such an act. After a few hours, more workers returned to the colony and attacked the residents. The SHO of the Phase I police station said that no one was seriously injured in yesterday’s incident. |
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Raising
funds for
the needy Chandigarh, July 9 It was with the help of funds she raised from the corporate sector in the USA that a free health check-up camp was organised by the Art of Living, Vyakti Vikas Kendra, at Mauli Jagran today. A special team of doctors from the Government Medical College and Hospital examined more than 600 residents and gave free medicines and spectacles to 40 people. Having excelled in academics throughout her career, she wants to alleviate the suffering of the poor in India by making her contribution. She wants to become a doctor so that she can continue serving the ailing and needy. Her list of achievements includes winning a number of awards at school, including Leadership award. During her 10-day trip to India, she will also donate six computers for opening a centre in a remote area of Himachal Pradesh so that the students as well the residents can avail the facility. |
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Registration
for
Kashmiri migrants Chandigarh, July 9 He said that the forms would be available with the Sabha’s office in Sector 24 here. “The unregistered migrants can bring with them either a state subject certificate, voter card or a ration card as proof to get themselves registered,” he said.
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PLATFORM: SAVE WATER Each and every drop of water matters. Let us not be under the impression that there is enough of it. Somehow, we have got into the habit of taking everything nature has blessed us with, for granted. It is time we realise that the gifts of nature are not unlimited. So, let us preserve water from today onwards. To begin with, we need to be conscious of the need for water preservation, harvesting rainwater and store it in large tanks for use later. It is simpler than what some people think. Rainwater can be used for washing utensils, clothes, vehicles and cleaning of house, among other uses. Minimizing vehicle washing during summer months and, alternatively, parking the vehicle in the rain to have it washed is also an option. At home, we need to keep the tap close while shaving or brushing and open it only when needed and that too, only partially. A lot of water goes waste on account of spillage. Regularly inspecting your water storage tanks and tank float valves for any signs of leakage or overflow. Let us all love nature, respect the blessings of God and thank him for all he has provided
us. Chirag, Class VIII,
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Additional facilities in car Chandigarh, July 9 A former executive engineer, he has also installed a compact wash basin, along with drainage system. Arrangements for keeping soap, towel, mobile phone, pens and writing pads have also been made. Folding trays have also been set up for keeping eatables with a provision for holding four tea cups. “The useful existing space in the car has not been used, he says”. The equipment can be mounted in cars. No hole is required to be made in the car. The equipment costs Rs 2,000. |
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Powermen’s stir Chandigarh, July 9 According to a press note issued by the union, the decision to go on the strike was taken at a meeting held under the chairmanship of Mr Kasturi Lal, president of the union, here today. It was decided that the union would also hold gate meetings from July 7 and a demonstration rally on July 10 to support agitating employees of the PSEB. |
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Haryana IAS officer booked by UT police Chandigarh, July 9 After probing the matter, the Haryana Government ordered registration of a case against the erring officer. Investigations reveal that inquiry into the allegedly misuse of funds took place during 1998-2000, when Mr Sanjiv Kumar was Director, Food and Supplies, and was also holding the charge of Project Director, Haryana Pradesh Sarv Sikhsha Project (HPSSP). The case has been registered on the basis of an inquiry conducted by an IPS officer, Mr Sandeep Kirwar. Though inquiry into the misuse of funds dates back to April, 2001, the funds came in 2002. A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered at the Sector 17 Police Station after the Vigilance Department wrote to the Senior Superintendent of Police. As per findings of the Vigilance Department, the bureaucrat used his official vehicle for private works and went on tours to Delhi, Gurgaon, Rewari, Hodal and other stations in Haryana, even on gazetted holidays. In one specific case, he went to Gurgaon by train but also showed that he had used his official car for the journey. On May 1998, he purchased a mobile handset from a private company based in Sector 9 here at a cost of Rs 23, 866, without calling quotations from the market. A spice connection was purchased and the bill from May 1998 to June 1999, amounting to Rs 48, 494, was given from the funds of the Haryana Pradesh Sarv Siksha Project (HPSSP). Again a mobile handset was allegedly purchased from the funds of the HPSSP and bill amounting to Rs 83, 487 was also paid from the accounts of the HPSSP. A third mobile phone was allegedly purchased by the bureaucrat from the funds of the HPSSP at a cost of Rs 25, 219, after inviting quotations. According to the Vigilance Department, he caused a loss of Rs 2, 30, 634. It may be mentioned that in case of a textbook scam, registered last year, had been sent as untraced before the Haryana Government convinced the UT police to reinvestigate it. The bureaucrat had then been charged with breach of trust, forgery, falsification of accounts and criminal conspiracy. The bureaucrat has filed a petition against the Om Parkash Chautala government in the Supreme Court seeking a CBI probe in the alleged bungling in recruitment of around 4000 JBT teachers.
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Goods worth lakhs stolen from TBRL Chandigarh, July 9 Taking note of the theft, Chandi Mandir police officials today registered an FIR under Section 379 of the IPC and also rounded up some people in order to probe the matter. After registering the case at about 9 pm tonight, the police officers informed The Tribune that the villagers had often been trespassing into the TBRL area because the boundary wall of the complex was broken at three different locations. Although the police did not confirm the value of stolen goods, the complainant, Mr Varinder Singh Walia, whose goods have been stolen, reportedly mentioned that goods worth Rs 6.85 lakh had been stolen. Mr Walia has part contract for laying the railway line in the TBRL area, where construction work is going on. Meanwhile, police officials, are yet to ascertain the value of goods stolen. Sources inform that yesterday the contractor, aided by some police officers of the Ramgarh police post and Garrison Engineer, TBRL, raided the premises of some scrap dealers in the nearby areas. They recovered some goods which are believed to have been lifted from the TBRL and sold to the dealers in question. |
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2 held
for stealing fuel Chandigarh, July 9 Meanwhile, Mr Rajat Mahajan, a resident of Sector 22, reported to the police that his mobile phone was stolen from his house yesterday. A case has been registered. One arrested:
Booked:
Held for smuggling liquor:
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Passenger
drugged, looted Panchkula, July 9 The victim, who gained consciousness for some time in the morning, told the police that his name was Dr. Ajay, an eye specialist, and had shifted from Mumbai to Delhi recently. He said that he had consumed a pakora offered by a co-passenger who had claimed to be a Bengali from Delhi. It was only when the bus ( New Delhi-Panchkula) reached the local bus stand that the conductor realised that one passenger was unconscious. He immediately called the police and the man was removed from the bus. The victim told the policemen on duty at the local bus stand that he lost consciousness after taking the snack and his belongings were also missing. The police found a bus ticket from Delhi to Ambala in his pocket, thus assuming that he was headed for Ambala. Till the time of filing this report, the victim was still unconscious. Doctors said that he was heavily sedated and would regain consciousness only tomorrow. Crushed: A 37-year-old resident of Sector 12 here, Anil Kumar, was crushed under a train near the level crossing at Baltana last night. It is learnt that he was trying to cross the railway line when he was crushed under the train. The police has proceeded under Section 174 of Cr PC and sent the body for a post mortem examination. |
MARKET—40-C
The first phase of the main market of sector-40C has developed into one of the busiest markets of the city in the recent years while its second phase divided by an internal road of the sector opposite the
Gurdwara is yet to pick up the business due to the lack of interest shown by the local administration and municipal corporation. By and large, the market has an average business. The market has ten chemist shops, five confectionary shops, fifteen auto spare parts shops, 8 doctors (including a heart specialist), four beauty parlours, five cloth shops, three hardware shops, six tent houses, two sweet shops, few electrical shops besides other local utility shops. The market is famous for its auto market, kerosene pump, Bhatia confectionaries and Amar Sweets (2nd phase). The auto market has 15 booths exclusively for auto spare parts with at least 30 mechanics. There are also many dealers in the market engaged in sale and purchase of second-hand scooters/motor-cycles. “Every Sunday a special market is organised at two locations in sector-40 for sale and purchase of second-hand scooters/motor-cycles. At least 75 scooters/motor-cycles are sold/purchased in the special market every Sunday”, said Mr. Sunil Kumar Chandna of Chandna Automobiles. There is kerosene pump in sector-40C adjacent to the auto market that caters the residents of four villages Palsora, Badheri, Butrela & Maloya and sectors-39, 40 and 41. Mr. Kirti Jasuja, proprietor of Prakash Trading Company (kerosene pump) said that there were 10,000 customers registered with his company. NO ENTRANCE/PARKING:
Surprisingly, few booths from no. 20 to 38 have no entrance and parking space at all. This has affected their business. Most of the customers visiting these booths park their scooters on the pavement by trespassing through the road berms while those on cars park their vehicles on the road leading to sector-41 and 39. Similarly, the auto market, just at the back of these booths, faces the same fate. There is no entrance to the market that remains busy all throughout the day with unauthorised entry points. All the customers who visit the auto market either make their entry illegally from the main road dividing the sectors-40&41 through the back lane adjacent to the kerosene pump or through the main entry of the market by trespassing through the area that is divided between booths and SCO’s. DEPLORABLE CONDITION OF PAVEMENTS: The pavement of the main market of sector-40C is in a deplorable condition. Mr. Ashok Kumar of KC Tent Palace said, “We have written to the authorities concerned of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation and the Chandigarh Administration a number of times but so far no one has looked into the problem seriously. A visit to the market revealed that a private telephone company had dug the pavement areas to lay their wires. However, the work was still pending and just in front of the Union Bank, the wires were lying uncovered. An employee of the bank said that due to the delay in completion of work, their customers face lot of problems while making their entry into the bank. “Even during slight showers, water logging has become a common problem on the pavements in the market that is even kucha at many points”, added the bank employee. When contacted, Ms Geeta Chaudhary, local councillor and Deputy Mayor of MC said that the MC had already cleared the estimates of renovation of the pavements of sector-40C market and the renovation work would start soon after completing certain official formalities. BACK LANE IN BAD SHAPE:
The traders of the second phase of the market from booth nos. 99 to 148 and 10 SCO’s adjoining it behind the Delhi Public School have alleged that this part of the market is a victim of the callous attitude of the Chandigarh Administration and the Municipal Corporation. The back lane of this market is in a deplorable condition, particularly during the monsoons. It has virtually become a dumping ground for malba with water logging all around. It has resulted into unhygienic condition due to non-cleanliness of the back lane and adjoining vacant land etc. The market welfare association has written to the authorities concerned a number of times demanding to put concrete on the back lane so as to avoid water logging. “No one has ever turned up to look into the problem”, said Rajinder Singh, President of the market welfare association of the 2nd phase of this market. INADEQUATE TOILET FACILITY: There is no public lavatory in the 2nd phase of the market that is steadily picking up business. “So many ladies who run their business from booths and SCO’s face great difficulty. The common public also face problems due to the absence of public lavatory in this part of the market”, said Mr. Rajinder Singh. “We have already considered this particular demand of the market in the Municipal Corporation and have cleared the estimates of funds required to construct a public lavatory”, said Ms Geeta Chaudhary. POOR FUNCTIONING OF LIGHTS: It is a common problem in the whole market. There are at least 16 electric poles in the main market of sector-40C but they never function properly, alleged the local traders. However, in the 2nd phase of the market there are no electric poles in front of the booths. “The area plunge into darkness immediately after sunset. Also there is very dim light in front of the SCO’s that are adjacent to the Delhi Public School”, said Mr. Amarjit Singh who runs the Amar Sweets shop.
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