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Residents of 15 villages block traffic
Garhi Kotahan
(Panchkula), September 2 The angry villagers pelted stones at the vehicles of the Executive Engineer and Sub-Divisional Officer of Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigan (UHBVN), damaging their jeeps. The two officers, Xen, A.D. Vashishtha and SDO KC Narwal, were manhandled by the irate mob when they tried to reason out with them to lift the blockade. The residents of this village, and neighbouring villages of Sultanpur, Rehana, Masoompur, Debarr, Ferozepur, Dhandrawal, Shajahanpur, Piarawala, Gobindpur, Ratta Tibbi, Ganauli, Bhagpur, Rataur and Bhanwali have been facing an acute power and water shortage for the past three months. They allege that the power supply to these villages is not more than five to six hours a day, which has affected water supply as well. Residents say they have to walk long distances to fetch water because the tubewells cannot be operated. They complain that their livestock is suffering and the standing paddy crop has been damaged because of water shortage. Satpal of Garhi Kotahan said: “In this sweltering heat, we are forced to stay without electricity and water. Just 2 km away in Raipur Rani, there is a 24-hour power supply. We had made numerous representations to the Administration as well as the power authorities for ensuring improvement in power supply, but to no avail.” Pawan Kumar of Dhandarwal village said that the four villages — Garhi Kotahan, Ferozepur, Sultanpur and Dhandrawal — received water from a single tubewell and because of erratic power supply, the tubewell could not be operated for the past fortnight. Deen Mohammad, sarpanch of Rehana village, said power supply to the villages remained disrupted for 21 hours at a stretch. “The power supply was restored for three hours, and again there was a shutdown. This time, the villagers decided that it was enough and they took to the streets”. Residents, including women and children, blocked the highway from 7.30 in the morning. As word of the blockade spread, the police from Raipur Rani led by Station House Officer Amar Singh reached the site and tried to quell the angry crowd. A stream of vehicles were caught in the jam, though the police later tried to divert traffic from Shahzadpur. The DSP (Headquarters), Mr Deshbandhu, along with a 200 strong posse of cops, reached there after the villagers pelted stones at the vehicles of UHBVN officials. The blockade was lifted after the Deputy Commissioner, Ms Neelam P Kasni, who had rushed here, gave assurance that the power and water supply in the villages would improve.
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Old Age Home inmates put up with ‘unwelcome guests’
Chandigarh, September 2 This despite the fact that it was already occupied beyond its capacity. Whereas it has room for only 30 inmates, it is housing 34. Add to this the 13 beggars who have been lodged in the home on the orders of the UT Administration. Of these 13 beggars, 10 were lodged in the Home yesterday and three were brought in today. They were rounded up from various areas including Sectors 11, 26, 34. The influx would have continued had it not been for the members of the Lions Club who sought a meeting with DC Arun Kumar and impressed upon him to stop continued lodging of beggars in the Home as it interfered with the normal functioning of the home. It is learnt the DC has asked the police to stop rounding up beggars as for now. Meanwhile, the beggars lodged at the Old Age Home will be presented before the Chief Judicial Magistrate in the District Courts in Sector 17. For now, they are lying outside in the verandah of the Home, which virtually has no space to accommodate unexpected visitors. The warden of the Old Age Home has, however, provided for some durries in the verandah where the elderly inmates take their morning and evening walks. Naturally disturbed by the disruption of routine, the inmates are irritable. As Amarnath Gupta, one of the inmates of the home said, “There is no space for us and now they have brought these beggars to encroach upon whatever little room is left for us.” Similar views were voiced by Janaki Devi and Vidya Devi who said they would not sleep peacefully until peace of the Home was restored. The warden, Mr. S.N. Seghal is also worried, as he said, “Never before have so many beggars been brought into the home at the same time. How are we expected to maintain the sanctity of the home when the atmosphere gets disturbed like this? Most of these beggars are from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Our inmates find it difficult to come to terms with developments as these.” It may be recalled that the UT Administration, by a notification in 2002, had provided for temporary lodging of women beggars at Nari Niketan in Sector 26, male beggars at the Sector 15 Old Age Home and juvenile beggars at the Juvenile Remand Home, also housed in the Old Age Home Complex in Sector 15.
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Slapping of girl: father files case against school, cops
Chandigarh, September 2 Stating that the Chandigarh Police had failed to proceed against those responsible for ‘humiliating’ the girl as per
the relevant provisions of the IPC, he said he and the members of his family were receiving threats to reach a compromise with the school authorities. He said another girl, Amanpreet Kaur, who was also slapped, had to be admitted to the PGI as she had fallen unconsciousness. “As per the law, corporal punishment has been banned by the Supreme Court and action should be taken if a school allows corporal punishment on its premises,”
he said. It may be mentioned that after the incident, the victim’s father had lodged a complaint at
the Dhanas police post. The police today recorded statements of the boys who had slapped
the girls. The school management, however, denied that the victim’s father had been threatened. Instead, the school has offered to provide free education to the girl. Mr HR Yadav and Mr Vijay Krishana Sharma, president and Principal of the school, respectively, said the girl’s father had threatened to get the school closed. Addressing a press
conference, they said the incident was not reported to the school authorities even after three days of the
incident. They alleged the victim’s father misbehaved with a schoolteacher. The president of the school management, Mr H.R. Yadav, said after an inquiry into the matter, action had been taken against a teacher. He claimed the school society had felt sorry before the gram panchayat of the village. And had promised to provide free education
to the girl till Class XII.
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Relief for original inhabitants of villages envisaged
Mohali, September 2 Reliable sources said while the Punjab Government was considering regularisation of illegal colonies in the state, no decision regarding unauthorised constructions in the periphery had been taken. The issue was reserved for deliberation at the level of the political executive, sources said, adding that the government, however, proposed to levy a development charge and a landuse change fee for granting a permission to develop the periphery. The archaic Punjab Capital Periphery Control Act, 1952, makes any construction outside “lal lakir” an illegal activity that can lead to prosecution as well as demolition. The new provisions, although only at the conceptual stage, would make it easy for villagers to go in for construction for bona fide residential purposes within a 100 metre ring around the village, said a source. This facility would, however, be available only to a landowner able to establish that he has been residing in the village for over 10 years. It may be pointed out, that Haryana had recently notified a 60% increase in the size of the village abadis within the periphery. The state government is also trying to woo periphery panchayats by offering them 50 per cent of the landuse change fees for development of the village. The remaining half is proposed to be used within the periphery for regional-level infrastructure. According to sources, it is felt by the political executive that unless genuine demands of villagers in the periphery are addressed, the policy may not find popular acceptance. It may be pointed out that no increase in the size of the village abadi has been permitted since 1952, although the population has grown significantly in the past 50 years. According to the current policy, the villagers are not permitted to use their own land for the purpose of needs for residential purposes. The periphery policy is subject to strict monitoring by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which is hearing a number of writ petitions on the subject. The court has already restrained the state government from permitting any change of land use on the periphery, through its interim order dated January 22, 2004, passed in the case of the Forest Hills Resort case. In a related case, a question was raised whether Punjab could increase the size of the village abadis like Haryana, in face of this stay order. The orders in this regard have been reserved by the court September 13. The state has been trying to hammer out a comprehensive periphery policy since 1998 but only piece-meal decisions like setting up Nagar Panchayat (NAC), Zirakpur, have seen the light of the day. Regularisation of structures that have come up after December 1998 is another contentious issue which needs to be grappled with.
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Governor opens e-governance project today
Chandigarh, September 2
The project has been launched in pursuance of the IT policy wherein single-window services are to be provided to the residents.
In the first phase, three centres will be inaugurated at Sector 43, Sector 18 and Mani Majra which will be fully functional from September 6. The centres are located in the same buildings where electricity bills and water bills are presently being paid. The Administrator will also inaugurate Sampark Portal which will be the official online interface between the Administration and the residents. Eight centres will provide the following services:
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Kashmir blacklists NGOs
Chandigarh, September 2 A letter to this effect had been received by the Haryana Government from the Deputy Commissioner (Yatra Officer), camp Pahalgam. The black-listed organisations included Shiv Bandara Shanker Bhawan, St. 2 Ferozepore Cantt. Punjab; Shiv Shakti Trust, Surinder Motors, Muktsar; Baba Soom Dutt Giri Kailash Prabhat Dharam Sabha, Ludhiana; Shivam Shakti Dal, Jakhal Mandi, Haryana; Sh Gori Shiv Sewa Mandal, Rohini, New Delhi; Barfani Sewa Dal Chowk Committee, Ganj House, Hoshiarpur; Sh Amarnath Sewa Samithi, Karol Bagh, New Delhi; Sh Amarnath Charitable Trust, Deshmishnagar, Ludhiana; Shiv Baghat Sewada Samithi, Talwar Tent House, New Delhi; Shiv Langer Committee, Samana Mandi, district Patiala; Sh Amarnath Barfani Sewa Mandal, Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh); Five Star Friends, Nawanshahr, Punjab; Shiv Shakti Sewa Mandal, Naibasti Khalsa Girls College, Bathinda; Shri Amarnath Sewa Shakti Mandal, Samalkha Mandi, Panipat; Sh Baba Kashi Vishwa Nath Sewa Samithi, Varanasi; and Sh Amarnath Sewadar Samiti, Karol Bagh, New Delhi. These organisations had been blacklisted because they allegedly did not either apply for permission for organising langers at the allotted sites or indulged in unlawful activities, including sale of liquor or use of charas, during the holy yatra this year.
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PUDA plans consultation centre for developers
Mohali, September 2 He said access to information was a fundamental right and correct information should flow through official channels, not through dealers or other unreliable sources. Mr Chhatwal was talking at an interactive session organised by PUDA between Mr Raj S. Kalsi, a UK-based infrastructure expert, and various civil, electrical and public health engineers, town planners, architects, developers and promoters. Delivering a talk on “Urbanisation and local authorities interactivity”, Mr Kalsi told audience about urban infrastructure development trends in the UK and thereafter explore the possibility of adopting or evolving the same in developing new urban areas in Punjab. Talking about his experiences, Mr Kalsi said facets like road patterns, drainage, public safety, disposal of refuge, transportation and green areas were given due consideration before the development plan of any urban area was conceived in the UK. More effort and time was allowed for designing and freedom of designing was left to the developer. Mr Kalsi stressed on the need for initiating a dialogue between the developer and the local authorities. Facilities for healthcare, shopping area entertainment and leisure were provided within large-scale residential buildings in the UK,” he said.
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Punjab seeks stay on sale of Punwire
Mohali, September 2 PSIDC’s counsel told the court that the government had constituted a core committee under the chairmanship of the Punjab Finance Minister to look into the possibility of the revival of Punwire. Since the government was considering its revival, the liquidation process of the company going on through the court might be put on hold, he said. During the hearing, the court asked the counsel if the state government was in a position to come up with Rs 680 crore that was reportedly outstanding against the company. However, since the hearing remained inconclusive, the court adjourned the matter to September 9. The PSIDC moved the application in the court following a decision to this effect taken on July 20 during the second meeting of the core committee. The core committee, headed by Mr Surinder Singla, Finance Minister, Punjab, had decided to seek six-month stay on the sale of the assets of Punwire in view of the fact that the government was seriously examining the possibility of the company’s revival. A viability appraisal report prepared by the PSIDC was discussed during the meeting attended by the Kharar MLA, Mr Bir Devinder Singh, and the Chief Secretary, Punjab, Mr Jai Singh Gill, among others. Punwire owes over Rs 600 crore to creditors. On April 12, a 10-year revival plan was mooted by a core group formed by the government under the chairmanship of Mr Lal Singh, the then Finance Minister. A revival scheme prepared by Mr B.S. Baidwan, former president of the Mohali Industries Association, was discussed. In the meantime, the official liquidator appointed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court put up the company for sale through an advertisement on June 25. The advertisement had listed various moveable and immovable assets of the company in Mohali and Mumbai, along with their reserved price. While the liquidator Mr B.K.L Srivastava received over 20 responses for the smaller items up for sale, only two parties showed interest in buying the sick unit.
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2 die as car falls into gorge
Panchkula, September 2 Sampooran, who was driving the car (HR-01J-1046), was probably in an inebriated condition. The car fell into the gorge near Seelon village. Some villagers informed the police about the accident and a rescue operation was launched. Rajinder and Gulzar were taken out within a few hours. Sampooran and Naranjan Ravi Das had died on the spot. Their bodies could be retrieved from the mangled car around 4 am only.
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‘Car racing’ ends in a crash Chandigarh, September 2 The boys, who were in a silver grey Maruti Esteem car (CH-03-M-0428), were racing with two other cars when the accident took place. They were moving at a high speed on the road in front of hotel Mountview, when the diver of the car, in an attempt to negotiate a curve, lost control of the vehicle and hit a cyclist coming from the opposite direction. Later, the car banged into a car parked outside house No. 17. The owner of the damaged Honda City car, Mr Ashok Bansal, said the boys were driving in a rash manner. His neighbour, Mr
A.P.S. Shergil, an advocate, said he had a narrow escape when he tried to stop the racing car as the boys made an attempt to run him down. |
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Resentment over DA merger
Mohali, September 2 Mr Avtar Singh Kalsia, president of the Municipal Employees Union, said here today that employees were being compelled to start an agitation to get the incentive implemented. He said the Punjab Government was facing financial constraints. Even then, 50 per cent of the DA had been merged with the basic pay in case of government employees and the incentive was being availed by them since April 1. OC
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Duped by uncle, renal patient in need of help
Chandigarh, September 2 Suffering from a renal failure and having undergone 72 dialyses so far, Abhishek required nearly Rs 2 lakh for this kidney transplant surgery at the PGI. In fact, his uncle Anmol Kumar Panday was to donate his kidney as his mother Manju Anand could not do so due to medical reasons. The poor family hailing from Bihar now finds itself not only duped by their own blood relative but also deprived of the donor they had prepared. “It is a cruel joke that has happened to us. I have tried to trace my brother everywhere but to no avail. He in fact gave us a call that he will come back. We have collected so much money for Abhishek’s treatment and now everything is gone,” said Abhishek’s mother adding that now she hoped that her younger son could donate kidney to his brother. “We have not been able to manage enough money for the regular dialysis,” added Manju. Those willing to contribute to the family for treatment can contact them at Rotary Sarai, PGI, Room No. 8, Bed No 59-60.
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Lions Club chief installed
Chandigarh, September 2 Ms Kulwant Kaur, who was the guest of honour, said the major projects of the club were adoption of 200 children and blood donation and medical camps at slums in Chandigarh and Mohali. On the occasion, five sewing machines were donated to a school. The club also honoured two teachers, Jaskiran of Deshinesh School, Mohali, and Beena Saxena of St John’s School,
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Sarpanch booked under periphery Act
Chandigarh, September 2 Mr Sita Ram's son, Ram Kumar, was also booked. His brother Preetam Singh has already been booked for the crime. The police has yet to arrest the three. The cases against them have been registered on the complaint of the District Magistrate. Sources said the Chandigarh Administration was getting all such matters investigated. Mr Sita Ram is the director of the Market Committee. The complainant has forwarded a copy of the complaint to the Director, Panchayat-cum-Deputy Commissioner, for action against the sarpanch. He has also sought action against the nambardar and witnesses who have signed different documents. As per the Sections 5, 6 and 11 of the Punjab New Capital (Periphery) Control Act, 1952, no one can raise construction or change land use without the prior permission of the Land Acquisition Officer of the UT. In addition, sale/registration of agricultural land/plots of sizes below 1000 square metre has been banned by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Mr Sita Ram and Ram Kumar had allegedly been selling small plots to unsuspecting migrants by way of general power of attorney bypassing the registration procedure, violating the Periphery Act and court directions. The documents and instruments of the GPA are also fraudulent and in contravention of Sections 17 and 28 of the Registration Act as the GPA was registered at Nalagarh.
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Two car theft cases reported
Chandigarh, September 2 In another case, S.K. Jain, a resident of Sector 35-B, reported to the police that his Maruti car had been stolen from his residence. The police has registered a case of theft in Sector 36 police station.
One held
The city police arrested Rajesh Kumar, a resident of Dadu Majra Colony, while selling liquor illegally near his residence. The police seized six nips of whisky from his possession. A case under Sections 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act has been registered against the accused in Sector 39 police station.
Gambling
The city police arrested six persons for gambling from different parts of the city today. Rakesh Kumar, a resident of Kumhar Colony, Sector 25, and Raj Kumar, a resident of Bapu Dham Colony, Sector 26, were arrested for gambling at public place and Rs 1,020 and Rs 545 were recovered from their possession, respectively. The police has booked the accused under Sections 13-A, 3 and 67 of the Gambling Act in Sector 11 and 26 police stations. In another crackdown on the gamblers, the police arrested four accused for gambling under the jurisdiction of Sector 19 police station. Those arrested are Rohtas, Rajinder Kumar, Naresh Kumar and Kanhya Ram from Sector 20. Four cases have been registered against the accused under the Gambling Act.
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MLA’s driver booked
Chandigarh, September 2 Two scooters without documents and a gas-fuelled car were impounded by the police.
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Rs 20 lakh foreign remittance detected
Chandigarh, September 2 The Crime Branch has informed the matter to SSP Gaurav Yadav, who has brought it to the notice of the Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Chandigarh. The money was received in two accounts of Ashish Goel and Ajay Singla. The two had their bank accounts in Zirakpur and Panchkula. The remittances were made during the last three months, the police said. Meanwhile, the Crime Branch today secured a one-day remand of Amit Dutta, who was allegedly running the exchange keeping Goel and Singla as his front men. The Crime Branch had unearthed two illegal telephone exchanges operating separately from Sector 34 last month. Four persons were arrested initially. On the disclosure of the arrested, the police later nabbed Amit Dutta.
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Distant relative rapes minor
Chandigarh, September 2 The parents of the girl told the police that Shiv Karan was unmarried and was living alone here. He often came to dine with the family of the victim. The girl’s 10-year-old brother suspected Shiv Karan’s activities in their jhuggi and brought his parents back. However, Shiv Karan managed to run away after allegedly committing the crime. The police has booked him under Sections 376 and 506 of the IPC. The police has got both the girl and the accused medically examined at the General Hospital. The parents of the girl work as domestic help. Both Shiv Kumar and the family of the girl hail from Uttar Pradesh.
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Man found dead outside Rose Garden
Chandigarh, September 2 Accident: Charan Singh, a cyclist, was injured when a CTU bus hit him at the traffic lights of Sector 23-24. The accident occurred at 2 pm when the cyclist, while trying to cross the traffic lights was hit by the bus. He suffered a broken leg, while the cycle got crushed under the bus. The police has arrested Dharminder Singh, driver of the bus, and registered a case of rash driving and causing hurt under Sections 279 and 337 of the IPC at Sector 17 police station. The driver of the bus was later released on bail.
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3 hurt in accident
Panchkula, September 2 Theft
A servant decamped with iron goods worth Rs 14,000 from a shop in Rattpur Colony, Pinjore. He was later arrested by the police. Vijay Kumar had stolen the goods from Gurdarshan Singh’s shop.
Two arrested
Narain Singh and Roshan Lal were arrested on the charge of creating nuisance at a public place. They reportedly did so in an inebriated condition. The accused were arrested from Old Panchkula.
Knife seized
Surendra Pal was arrested from Chandikotla village, near Chandi Mandir, and a kamanidar knife was seized from his possession. He has been booked under various sections of the Arms Act.
Suicide bid
A 24-year-old youth, Sandeep, tried to commit suicide by consuming a poisonous substance at his Sector 14 residence on Thursday morning. He was rushed to the General Hospital from where he was referred to the PGI, Chandigarh.
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Liberal sops sought for small exporters
Mohali, September 2 Mr Gurmeet Singh Bhatia, president, CITI, today stated in a press note that liberal sops and taxation incentives would help large exporters but not the He added that CITI would be submitting a detailed proposal to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, in this regard.
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Bungee jumping
Mohali, September 2 Speaking on the occasion, Ms Monica Bajpai, head, human resource department, Spice Telecom, stated: “Spice constantly strove to make the “work place” a “fun place”. We believe in Jack Welch’s theory of “legitimate plagiarism” and always attempt in improving upon our best.
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