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Cable TV rates hiked by Rs 25
Chandigarh/Panchkula, January 2 Sources in the cable TV industry inform that TRAI has revised the price ceiling on tariff and increased it by seven per cent, after taking into account the rate of inflation. The ceiling on cable TV subscription had been in force since December 26, 2003. With TRAI allowing for an increase in cable tariff, the subscribers in Chandigarh will now have to pay anything between Rs 250 to Rs 300 per month (rates vary in different sectors) for a single cable TV connection. Earlier, the monthly cable TV tariff in the city varied between Rs 220 to Rs 250 per connection. In Panchkula, the subscribers will have to shell out Rs 300 to Rs 350 for a connection, as compared to Rs 270 to Rs 315 per month till December 2004. Sources in the cable TV industry here say that the new rates will apply for payments to be made by consumers, cable TV operators, multi system operators from this month. The seven per cent increase will apply to the charges, excluding taxes, payable as on December 26, 2003. Thus, if the payment was Rs 220 per month on December 26, 2003, of which Rs 20 was on account of taxes, the seven per cent increase will be applied on Rs 200 and an increase of Rs14 per month would be the maximum permissible increase to the basic charges, excluding taxes. But this is not the only hike in tariff that the consumers will have to pay. Other than the hike in tariff allowed by TRAI, a number of pay channels have increased their subscription charges levied on cable TV operators per connection, and new pay channels have come up. Star TV launched two new channels — Star One and Hungama, and thus increased its
subscription from this month. Zee TV has bifurcated its bouquet (channels in the Zee TV package have been divided into two groups) and thus increased its subscription. Other than these two packages, four channels have become paid channels — Animal Planet, Discovery, Lifestyle, and Zoom, for which the cable operators will have to pay in order to beam these through their network. Sources inform that cable TV operators here would soon be beaming Disney channel — which is again a paid channel. Sources say that though the exact hike in subscription charges for these paid channels, and for the new channels is not yet known, the hike for lakhs of consumers in the region will be anything between Rs 25 to Rs 40.
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Industrial Area or encroachers’ paradise?
Chandigarh, January 2 With the MCC dragging its feet on the removal of the encroachments on the prime commercial land and the road berms, encroachers are having a field day and in the process the rules are being violated. Sources said while 1,181 encroachments comprising the illegal jhuggies, dhabas and vendors, had earlier been tabulated by the enforcement staff of the MCC and the Estate Office, the survey for the illegal installation of iron grills and railings and encroachments on the road berms was the first-of-its-kind. In fact, the survey report was placed at a recent meeting of MCC on a question raised by the area councillor and former Mayor, Ms Lalit Joshi Bhardwaj. The survey found that no permission had been sought by the entrepreneurs to use the municipal land for their personal use. According to the survey, in 141 locations the road berms were being used as parking lots for the scooters, cars and trucks and this was despite the warning of the Chandigarh Traffic Police that vehicles parked on road berms would be towed away. No one had obtained permission from the civic body to use green belts and road berms for parking, the survey stated. On the other hand, the iron grills and railings had been installed at 105 places. These places were being used for the dumping and parking of vehicles. With a view to check the illegal parking of vehicles and to generate revenue for the civic body, the MCC House had okayed a decision to levy parking fee in the Industrial Area recently. And in 94 locations, road berms had been converted into green spaces by the industrial unit owners. Only three units — Pasco Automobiles, Mr Hardev Singh Plot No 129, and Ankur Industries (182/51), had taken permission to develop road berms and spaces in front of their industrial units. It may be recalled that the civic body and the Estate Office had only made feeble attempts so far to remove the encroachments. While there had been drives in the past to remove jhuggies and vendors, other encroachments had been left untouched by the authorities concerned.
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Bid to rape woman,
one arrested
Chandigarh, January 2 The accused, Kishan of Panchkula, who is working on a giant wheel swing, last night went under the tractor-trailer where the woman was sleeping and allegedly started fondling with her around 2.30 am. The woman was shocked and she got up and immediately held the hand of Kishan and raised an alarm. The accused bit the woman on her hand to free himself from her clutch. Meanwhile, the husband got up and held the accused. But the accused wriggled out of their grasp and ran away. The couple then hit the fleeing accused with stones. One of the stones thrown hit the accused. He sat down after being hit and was caught by the couple and other people in the locality. This is the first incident in which the women desk at Sector 31 police station has registered a case. The case is being investigated by Sub-Inspector Poonam Dilawari. The accused was booked under Sections 354, 376 and 511 of the IPC. He was produced before a court, which sent him to jail. The police said the accused had been put through a medical examination but his intoxication was not confirmed through the test.
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Youth attacked, throat slit
Panchkula, January 2 The cop saw the man lying in the bushes and assumed that he was lying in an inebriated state. However, he noticed that the victim’s throat was slit and he was lying in a pool of blood. The victim’s hands were also tied. He immediately called up the Police Control Room, and a PCR vehicle reached the spot. The police then lifted the man and put him in the jeep. The police said that the victim was conscious, but could not speak because of the deep cuts on his throat. However, he indicated with signs that he was attacked by 11 persons, who had left him for dead. The victim was rushed to the General Hospital, Sector 6, from where he was referred to the PGI, Chandigarh. The police said that the victim was still serious. The police denied rumours that somebody had tried to sacrifice him.
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Army man killed in mishap
Chandigarh, January 2 Joginder Singh, who was seriously injured was taken to the PGI where he succumbed to his injuries. His colleagues, Kishan Kumar and Bajinder Singh, were sent to the GMCH Sector 32, and were later referred to the Command Hospital. They are stated to be out of danger. The three had come to Chandigarh by the Kalka Express from Delhi to take a flight to Leh for joining duty after holidays. Joginder Singh was married six months ago. The driver of the auto-rickshaw, Ram Fuman was in a serious condition and was admitted to the PGI. The driver of the mini truck Preetam Singh escaped unhurt. The police has arrested him.
Dera Bassi, January 2 Mr Rameshwar Chauhan, a resident of New Delhi, died on the spot when the Quails he was driving had a head-on collision with the bus near Dappar this morning. According to eyewitnesses, the bus (HR-29J-6952) was on way to Bhiwani from Chandigarh with over 30 passenger on board when it collided with the Qualis (HR-61-1574). Passengers informed the police and the driver’s body was extricated from the vehicle. The police said the driver
fled from the spot. After registering a case under Sections 279-A and 304-A of the IPC against the bus driver, the Lalru police sent the body to the Rajpura Civil Hospital. In another accident, an ambulance carrying a patient from Ambala to the PGI, Chandigarh, overturned at Jawaharpur village, near here, late last night. The driver of the vehicle and the patient were injured. Two persons who were accompanying the patient escaped unhurt.A car occupant sustained injuries after his vehicle fell into a ditch adjacent to the Ghaggar bridge. The injured was admitted to Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh. |
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Local criminals being ‘hired’ for Bihar poll
Chandigarh, January 2 However, it is true. According to the police, a 21-year-old murder accused, Vijay Kumar alias Arjun, disclosed during his interrogation that criminals from the city were being recruited to help Bihar politicians during the forthcoming Assembly elections. Arjun, it may be recalled, had allegedly murdered a resident of the Charan Singh Colony here early this month and then absconded to Bihar. Arjun and his accomplice Sunny had allegedly killed Mahesh Gupta of the Charan Singh Colony and fled to Bihar to cross over to Nepal. But when they got down from train at a station in Bihar, local goons started questioning them about their destination.The local goons also snatched their money. A daring Arjun then, in a dramatic manner, threw the gauntlet before the Bihari criminals saying he was prepared to take them on all individually. The armed Bihari criminals were surprised and impressed at the courage of Arjun and they buried the hatchet. They extended a friendly offer to Arjun of jointly working in the Bihar elections. Arjun was then taken to a “netaji” who, he told the police, was an MLA in Bihar. Arjun told the police this railway station where he confronted the Bihari goons was 18 km from the Nepal border in Bihar. Arjun has introduced to the Bihar politician who he identified as an MLA. However, Arjun’s initiation into the big time organised crime was nipped in the bud when he got a message from his parents and brother in Chandigarh that the local police was after him in connection with the murder of Mahesh Gupta. Arjun had kept his involvement in the murder a secret before the Bihari goons. During the interrogation the police also came to know that Arjun and his gang had also planned a dacoity at the residence of a bank officer. The police had recovered maps and sketches of the house of the bank officer when Arjun was arrested early this month. He had earlier been involved in chain snatchings and had later paired with one Sunny, who was a notorious hit man in the Mani Majra locality. An unrepentant Arjun was arrested when he was coming back from Bihar to eliminate Mahesh Gupta’s retired father and blind mother to remove the possibilities of being identified. Arjun had earlier after allegedly murdering Mahesh Gupta on the night of November 29 returned to his house but had to beat a hasty retreat as a woman police officer was guarding the house of Mahesh Gupta. Arjun allegedly killed Mahesh Gupta for confronting him earlier.
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CTYC sets up relief collection centres
Chandigarh, January 2 Mr Bansal gave Rs 12 lakh out of his MP fund along with one month’s salary for the relief fund. Mr Harmohinder Singh Lucky, president, CTYC, said he would contribute a month’s honorarium towards the fund. He said the CTYC would set up more such tents. “The camps have been set up to enable residents to donate bedding, clothes, stoves and utensils for the victims. Mr Bansal along with Youth Congress activists will visit various markets to generate funds,” he stated.
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Theatre artistes join hands to help tsunami-hit
Chandigarh, January 2 For 15 days from tomorrow, the artistes will put their act together to stage a Hindi adaptation of the legendary Vijay Tendulkar’s Marathi play “Ek Tha Gadha”. Their target is to contribute Rs 1 lakh for the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for tsunami-hit. All about the power of collective wisdom, the play dwells on the strength of human spirit against calamity, both manmade and natural. In its Hindi version which has been written by Suvinder Pal, the play has been called “Mitti ka Aadmi.” It largely draws from the famous saying, “United we stand; divided we fall.” Directed by Rajiv Mehta, the play has been structured to suit the idiom of street theatre. It is well known that every street theatre production ends with an appeal for financial help from the viewers. Talking to The Tribune today, Rajiv Mehta said, “Our only way of raising funds for the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund is through theatre. We had generated huge funds by staging a patriotic play, “Shaheed ki Waapsi” during the Kargil War. Now we plan to do a lot by staging “Mitti ka Aadmi.” Those who have come together to perform for this cause are Yogesh Arora, Survinder Pal, Rajiv Mehta, Bhavna, Hatinder Kumar, Rocky Bhardwaj, Yogesh Dungal and Gurjit Kang. The series of presentations will start from tomorrow, with Theatre Arts staging its play at the Sector 17 Plaza. While the weekend shows will be held at Sukhna Lake, the rest will be held at almost all commercial centres of Chandigarh from Sector 34 and 35 to Sector 8 and 9. The idea is to inspire people to donate money for a noble cause. Not just that, Theatre Arts has also offered to stage the play free of cost for educational institutions who can in turn request their students to support the cause. The offer is also open for private institutions that are free to offer as much money for the presentation as they want. All proceeds from the show will go to the PM’s Relief Fund.
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Bar Council to contribute Rs 1 lakh to relief fund
Chandigarh, January 2 Meanwhile, as per the decision of the Bar Council, all advocates of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh are requested to affix one extra welfare stamp on the “vakalatnamas” during the months of January and February and this amount would be sent to the fund, the press note added. Meanwhile, the Youth Technical Training Society, an NGO is working towards establishing ‘people-to-people contact’ with the unfortunate tsunami victims in Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu. Talks between its president, in PH Vaishnav, and Mr GS Bedi, District Collector of Cuddalore, revealed that they had lost nearly 1500 fishing boats. The organisation has provided them Rs 80,000. SEWA BHARTI: The executive committee of the Sewa Bharti Sector 29, on Sunday decided to collect Rs 5 lakh for tsunami victims. It was also decided to adopt children by approaching the appropriate authority.
NSS volunteers hold rally
Chandigarh, January 2 A two minute silence was observed by the NSS volunteers. The volunteers also participated in a rally and a march carrying posters, appealing to people to donate for the victims. Swati Parijat explained the meaning of the NSS emblem to the volunteers. Speaking on the occasion, Ms Madhu Bala, said the NSS volunteers in the southern states were helping out with relief work.
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Shift garbage dump, says gurdwara management
Panchkula, January 2 In spite of repeated reminders by the gurdwara management to the district administration and the Municipal Council, there is no effort to shift the garbage dump. The management says for the past three months the Council has started disposing of all waste in the vicinity of the gurdwara. “It is difficult to prepare langar, and serve it, because of the fly menace. We have often reported the matter to the Deputy Commissioner and the Council authorities and they have promised to shift the dump,” says a gurdwara manager. He says becuase of delay on the part of the administration to shift the dump, they have now sought permission from the SGPC to buy fogging machines so that the fly menace could be reduced.
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1,084 servants, 469 tenants registered
The registration of the two is mandatory under Section 144 of the CrPC and its failure may attract punishment under Section 188 of the CrPC. If a person is arrested for failure to register servants and tenants, his bail can not be taken in police station. A police spokesman said such camps would be organised in future also but the registration could be done on all days in all 11 police stations. 
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Human rights panel complains against cops
Chandigarh, January 2 It alleged that no medical examination of Bablu was conducted before and after producing him in front of an SDM. Even his brother, Surjan Singh, was called to the Sector 26 police station for questioning. The panel demanded action against the erring cops.
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Traffic disrupted on Kalka-Ambala highway
Dera Bassi, January 2 Vehicles were lined up along both sides of the bridge on the highway thus putting scores of passengers to hardship. The passengers, who
had to take trains from
the Ambala railway
station, were delayed for hours. Vehicular traffic was restored on the highway after the police removed the truck with the help of a crane around 3.15 pm.
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Interaction among neighbours must
Chandigarh and its two cousins, Panchkula and Mohali, enjoy the reputation of being heartless areas inhabited by the great Indian middle class with the stiff upper lip. The Union Territory and the two towns comprise settlers from various parts of North India, primarily Punjab, who are insensitive to the neighbourhood concept, though sociability has slightly picked up as people, by and large, love to live life to its fullest. In Panchkula, among other things, the number of thefts and burglaries is higher than that in the neighbouring urban areas. A good Samaritan and friend, who is a successful entrepreneur, took the initiative to employ a chowkidar for our lane of houses numbering about 20, presuming that this idea would find favour with everyone. He was dismayed to learn that many residents either refused to pay or objected that the amount was too high as the previous chowkidar had been working for a paltry sum, though he was seen only once in blue moon. He, therefore, decided to hold a meeting of the residents on a Sunday morning, which quite a few attended. The point at issue was why people were not willing to pay for the services of the chowkidar. I raised a point on which I demanded an answer from everyone. My question, which almost baffled everyone, was why we needed a chowkidar at all. If we required him for the security of the community, which included all those present, did we really live and interact as a community? We were educated, urbane and civilised but avoided one another. We were a self-centred lot. In such a situation what was required was that each one should have a guard at the gate of the house and enjoy the “elevated” status. This struck the right chord and everyone subscribed to the view that we definitely needed to interact with one another. The lane now has a monthly get-together and residents share one another’s happiness and sorrows. The chowkidar has been employed. Though it may have been an insignificant issue, it has created a community feeling. If it can happen in our lane, it can surely happen in neighbouring lanes as well. Col B.K. Gopal (retd), Panchkula Widen ‘killer road’
Apropos the news item “Additional Director of Local Government killed in mishap” (Chandigarh Tribune, December 27). The death of Mr G.R. Bansal, Additional Director, Punjab, is not an isolated case of accident on the busy Ambala-Kalka highway. Hardly a day passes without this stretch of narrow road claiming a life. Numerous persons die of severe injuries suffered in accidents on the highway where traffic has increased manifold though its width remains the same. Besides, trucks parked on the highway pose a big problem. The police officials concerned have failed to pay heed to the regulation of traffic or take note of the haphazard parking. The vehicles parked on the highway cause inconvenience, especially at the sales tax barriers. A long queue of trucks at these barriers is common. Four-laning of the road exists on paper so far. The authorities should remove encroachments on both sides of the road at least at the sales tax barriers and octroi posts. Dinesh Sharma,
Chandigarh
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Animal welfare camp held
Mohali, January 2 More than 100 animals were treated for infertility while blood and milk samples of 40 animals were taken for further treatment. Farmers were made aware about the prevention of various diseases and importance of vaccines. They were encouraged to adopt dairy farming as a profession and do it scientifically making full use of the existing facilities to derive maximum benefits.
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Mayor felicitated
Chandigarh, January 2 The chairman of the federation, Mr P.C. Sanghi, emphasised the need for more attention to develop southern sectors. He also requested the sectors welfare associations to donate liberally for the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
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Red Cross Society distributes woollens
Chandigarh, January 2 Meanwhile, the society has appealed to the non-governmental organisations, resident welfare associations, councillors, sarpanches and residents to bring information regarding the poor to its notice through telephone numbers: 2709000 (Deputy Commissioner’s office) and 2744188 (Red Cross Society). However, the Deputy Commissioner’s office has clarified that woollens will be provided only to those living in Chandigarh.
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Brahmin mahasabha to fight social evils
Panchkula, January 2 A number of members from the neighbouring states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi participated in the meeting and mementoes were given to all of them. The mahasabha also decided to extend its support to the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee during the forthcoming elections in Haryana, and demanded that members of the mahasabha should be fielded from at least 10 seats. On this occasion, Mr Rajiv Sharma was made the president of the Panchkula chapter (rural) of the mahasabha. Among others present on the occasion were Mr Vinod Sharma, national vice president, Mr Anup Sharma, President of Punjab chapter, Mr Rajinder Sharma, president of the Himachal chapter, and Mr Hari Prakash, president of the Haryana chapter of the mahasabha.
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Mystery shrouds man’s death
Panchkula, January 2 The police says his parents found him dead in his room. He was rushed to General Hospital, Panchkula, where he was declared dead.
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35-year-old
rickshaw-puller found dead
Chandigarh, January 2 The police said a rickshaw was found near the body. But he could not be identified. He is around five and a half feet tall and stoutly built. His face had injury marks as he was suspected to have fallen from the rickshaw.
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Liquor seized, 1 held
Mohali, January 2 The police said they got a tip off from their informer that he was planning to smuggle liquor to adjoining places. During questioning he revealed that he was going to sell the consignment in Sector 48. The police has registered a case against him under the Excise Act. Scooter stolen Liquor seized According to the police, the accused, Mukhtiar Singh, a resident of Pakki village, was nabbed from Pir Sohana area. A case against him has been registered under various Sections of the Excise Act.
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Providing quality audio equipment is OHM’s motto
Chandigarh, January 2 “Like the many companies dabbling in manufacturing audio systems, we are certainly not into making black boxes, putting drivers in them and calling them speakers. This is sheer blasphemy and only about 20 odd companies all over the world realise it. The rest have no qualms about selling these noisy boxes in the name of sound,” says OHM’s marketing and world supplies in charge, Mr Andrew Rhodes. In town to get a feedback from the company’s clients about the company’s speakers installed in discos, pubs, hotels and bought by sound-hirers all over the country, here today, Mr Rhodes said theirs was not a product alone but a design-based product all about engineering. “The Indian market is our biggest customer and its problem cannot be of small concern to us. So, we decided to go to the actual user and take his suggestions to improve our product. It would be foolish to think that sitting in our offices in UK, we would be able to gauge the local pulse. We have a team of over 50 distributors spread all over the world to give us that feedback,” he explained. “While we have identified a problem area wherein packaging of supplies to clients needs to be worked on. Then, we are always on the lookout for technical improvisations and improvements for sound reinforcement,” he said. Stating another difference which sets OHM apart from other companies into the same business is that it is mandatory for all distributors to receive hands-on training at the company’s head office in UK to set up the speakers. “The engineering involved in setting up the system is all that makes a difference in how the speakers conceive sound. We don’t want to falter on that front for which the company sponsors the training of the distributors abroad,” he emphasises.
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Chandigarh, January 2