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Verdict brings cheer to Forest Hill members
Chandigarh, August 1 Even as the resort management claimed that the activity would begin within a week, the members kept calling up the club premises to know the details of the orders. There are more than 500 members They were told by the management that the Supreme Court for the timebeing had allowed them to open the club only for golfing purposes, but had cautioned them not to enrole new members. Besides, the court had allowed serving of refreshments, including tea, coffee and snacks. Some members said they were hoping that the court would soon allow commercial activity in the club premises as well so that live concerts and other programmes like horse shows could be organised. One of the members said the club’s New Year eve celebrations were known to be the best not only in the city, but the entire region. “No wonder, VIPs used to come to this place from Punjab, Haryana and even Himachal Pradesh”. Recalling the days of “past glory”, a member said he remembered the time when during special functions cars with red beacon lights would drive bumper to bumper down the narrow road cutting its way through the villages. Another member suggested that the Supreme Court could now announce a cut off date for regularising the structures built in the area, if some illegality had been committed by the club management. Quoting the draft policy on construction in Chandigarh’s periphery controlled area within the territory of Punjab, he said the state government was otherwise too planning to allow low-density development in the area. It may be recalled that the apex court on December 6, 2004, had directed a stay on the resort’s demolition ordered by a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Taking up a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed in the matter, the Supreme Court had restrained owners from carrying out commercial
activities.
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Gautam’s parents getting ‘threat’ calls
Panchkula, August 1 Mr Subhash Kaushal alleged that he was repeatedly getting anonymous threat calls on his land number. “We are the aggrieved party, but we are the ones who are being victimised. The anonymous caller asks us not to venture out of the house. Since yesterday, some friends and neighbours have been camping at our house for our safety. We are so scared that we did not even send our daughter to school today,” he said. Gautam Kaushal had fallen out with Vikas, a son of a cop, on Friday evening. The same night, he was allegedly picked up, tortured for almost an hour in a police gypsy, and threatened with being implicated in a case of drug trafficking and arms smuggling by the irate father of his ‘friend’. After Gautam’s father lodged a complaint with the police yesterday, Vikas, too, lodged a complaint of assault against Gautam. Superintendent of Police Balbir Singh has initiated an inquiry into the incident. Mr Kaushal, accompanied by a delegation of residents of Sectors 9 and 16, today met Deputy Chief Minister, Chander Mohan. They urged Mr Chander Mohan to ensure justice to the boy and his family. Later, raising slogans against police “high-handedness”, the delegation met Mr Balbir Singh. They alleged that till date they had not got a copy of the FIR registered against Vikas and his father, Ramesh, a police official posted at CIA Staff, Panchkula. Mr Balbir Singh reportedly assured the gathering that he had initiated a inquiry by Deputy Superintendent of Police Hemant Kumar Kalson, which would be completed by tomorrow noon.
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No takers for
conversion policy
in Industrial Area
Chandigarh, August 1 Industrialists are complaining that the rate of Rs 18,000 per square yard was “astronomically high” for a piece of land owned by them. “This amounts to nearly the total cost of the plot of land. The rates allowed for conversions even in the commercial areas of the city were never more than 15 per cent of the market price which works out to about Rs 7200,” the Chandigarh Industrial Association has pointed out. The industrialists have questioned the viability of the project. “At the current rate of conversion, the rate for one kanal works out to be 90 lakh, which is Rs 9 crore per acre. In case of a multiplex like banquet halls, the cost will be around Rs 35 crore, which was totally non-viable,” Mr M.P.S. Chawla, president of the Chandigarh Industrial Association, said. He said the city had no banquet hall or a marriage palace. At the existing rate, they would stick to areas like Zirakpur, which already has more than a dozen marriage palaces. “Representatives from car dealers have already told us that they will be moving out of the city in case the administration charges them so heavily. The administration stands to lose a revenue of on more than Rs 200 crore annually on this account,” he said. The industrialists have already met senior officials on more than two occasions. A delegation also met Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd), the UT Administrator, in this regard. A senior official of the administration said the project was purely optional and not compulsory. Certain industrialists had already met them and expressed their desire to start the commercial ventures. The project involved high amounts of money and, therefore, needed corresponding planning. The administration had given them a time of two years to work out their details. The official said the area
had big potential for growth. Industrialists were reacting to the short-term possibilities. They wanted the administration to allow them service facilities like call centres of information technology (IT). We would allow hardware units in IT as commercial activity. The call centres were altogether different ventures, he added. Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, local Member of Parliament, in a letter to the Advisor, has sought the reconsideration of the conversion charges. Going by the present rate of conversion charges, one would have to pay Rs 1 crore for a kanal. This was more than its present price. Mr H.S. Mamik, an industrialist, said, “We have a feeling that the conversion charges were being exorbitantly charged to prevent any
IT industry to come up in the Industrial Area just to promote the IT park at Kishangarh, where the plots were already given at throwaway prices. They were given land at nine times lesser than the market price. Service sector in IT was part of the technology related industry .” The senior UT official said the IT Park was totally different from
the Industrial Area. The IT park was a special venture, which needed special concessions. Mr Chawla said the Industrial Advisory
Committee was not taken into consideration before the decision by the administration.
He said no notices had been given by the administration for the conversion. This was a smart move because they
apprehended that the industrialists might go to court and get a stay.
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Tehelka case: Prime prosecution witness
Chandigarh, August 1 Prosecution counsel Arvind Moudgil said that after viewing the tapes, the court observed that the witness, Mathews Samuel, had told the accused after handing him a bundle of notes that he was giving him Rs 50,000. The accused had acknowledged it. Mathews Samuel, the prime prosecution witness in the case, was being cross-examined
by the defence when the tapes were viewed in court. The defence is maintaining that
the accused had spurned the money offered to him. The court observed that after the accused accepted the bundle of notes, he said what was the hurry and that the work should be got done first. Thereafter, the money was handed over to Lieut-Col V P Sayal, who put it in a briefcase and told the accused that he would deliver it to his residence. Mathews told the court that Colonel Sayal had later acknowledged that money was handed over to the accused. Mr Moudgil said the court also observed that some of the statements made by the accused in the summary of evidence had been tampered with. In one case some words appeared to have been written after a fullstop and in another case the fullstop appeared to have been smudged with an alphabet, with some portion to the answer appearing to have been added later on. During his deposition, the witness had stated that his statements in the SOE were tampered and that he sought a forensic examination of the manuscript. On being questioned by the defence counsel, Maj R S Randhawa (retd), Mathews agreed that most of the statements contained in the SOE had been made by him. On being asked about certain variations in the statements contained in the SOE and his answers given in court, Mathews said at the time of recording the SOE, he was involved with giving evidence for three different SOEs concerning different officers, but was now focussed on a single case. Mathew’s cross examination will continue on August 3 when the court will re-assemble after a day’s adjournment.
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Colonel faces court martial for graft
Chandigarh, August 1 On the basis of the Summary of Evidence (SOE), Headquarters 14 Infantry Division recommended that administrative action be initiated against the officer. When the case was referred to Headquarters, 2 Corps, the next higher formation for review and directions, the Army authorities are believed to have said that the officer be tried by a general court martial for his alleged acts of omission and commission. A final decision in this regard is yet to be taken. According to sources, the officer had issued two separate supply orders for the same requirements in 2003. While on the one hand tenders were floated for procurement, the same set of items were also purchased directly from civilian suppliers, creating unwarranted surplus stores. Certain equipment and stores were was also purchased, which did not meet the stipulated specifications. This resulted in the stores becoming redundant and useless. Sources added that the officer had also ordered certain repairs to be carried out at the residence of a general officer at Ambala without obtaining prior sanction for the works. A court of inquiry was ordered by the Headquarters 2 Corps after it received an anonymous complaint against the officer last year. The COI, headed by a Brigadier, found the officer prima facie guilty and recommended that disciplinary action be initiated against him. In the meantime, the officer proceeded on deputation to the National Highway Commission, Delhi. On being recalled by the Army, he reportedly tried to dodge the issue by moving the Delhi High Court. He had contended that he had already been posted out of the Army and that by recalling him the Army was trying to “fix” him. Later, he withdrew the case from the High Court and expressed his willingness to abide by the Army’s directives, sources said.
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SC should act boldly: Sibal
Chandigarh, August 1 Talking to The Tribune here today, Mr Sibal said the collegium should have been “bold enough” to give a clear decision in the dispute between Mr Justice Roy and his colleagues. It should have recommended the transfer of the “guilty” alone and not the innocents. Mr Sibal said if the collegium had set a good example, what happened in the Punjab and Haryana High Court would not have been repeated in Guwahati, where Mr Justice Roy had been transferred. (The Tribune had reported on July 30 that 15 of the 17 Judges of the Guwahati High Court had written to the Chief Justice of India (CJI), requesting him to either rein in Mr Justice Roy or transfer all of them from Guwahati.) Mr Sibal said there was no reason to disbelieve the report. “Obviously, a responsible newspaper like The Tribune would not have published the report if it had not been satisfied about its authenticity.” “I have every reason to hope and believe that now the collegium would be bold enough to decide the whole issue impartially and would send its report to the Union Government for appropriate action,” he added. He further added that if the collegium felt that its power to take action against a High Court Chief Justice or a Judge was inadequate, the Apex Court should write to the Union Government to delegate it more powers. Controversy had erupted not only in the Punjab and Haryana High Court but also in certain other High Courts like that of Rajasthan, Delhi, Karnataka and now Guwahati. Mr Sibal said after all the courts were meant to serve the public in discharge of their duties. People’s faith in the judiciary should not be shaken or otherwise rule of law would not exist as desired by the Constitution-framers. Arguing strongly in favour of independence of the judiciary and against the interference of the executive, Mr Sibal said it was true that some complaints against certain Judges had substance, due to which the dignity of the High Courts was being lowered. He said the matter should not be allowed to drift to the extent that the public was disillusioned with the courts. Mr Sibal, who had been in the profession since 1937, said in his long career, he saw the best of Judges like Justice Mehar Chand Mahajan, Justice S.R. Dass and various other Judges of great calibre, intelligence and extra-ordinary knowledge of law. “I am of the firm opinion that Judges as well as some lawyers of the Punjab and Haryana High Court can easily be compared to any legal luminary of outside. I can say fearlessly, more so as I have not been appearing in any court for the past six months, and without meaning any disrespect to the other Judges, who have been transferred from here, that one of the Judges, whose ability, knowledge of law and integrity was of the first order, was Justice G.S. Singhvi.” Justice Singhvi was the first puisne Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, when the dispute between Justice Roy and his colleagues arose. Going back into the dispute Mr Sibal said when Mr Justice Roy came to Chandigarh, all the High Court Judges went to receive him to show respect to the office of Chief Justice and to show that the court was functioning in an integrated manner. However, slowly Mr Justice Roy started giving an impression to the other Judges that they were not discharging their duties judiciously. This was even conveyed to through letters indicating that they were not honest. Mr Justice Roy was only first among equals. “But his behaviour with his colleagues was full of arrogance, and to an extent, even disrespectful,” he added. Mr Sibal said this attitude of Mr Justice Roy led the other Judges to convey to him their feelings “individually and collectively”. However, the situation continued to deteriorate. “Even the worm turns,” said Mr Sibal, adding that ultimately the Judges, “sometimes 21 in number and sometimes 23,” wrote letters to the then CJI, who took no action despite having given an assurance to them that prompt action would be taken. Mr Sibal said to restore the dignity of the High Courts, an all-India Judicial Service should be constituted. One-third Judges of a High Court should be from that service. If a lawyer was elevated to the Bench, his first appointment should be outside the High Court where he practiced. Similarly, the Judges whose close relations practiced law in the High Courts where they were posted, should be transferred or should themselves seek transfer to the other High Courts.
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Passing Thru
What changes do you see in our media from your last visit to India?
There are a lot of pictures and graphics being used in Indian newspapers now. Besides that Indian papers have a lot of local news coverage, which reflects the reader’s demand for more local news. Besides this, television coverage of news stories is amazing and in-depth. The handling is very mature. Is there anything that news coverage in India lacks? What worries me is that there is too much opinion and sometimes there are news stories that do not even mention the source of the story. What brings you to Chandigarh? My visit is a part of a lecture series organised by the US Embassy for students and junior and mid-career journalists outside Mumbai and Delhi. I have been to Pune and Bhopal and after Chandigarh I will be visiting Jaipur. I am very interested on learning about the sweeping change ushered in by economic transformation in India. Naveen S. Garewal
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Chandigarh Calling
Teej, a festival of the sawan season, is celebrated with songs sung as girls swing from tall trees. This season girls would return to their parental villages to celebrate the season with their girlfriends. This is how it used to be as of old. The festival is still celebrated with functions held in clubs, hotels and auditoriums. This is how heritage is carried over from the lost rural culture to the cityscape. In the case of Teej it is time for women to celebrate the season with glass bangles on their wrists, henna on their songs on their lips. Is someone out there singing_ Sawan ka mahina…
“I wonder what’s all the fuss about”, asked a young activist after K.P.S. Gill’s conviction was announced. She was genuinely puzzled and as she clarified, “If it took a powerful woman like Rupan Deol Bajaj 17 years to get justice (in whatever watered down form), what hope have lesser mortals like us? If a woman files a complaint, by the time it is redressed, she will be a grandmother and it would cease to matter to her. I really can’t figure out why every one is so jubilant, they should feel sorry, imagine the plight of the less-favoured ones…” Apparently justice delayed is better than justice denied but if you are neither rich nor powerful, it is likely to be both delayed and denied. Point to be noted.
Not so lovely
The Punjab Government has given the go-ahead to establishing the self-financed Lovely Professional University around Jalandhar But the Press Conference announcing this decision saw the CM getting a bit embarrassed about the name and others in the Cabinet too felt the same. For recall the Lovely group had its origin in ‘mithai’ business and Lovely Ladoos were famous indeed. But the name doesn’t sound so lovely when it is to represent a university so the CM has asked the Cabinet Secretary to persuade them to change the name.
Fitness fun
Fitness taken to a new level of funk! If you want to shake your hips and twirl your toes, swivel and pirouette, then salsa classes it is! A prominent city gymnasium provides the ‘grand ballroom’ venue for these weekly entertainment sessions where friends gather in unison to dance their collected impending Monday blues away. The one-hour workout is pure, unadulterated fun. Couples barging into each other’s space, stepping on each other’s toes and whooping with delight on mastering a particular intricate series of steps. An eight-class module spread over eight weekends costs thirteen hundred rupees and the point of the exercise is to gather as many friends as one can under the same roof. The upside of it all is the location of the gymnasium itself, right above a restaurant! So after losing all those hard won calories its back to a cold glass of beer to chase the sweat away!
Forty winks
A popular song of the road says that one eye of a driver holds insomnia and the other holds the memory of the beloved, as they seem to be moving endlessly from one destination to another. The life of drivers is hard indeed but they learn ways of coping. Tribune photographer Manoj Mahajan brings back this picture of a truck driver catching his forty winks on a bench beneath his own truck parked in Sector 26. The nap over and he will move on with wheel in hand, singing one or the other song of the road.
Beauty boom
Chandigarh is ready and how! The big beauty boom is the next life-size attraction. After nail art and makeover sessions, the city gears up for bustling and vivacious makeover artist Pammy Singh and her team of beauty busy bees! Skin specialist Perwinder Kaur, jewellery designer Ena Kandhari and marriage counsellor Col Guru known for this PEG therapy, ‘Personality analysis, emotional counselling and gemmology’ will come together to weave magic in August and sweep the women of this town on their change meters! And to sample it all, a free session was conducted on Saturday, July 30, a sampler, aimed at whetting your appetite. So pack your cleanser and go along from August 7 to 11, the results may surprise the most careful beauty regime followers amongst us!
Comic charm
Meher Mittal has still not lost his comic charm. He can easily twist and turn a phrase to make it sound funny. So the other day when he was here to sign his next Punjabi video film in Chandigarh, he was flooded with questions related to the standards of comedy in Punjabi cinema. He was also cornered for not having matured enough in his chosen realm. But the witty actor said, “My situation was like that of a fresh LLB graduate who wanted to make a mark as a criminal lawyer. But as it happened, he only got stupid civil cases. Years later he became famous for his civil suits, while criminal law took a back seat. I also wanted to be a great comedian, but when I did not get enough work, I could never attain the level I wanted, or the level that my fans wanted me to reach.”
A few days ago, on the complaint of some residents of Sector 38-A, a three-member team of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) came to take away a troublesome stray dog. After chaining the dog, a staff member of the association climbed onto the mini-truck and, to the horror of all present, vertically dragged the shrieking dog. Now is this prevention or promotion of cruelty?
Magical melody
While the results were being tallied at singing competition organised by the Yaadgar-e-Rafi Society on Sunday, a shabbily dressed man got up and requested for a chance to sing. He was Ram Tirath of Mukerian. Once on the stage he cast a spell by singing an old Rafi number — Ai Duniya ke Rakhwale/ Sun dard bhare mere naale — so beautifully that audience asked for more. Wish there was a Ghulam Haider there to give him the break that Rafi once got many years ago.
Well matched
A sticker on the rear windscreen of a car read: Kamaldeep weds
Deepkamal! — Sentinel
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Plea to extend decision on industrial units
Mohali, August 1 The Department of Industries and Commerce, Punjab, had, through a communication to Punjab Small Industries and Exports Corporation (PSIEC), stated that the government had approved that 50 per cent of industrial plots at Phase VIII-B Focal Point could be used for residential purposes after the payment of conversion fee. Mohali industrialists had been voicing the need for residential facilities for workers in the industrial area. However, the government’s decision to allow this only in Phase VIII-B has left many industrial plot holders high and dry. Reacting sharply to the government’s decision, the President of the Mohali Industries Association, Mr Balbir Singh, said industry here had been discriminated against all the time. “When the approval was given to most of the focal points in Punjab, Mohali was left out. Then following our demand this decision was taken, but again there is an element of unfairness. While we welcome that the government has brought Mohali on a par with the other focal points but we also demand that this approval be granted to the entire industrial belt in Mohali,” he said. Mr S.C. Agarwal, Principal Secretary Industries and Commerce, Punjab, had in his recommendation to the Chief Minister, pointed out that it was possible for some of the staff of an industry to live on the premises of non-polluting industrial units. In IT industries, some residential accommodation on the premises was desirable, he had added. Sources said the Chief Minister had given a nod to the recommendation last week. Sources added that Phase VIII-B had been chosen since the focus of industries here was on IT and other non-polluting unit. Keeping in view the increase in demand of land by IT companies, the government was also in the process of establishing a mixed use IT park here. “The decision would go a long way in attracting IT companies to the area. While it would encourage industrialists to reside in their units, many employees from outside Mohali can also be accommodated on the premises of the industrial unit. We welcome this decision of the government,” said Mr Harjeet Singh, president of the Phase VIII-B Industries Association. The allottees of industrial plots would, however, have to pay a conversion fee at the rate of 10 per cent of the current reserve price of the industrial land fixed by the PSIEC. Moreover, 50 per cent of the area would be calculated on the basis of the floor-area ratio of the plot. The conversion is also subject to the condition that the residential area can only be used for accommodation of owner or those working in the industrial unit and cannot be sold, leased out, transferred or rented to anybody else. “We were under the impression that the government was considering this approval for the entire industrial belt. But we have been left out. Most of the industries in Phase IX focal point are also non-polluting,” said Mr D.P. Singh, president of the Phase IX Focal Point Industries Association. As part of another scheme of the department, owners of large industrial plots (more than 10 acre) have already been allowed to use 30 per cent of the plot for residential purposes, 10 per cent for commercial purposes while the remaining 60 per cent would remain industrial.
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Mohali sectors without power, water for 12 hrs
Mohali, August 1 According to Mr Surinder Pall, Deputy Chief Engineer Punjab State Electricity Board, Mohali, the power supply to these areas remained disrupted through the night due to damage to a cable and boxes of the 11kv Kumbra feeder. The cable and the boxes were replaced during the night by the field staff of the Board. The irate residents spent the night calling up the complaint centre,which told them that repairs at the feeder were on and would take a few hours. Residents of Sector 68 complained that (PUDA) was responsible for supplying drinking water to the sector but the moment the power went off, the taps in houses in this sector also went dry. “PUDA has no alternative arrangement to run the tubewell that supplies water to our sector. We spent the entire night without any electricity and water,” said Mr S. Sharma, a resident of the sector. Meanwhile, Mr Surinder Pall, through a press note, announced that there would be no power cut in these sectors for the next 24 hours to compensate the consumers of the feeder for the disruption period.
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Exploiting religion to boost economy — the China way
Chandigarh, August 1 And the most interesting fact is that the biggest client of China in the business of religion is India. China sells idols of various Indian gods and goddesses worth crores of rupees in this country. Undoubtedly, it will be a great revelation to the “capitalists”, who believe that the comrades in Mao’s country detest religion. Marx, the ideological Guru of Mao and his cadres, had long ago criticised religion. But today’s leadership of Communist China seems to have forsaken both Mao and Marx to build the country into an economic superpower. And if the selling of religious idols can help it achieve the dream, the Chinese leadership has no qualms about it. When will Indian comrades learn such pragmatism from China? There is a huge demand for such idols in India. Chinese firms are unable to meet the demand. One can have idols of Lord Krishna, Mata Durga, Kali Mata, Lord Shiva and Ganesh, among others. The list is endless. Mr Inder Kumar Sethi of a gift place here, who buys these idols from Mumbai, says that containers full of the idols land at the port there. Within a few hours, the entire stock is lifted by buyers, he adds. “These idols are made of fibre and other material and their overall look is attractive because of the excellent finish”, says Mr Sethi. The price varies between Rs 300 and Rs 500. In fact, the Indian small-scale industry engaged in the manufacture of idols of brass and marble has been hit hard. “Lookwise, these appear to be really pieces of art and that is why there is a great demand for these” , asserts Mr Sethi. Earlier, Moradabad, Meerut, Hyderabad and Jaipur used to be big centres for the manufacture of idols of gods and goddesses. However, Chinese, who are new to this business, have committed some blunders. Informed sources say that the
Chinese manufacturers had goofed by placing Ganesh on an elephant instead of a rat during a big festival in India. But this was rectified.
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His leg was amputated, not his spirits
Chandigarh, August 1 “In the beginning I did feel angry, but what is anger? I just felt odd. However, I still play cricket and throw the short putt. In fact all throwing activity, I can do with great ease,” says this resolute boy. The pluck is admirable and the family upbeat about the case which they are fighting against private doctors and a hospital in the city for negligence which led to the amputation. More than his parents, it is Abhishek who has resolved to struggle on. “I just want to know how is it possible for a guy to get a leg amputated from a simple plaster.” The question is simple enough for this determined lad who believes “life is everything.” “And yes life has slowed down but so what?” feels Abhishek, who has had the support of his friends right through his ordeal. He is not going to let anything come in the way of his life , not even girls! “They fight like anything, we have seen,” says Abhishek smiling. For him, it is sports, sports and more sports! Batting is his forte and watching sports channels all-day long, his hobby! Cricket, football, tennis, hockey, it certainly is the whole works. How about that fighting spirit? Does it get a jolt at times? “Yes”, says his mother Anuradha Ahluwalia, “He feels low at times, but rarely does he show it. It may come out in an angry gesture or tone with me at times but that is all.” For this young boy who received the “Johnian of the Year” award in 2004 from his school, St. John’s, for his fighting spirit, he certainly lives the strength he displays. His parents have never pushed him, however, they do insist he keep his resilience and endurance on a high as life is not always easy or just. “We lost his leg that is our loss but fight on we will, to spread the word, to spread awareness,” says his feisty mother. “It is important to look up and feel the confidence no matter what and he has made us very proud. Were it not for his strength of character we would have crumbled long ago.” It was a moment of pride for them when Abhishek walked a day after the surgery. “I was the first guy to wear the leg so early on after the operation. On the eighteenth day after the surgery, I had strapped on my leg.” Today this shy young boy is gearing up for all good things of life. What he wants to do with his future, is, however, unclear, “still confusing” — an uncertainty all boys his age go through — however, what he does know is questions like these, asked repeatedly, irk him!
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Protest against Gurgaon episode
Chandigarh, August 1 Members of the All-India Centre of Trade Unions (AICTU) marched in procession in the Industrial Area I and II to “enforce” the bandh. Carrying red flags, the members held meetings at two places to demand severe punishment for guilty police officials. Later, addressing workers at Sector 17, Mr Malkiat Singh, all-India secretary of the AICTU, called upon the workers to develop unity to force industrial unit owners to heed to their genuine demands. Mr Ajit Singh, general secretary of the local unit of the AICTU, said the current agitation was aimed at meeting the long-pending demands of the industrial workers, besides highlighting police brutality in Gurgaon. Meanwhile, Mr MPS Chawla, president of the association, alleged that the protesters forced the workers to boycott work and even snatched lunch boxes of a few workers. They also broke the windowpanes of a few industrial units, spreading panic in the area. However, the AICTU claimed that its protest was peaceful and successful. While condemning the incident, Mr Chawla alleged that this was done with a view to disrupting peaceful working of the industrial units in the area. He urged the Chandigarh Administration to take steps to prevent recurrence of such incidents.
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Councillors absent at cleanliness drive
Mohali, August 1 Students from different schools were brought by their managements to the venue in front of the Municipal Council office in Phase VII to participate in the cleanliness campaign. They took part in a march, carrying placards. A number of government officials from various departments were present. The presence of only three municipal councillors, out of 27, and only one representative of a residents’ welfare body, out of scores in the town, irked the MLA. Even the Municipal Council President was absent. Mr Bir Devinder Singh publicly criticised the councillors and other representatives of the residents’ saying that such an attitude was unfortunate. A tanker of water and fruit for the participating children, which were to be arranged by the Municipal Council, arrived late, after the march was flagged off by the MLA. Glasses of water served to the large number of children proved inadequate in the hot, humid weather. Some officials present were critical of the attitude of senior officials of various government departments as well as that of the MLA, who did not accompany the schoolchildren in their march in the oppressive heat. Mr Bir Devinder Singh said the cleanliness campaign would extend over a fortnight instead of one week, as announced earlier. He said the daily progress of the work would be reviewed by the SDM, Mr M.L. Sharma, Estate Officer, PUDA, Mr Dilraj Singh, and the executive officer of the civic body, Mr Harbhagwan Garg. The team which, would give the best performance during the fortnight, would be honoured on the Independence Day function. He once again appealed to all to actively participate in the cleanliness drive so that a facelift could be given to the town.
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2 sustain burns in LPG fire
Zirakpur, August 1 The incident occurred in an unauthorised LPG godown, located in a densely populated locality, just opposite the Lohgarh police post. Though the police personnel and residents of the locality did not say anything sources in the areas said that Rajesh Kumar, alias Shalu, a resident of Ekta Vihar Colony in Baltana, and his employee Raju, were injured. The due had allegedly been pilfering the gas from LPG cyclinders and refilling some empty cylinders in the godown. The godown caught fire when Raju ignited a match stick for smoking at the door after refilling some cylinders. Sources said that the injured were taken to some private clinic in Rajpura. They were later admitted to the PGI, Chandigarh, as doctors at the clinic refused to handle the case. Rajesh Kumar hailing from Kakrala village near Banur, had been illegally running an extension counter of a Mohali-based gas agency in Zirakpur and Baltana. He even had stored cylinders in the godown located in the densely populated area. After the incident, name of the gas agency, written outside the extension counter, was then painted upon to hide its identity. The LPG godowns at Zirakpur and Baltana were also locked for the second day, today. Meanwhile, victims in their statements to the police have claimed that they sustained burn injuries due to leaking of gas from an LPG cylinder, in their house caught fire. The police has started investigations.
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Forum against water cess hike
Mohali, August 1 Mr P.S. Virdi, president, said the water and sewerage rates were being hiked by nearly 80 per cent. He said the present tariff in the case of water was Rs 1.80 per 1000 litres but was being hiked to Rs 3.20. Similar was the case with sewerage cess. Single sewerage connection was given to each house, but cess was being charged on the basis of number of toilet seats in a house. Moreover, the service provided by the Department of Public Health was poor. Sewer lines remain choked in many parts of the town. The forum appealed to the government to hand over the work of water supply and sewerage to the council so that the civic body could save 14 per cent departmental charges it was paying to the Department of Public Health for
maintenance work. Such a move could save residents from additional hike.
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Milk samples tested
Mohali, August 1 According to Mr R.C. Jhingan secretary of the committee, many samples were found to be adulterated with caustic soda. The residents applauded the efforts of the committee in organising such camps for bringing about awareness among milk consumers.
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Fauji Beat
The Kargil war, which ended on July 26, 1999, was an example of comradeship in arms. Both our junior officers and jawans made unparalleled sacrifices to save the integrity of the country. No wonder then that we suffered heavy casualties in this war called “Operation Vijay”. In no other Army of the world the officers’ casualties has been so high as in the Indian Army. This is because of their tendency to lead from the front. We get a clear evidence of this trend from the ongoing proxy war in J&K. There is no denying the fact that the sacrifices of officers, JCOs and jawans are well rewarded.
In December 1998 the then Army chief Gen V.P. Malik had declared 1999 as “the year of jawan”. To honour the jawans a bust was installed in a park in Pathankot cantonment in 1999. Never has the Army done so much for the welfare of the ex-servicemen as it is doing now. So much so that some welfare organisations such as Helpline and Placement Cell have been set up to help the ex-servicemen and widows. Despite all this, some intelligence reports indicate that certain disruptive elements in the country are trying to spread unrest in the rank and file of the Army. This should be guarded against by all ranks, both serving and retired.
CDS: a forgotten issue
The Kargil war also brought to the fore the absence of a coordinated joint set-up. Subsequently, the Kargil Review Committee examined the necessity of a joint head and recommended the appointment of a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) for the armed forces, besides recommending the restructuring of the Ministry of Defence (MoD). Surprisingly, unlike in the past, politicians who always opposed the appointment of a joint chief shed their fear of the Army becoming too strong. As a result, the Group of Ministers (GoM) recommended the appointment of a CDS. Thereafter, the implementation of this decision appeared to be a matter of routine. Time has proved that the acceptance of the post of a CDS was only a momentary reaction of our politicians who were pre-occupied with the Kargil war psychosis. Soon this was replaced by the phobia that a strong Army would not augur well for the country. This was not the first time that the country felt the necessity of a CDS. When Pt Jawaharlal Nehru met Lord Mountbatten in early 1962, the latter advised him that India needed a CDS. While agreeing to Mountbatten, Pt Nehru said, since Mr Krishna Menon was against the appointment of a CDS, he could not do so.
Plaints against sainik board officials
Many complaints have been received from the widows of martyrs or their parents from various districts of Punjab alleging corrupt practice by the sainik welfare officials for releasing ex gratia payment. In some cases the affected people have submitted affidavits in support of their complaints. A few of these had been brought out in a news report the other day. Several other complaints for charging parking fee, demanding money for issuing various cards, countersigning applications for restricted canteen items like cars or scooters have also been received. To quote one such example, Leiut-Col J.S. Garcha (retd) of Ludhiana has sent a photocopy of the scooter stand token issued to him after illegally charging him Rs 5 at the District Sainik Welfare Office, Ludhiana. Whenever such complaints are brought to the notice of the officers concerned, they term them as false. If all complaints are false, then why the complainants are not proceeded against as per the rules? To submit a false affidavit is a serious offence. The Director, Rajya Sainik Board, Punjab, also terms these affidavits as false. If it is so, then why does he not proceed against those who submit false affidavits ? — Pritam Bhullar
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American journalist to meet press
Chandigarh, August 1 Organised by the Public Affairs section of the US Embassy, New Delhi, the purpose of the workshop is to appraise upcoming and mid-career journalist about trends in journalism and to discuss issues such as ethics. Ms Fisher has been a professional journalist for more than three decades. She worked for The Associated Press for 36 years as a Reporter, Editor and Bureau Chief in the United States, Asia and the Middle-East. She is currently in her second semester of teaching at the American University in Cairo, where she teaches reporting and editing courses, and is the faculty adviser for the student-run weekly newspaper. Some major stories reported by her include those on the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty (1979), Israeli invasion of Lebanon and siege of West Beirut (1980), Bhopal gas disaster and Indian elections (1984), Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan (1988-89), assorted guerrilla wars, floods, earthquakes and other disasters.
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Three held for kidnap, rape
Mohali, August 1 According to the police, Rahul, who earlier lived in Guru Nanak Colony in Phase X and now in a colony near Jagatpura allegedly raped a minor girl of Kumbra village. The girl was sent to Rahul by the two women and was made to spend a night with him. The girl worked as a domestic help in the town. The police has registered a case under Sections 363, 366 and 376 of the IPC.
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Car thefts on rise in city
Chandigarh, August 1 Sources in the city police admit that the vehicles left outside houses are targeted more than the ones parked insides. They add that on an average a car is stolen every day in the city. The sources in the police headquarters say a majority of them are stolen from outside the residences. Besides, accessories are also taken away by the outlaws. They say the exact data regarding the theft of accessories, including car stereos and spare wheels, is not readily available as a large number of cases go unreported. “The process involved in getting back the accessories is long and tedious, even if the stuff is recovered. The recovered goods are treated as case properties and have to taken back on spurdari,” they add. Moreover, the owners do not get full insurance claim making the process of reporting the cases more tedious. Quoting an example, the sources say a good rear view mirror of a luxury car costs not less than Rs 1,500, but you hardly get back anything in return from the insurance companies in case it is taken away”. Regarding the cases registered by the police last night, the sources said Mr Shanker Dev Arora, a resident of Sector 44-B, lodged a complaint that a car stereo, CD changer and a briefcase were stolen from his Indica Car (CH-03-M-5849) that was parked outside his residence. Similarly, Ms Joginder Kaur, of the same sector reported that a car stereo, spare tyre, amplifier, speakers and other articles were stolen from her car (CH-03-H-9521). In another incident, Mr Kartik Goel of Sector 43-A filed a complaint alleging that music system, amplifier along with other accessories and a spare tyre were stolen from her car. On Saturday, the residents of Sector 44 complained about as many as six incidents of thefts of car accessories and music systems in the locality. In all these cases, majority of the vehicles were parked outside the houses. Senior officers in the police admit that during interrogation, a car-theft accused revealed that they usually target vehicles parked outside houses. Last week, the police arrested three youths accused of stealing vehicles and other thefts. During interrogation another fact came to light that all vehicles thieves are not members of organised gangs, but some of them are drug addicts and unemployed youths from slums. They generally prefer stealing accessories than to steal a vehicle. This is because they have problems in disposing of the stolen vehicles, which apparently does not match with their economic status. While giving safety tips to the residents, the police officers said those who have park their vehicles outside their houses should install theft alarms and extra locks in their vehicles.
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Industries on green campaign
Chandigarh, August 1 The Plantation week, being observed by the CII in all states is aimed at addressing the issue of the worsening state of environment. Mr Sandhu said: “Pollution is growing at an alarming rate and to counter this a substantial number of trees need to be planted. Similarly, we need to ensure that the rate of tree plantation is more than the rate at which the population is growing.” He also advised that people should commemorate special occasions like their birthdays, marriage anniversaries etc. by planting trees to give an additional fillip to this movement. “Over the past few years there has been an increasing concern, from all across the world, for environment conservation and we need to take immediate action on a war-footing to preserve our environment,” said Mr Krishan Goyal, Chairman, CII, Chandigarh Council. “ One of the most important ways to conserve environment is to educate and motivate the younger generation on replenishing the green belt, he added. Over 40 trees of astonia scholaris were planted by CII staff around the Headquarters. The CII initiated the campaign in July this year, with every CII member in the northern region pledging to plant at least 100 trees in their respective areas. Though industry in the region has started planting the trees, to make the effort more concentrated and involve all other stakeholders in the campaign, the CII has initiated the plantation week for every state in the northern region. So far, the CII (northern region) has received commitments for planting more than 51,000 trees from its members. All other stakeholders will be motivated to plant saplings at their working places and adjoining areas.
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Trade Union Council holds rally
Mohali, August 1 Representatives of various employees unions, including the ESPL, PCL, SCL, Punwire, Phillips India, Punjab Recorders, YPS and Rickshaw Union took part in the protest. Union leaders condemned the police attack on workers at Gurgaon. They said ultimately the Haryana Government and the management of the Honda factory had to concede to the demands of the workers. Union leaders of the Honda factory who were removed from their jobs were taken back on work, suspended employees were reinstated, pending wages for the month of May and June were
released and the agreement to increase wages was implemented. The protesters demanded that the lockout at the ESPL factory here should be lifted and retrenched employees to taken back. JCT and Punwire should be made functional and the pending dues of employees should be given at the earliest.
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