The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Net value on forest land use exempted
Hemant Kumar

Kalka, September 1
Following a decision of the Supreme Court recently, the government of Haryana has exempted the net present value on the use of reserved forest land up to 2 hectares for various development projects like construction of schools, hospitals, play ground and community centres, etc.

With this decision, Doon and Raitan areas in this subdivision and some area of Morni would also be benefited.

Vijay Bansal, former state secretary of the Congress, said the Haryana government had decided to exempt the net present value (NPV) on the use of reserved forest land.

Earlier, the department of forests, under the Forest Preservation Act, used to charge the net present value at the rate of Rs 8.87 lakh per hectare on the use of reserved forest land for any welfare project after fulfilling the required formalities.

Villages of this area remained deprived of several development projects.

Bansal said the chief conservator of Haryana had already sent letters to officers concerned in this regard.

Labourer dupes six at dhaba
Tribune News Service

Rajpura, September 1
A migrant labourer duped customers and workers of a dhaba of Rs 7,000 and mobile phones after giving serving tea mixed with intoxicants to six persons.

According to Balbir Singh, in charge of New Zimidara Dhaba, a migrant labourer came to him to get a job two days ago.

Last night he served tea to the victims, including three customers, at the dhaba.

After consuming the tea, all six persons fell unconscious and the labourer took away Rs 7,000 and mobile phones from their pockets. The dhaba in charge said two truck drivers, Pyara Singh and Puran Singh, cleaner Gurvinder Singh were being treated at the local civil hospital, besides two other workers of the dhaba.

Three of them are still unconscious. The police is trying to trace the perpetrator. A case has been registered at the Sadar police station in this connection.

New DC assumes office
Tribune News Service

New Patiala deputy commissioner Vikas Garg takes charge from the outgoing DC, D.S. Grewal, during a farewell party in Patiala on Monday. A Tribune photograph

Patiala, September 1
Vikas Garg joined as the new deputy commissioner of Patiala.

He replaced D.S. Grewal, who had been shifted by the Punjab government as the special secretary (Home and justice).

Officials present at his welcome party assured the new incumbent that they would fully cooperate with him.

On his part, the DC assured the officials that he would work for the betterment of the residents of the town.

On the occasion, Grewal welcomed the new DC and thanked employees for the cooperation he received from his staff.

Stir ends with teacher’s reinstatement
Tribune News Service

Ambala, September 1
The 12-day-old strike of the College Teacher Association to protest against the suspension of a music teacher of MDSD Girls College of Ambala City was called off today after a compromise between the association and the management of the college.

According to information, the management had suspended Vinita Sudh two weeks back. The lecturers of the college, along with the clerical and Class IV staff, called the strike in protest. Later, Haryana College Teacher Association joined the strike and the matter became a state-level issue.

The matter was resolved after the intervention of the College Principal Association. The college management later agreed to reinstate the suspend teacher.

COURTS

HDFC Bank to pay Rs 4 lakh for harassment
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 1
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum directed HDFC Bank, Sector 8, here, to pay a compensation of Rs 4 lakh for harassment to a resident of Sector 11. Petitioner Balwinder Singh had taken loan from the bank for purchasing a car.

The forum also asked the bank to return cheques received by it and to ascertain the principal amount due from Balwinder Singh and adjust the amount of Rs 1.65 lakh towards the principal amount. The remaining amount will be adjusted out of the compensation amount. It was directed to pay the balance amount to the petitioner.

The petitioner purchased Tata Indica car by raising a loan of Rs 2,16,500 which was to be repaid in 48 monthly installments of Rs 6,248 each month.

The bank had taken 48 post-dated cheques towards the payment of the installments from him. It is stated that he paid three installments of Rs 6,248 each to the bank and the last installment was paid on June 2, 2007.

He stated that due to some unavoidable circumstances, he could not pay five installments from January, 2007, to May, 2007.

It is alleged that on July 20, 2007, when he was going to the market in Sector 11, five men of the bank forcibly stopped him and took the possession of the car from him. Thereafter, he complained about it to the bank and requested them to release the vehicle on payment of the installments but the bank refused to do so. Thereafter, the bank served a legal notice on July 24, 2007, on him.

The complainant said when on his repeated requests and visits, the bank refused to release the car, he served a legal notice on the bank.

The bank argued that as per the agreement between the parties, in case of default in the payment of any installment, the bank would be entitled to take over the possession of the vehicle and put the same to sale. It is pleaded that the complainant is a chronic defaulter and Rs 2,47,335 was due when the vehicle was surrendered by him. It is stated that representatives and officers of the bank had been calling upon the complainant to pay his dues. However, he always expressed his inability to Thereafter, the inventory of the vehicle was duly prepared and he was issued letter dated July 20, 2007, which was signed by him.

The forum headed by Jagroop Singh Mahal stated: “The bank has used force against the complainant and took away the vehicle. They may be having a right to repossess the vehicle, but cannot be permitted to take the law in their own hands and manhandle the person on the way. For repossession of the vehicle, they were required to adopt legal means or approach the legal authority for this purpose, which they did not.”

Drug Racket
Police remand of accused extended
Our Correspondent

Mohali, September 1
The police remand of Haryana DSP and retired Army personnel, arrested by the police in connection with a drug racket, has been extended by two days by a court here today.

The Mohali police had arrested Gurdarshan Singh Sodhi, retired Haryana police DSP who was later re-employed with the same, and retired Army personnel Dara Singh on August 29. Dara Singh was allegedly carrying 1.23 kg of cocaine worth Rs 1.25 crore when he was stopped at a checkpoint. The cocaine was recovered from his car. It is alleged that the cocaine was provided to him by Sodhi.

The police had arrested two more persons in connection with this case. One of them was a head constable with the Haryana police and the other a constable with the Rajasthan Armed Police.

Though SSP Jatinder Singh Aulakh refused to divulge any details regarding the high-profile case, he said the outcome of the interrogation would be revealed tomorrow.

SPORTS

Administrator’s Challenge Cup
16 players found overage, expelled
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, September 1
As many as 16 players, including four of Mohun Bagan Sail Football Academy of West Bengal and six of Orissa Football Academy, have been medically declared overage by the medical board constituted by the Chandigarh Sports Department to determine the age of the players taking part in the sixth Administrator’s Challenge Cup All-India Football Tournament for Under-17.

The tournament was inaugurated by Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd) at the Football Stadium, Sector 17, here today.

Dr Sharad, a member of the medical board, Government Multi-Speciality Hospital, Sector 16, said 28 players had yesterday been picked up for further examination to determine their age.

The boys were first examined at the Kisan Bhawan and those suspected to have crossed the stipulated age were later taken to the Government Hospital, Sector 16, for X ray and other tests.

A Chandigarh Sports Department said all players were undergoing medical tests.

This evening, more players were referred to the hospital for further medical examinations.

Among the 28 sent to the hospital, 16 were debarred from taking part in the competition.

Two boys of the Chandigarh Football Academy, which is run by the Chandigarh Sports Department, were among 28 players who had undergone tests. Out of the two, Lalaut Fela was medically ruled overage.

The following players have been expelled from the tournament: Abdul Kadir Khan, Jubeer, Imran Khan, Mohit Singh and Jakir Khan (all of Orissa Football Association); Abhishek Kumar and Prashant (Himachal Pradesh); Lalraut Fela (Chandigarh Football Academy); C. Ayyavu and A. Sakthivel (Tamil Nadu Football Association); and Sourav Chakraborty, Sandipain Dutta, Amit Saha and Apollo Rongmei (Mohun Bagan Sail Football Academy, West Bengal).

CFA humiliate Mumbai team
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, September 1
Pankaj Negi of Chandigarh Football Academy, who netted four goals, inspired a 9-0 thrashing of Steadfast Sports Academy of Mumbai in the sixth Administrator’s Challenge Cup All-India Football Tournament for Under-17 organised by the Chandigarh Sports Department at the Football Stadium, Sector 17, here today.

The CF Academy could have won the match by an even bigger margin but for their slowing down in the second half, after they had established a commanding 6-0 lead at half time.

Though they camped inside the rivals’ territory throughout the second half, the CFA boys only resorted to passing the ball around, without generating any attacks or stepping up the tempo.

Pankaj Negi was the star performer for CF Academy, who got home with four goals.

After Sajandeep Singh had given the CFA the lead in the 18th minute, Pankaj Negi scored two quick goals in the 21st and 23rd minutes.

Gagandeep pushed the scoreline to 4-0 in the 25th minute. Pankaj Negi again scored two quick goals in the 32nd and 34th minutes as the teams crossed over with the local team leading by 6-0.

Earlier, Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd) inaugurated the tournament in which 16 teams from all over the country are taking part.

Speaking on the occasion, finance-cum-sports secretary Sanjay Kumar announced that the winners would get a cash award of Rs 50,000 and runners-up Rs 25,000.

Sports director-cum-additional deputy commissioner Inderjit Singh Sandhu and joint director Dr J.P.S. Sidhu were also present on the occasion.

PCA set to kick off domestic season
Our Correspondent

Mohali, September 1
The PCA is all set to begin the domestic season 2008-2009 with the start of Punjab State Inter-District Senior Tournament for Katoch Shield, getting under way from September 2 and culminating with a four-day final slated for September 16 to 19 at the PCA Stadium.

According to Sushil Kapoor, spokesperson for the PCA, the teams have been divided into two pools of four teams each.

Pool A comprises Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Zone B; and Pool B consisting of Patiala, Mohali, Amritsar and Zone A.

The tournament will be played on league-cum-knockout basis at Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Amritsar and Mohali.

The league stage matches are of two-day duration, whereas the semifinals and the final will be played over four days each.

All matches will be watched by different set of selectors to record the performance of individual players to select probables for the state team for various national competitions.

The probables picked up during the tournament will be divided into two teams, which will take part in 15th All India JP Atray Memorial Cricket Tournament, which is played in this region under the auspices of the Punjab Cricket Association.

KV-47 players shine in regional meet
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, September 1
The two-day regional sports meet in boxing and volleyball concluded at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sector 31, here today with Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sector 47, players excelling in various disciplines.

Their teams in both boys and girls categories bagged gold medals in volleyball. Six girls and two boys of the school were selected in volleyball for KVS national meet to be held at Hyderabad.

The events were conducted on the school premises and boxing stadium, Sector 42.

Education officer and officiating assistant commissioner M.S. Chauhan visited the school to witness a volleyball match.

Thirty six rounds of knock-out matches on August 31 were followed by seven matches on September 1 to declare the gold, silver and bronze medallists in 45 kg, 48 kg, 51 kg, 54 kg, 57 kg, 60 kg, 64 kg, 67 kg, 75 kg and 81 kg categories.

Principal Anubhuti Mehta gave away the medals to the winners and appreciated the hard work and sincere efforts of the sportsmen.

Mahavir and Anurag of KV Sector-47 helped their team bag the first position in volleyball, while Harinder and Vishal of NFL, Panipat, brought laurels for their team by clinching the second position. The third position was bagged by KV, Kapurthala.

Also, the boys team got three gold medals in swimming. The school also picked up two gold medals in skating girls and three gold medals in kayaking. The vidyalaya boys also won one silver and one bronze in tae kwon do.

In boxing, the KV-47 boys picked up one gold medal and one bronze medal each.

Meanwhile, the two-day KVS Chandigarh region under-19 boys cricket selection trails concluded at KV High Grounds today.

The selected team consists of Rohit Rani and Paramdeep Singh of KV 1 and KV 2, Ferozepur; Navneet Panday, Parsanjeet Singh, Pardeep Singh, Rajesh Sharma, Ashish Ranjain of No-2 3BRD; Prabjinder Singh, Sandeep Singh of KV, Faridkot Cantt; Rajat Pathania, Aditya Sharma of KV, Sector 31, Abhjay Thankur KV, Sector 47, Rohit KV High Grounds, Dhanraj; Sahil Kanojia of KV-4, Ambala, and Shivan Kaushali, KV BSE, Jalalabad. They will represent Chandigarh region at the KVS national tournament.