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Cracker stalls give safety a miss
A survey of the cracker stalls in Sectors 22 and 26 revealed that the norms laid down in the mandatory conditions for safety were being violated with no safety apparatus in sight. The compulsory 30 bags of sand, specified number of fire extinguishers and 200 litres of water were not visible anywhere. The estate office had not issued any fresh licenses for cracker shops this year. The UT authorities confirmed that no fresh permissions were granted this year. Even last year, no fresh permissions were accorded. The regular cracker stall owners were allowed to continue if they sought permission. The number of stalls allowed this year is approximately 450 and the number is lesser than last year. Instead of a single agency handling the entire issue of the festival, the job has been divided among various wings. The estate office granted the permission, the municipal corporation allotted the sites and the fire department is expected to keep a watch. A stall owner in Sector 26, requesting anonymity, said: “The conditions laid down in the allotment letters are mere formalities. We have been selling crackers for the past several years, however, till date, we have never been asked to strictly conform to the fire safety norms. Unquestionably, the security of buyers is of great concern, however, in Chandigarh, the shops are neatly laid out, unlike narrow corridors and bylanes in small towns where there is a greater risk.” A senior official said: “I agree that major fire incidents occur every Diwali all across the country. We will try our best for a rapid action in place in case of an emergency.”
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Illegal stalls to face action
Mohali, October 16 The action has been sought after it was brought to the notice of the SDM that some persons were endangering lives and selling firecrackers in areas close to human habitation. The authorised places were Phases 1, 2, 3B2, 5, 7, 9 and 10. But crackers were being sold close to commercial areas. Not only in urban areas, crackers were being sold at unauthorised places even in the rural areas. District administration officials said shopkeepers were allowed to sell crackers at various stalls set up for Diwali at 10 different sites across the township. There were reports of cracker stall owners selling banned crackers.
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No clue to break-in at school
Chandigarh, October 16 The robbers had assaulted the watchman of the school, who raised the alarm, following which the principal, Sister Sebastina, called the police. The robbery was foiled and the miscreants had to run without taking any valuables. The school principal has demanded that the police should intensify patrol around the school and arrest the criminals at the earliest so that such incidents do not recur in future. The robbers, who were at least five in number, spent a considerable time in the school, breaking open locks and using files to cut iron grills and locks. They also broke open the locks of the office of the headmistress’ primary section. However, they could not find any valuables there. Thereafter, they proceeded to other areas and tried to break open the locks of grill installed outside classrooms. Spotting the strangers, the dogs started barking and the watchman was alerted, who was later nabbed by the robbers. They assaulted him and threatened to kill him if he failed to silence the dogs. They then ran after the dogs to shoo them away, and in the meantime, the watchman sounded the alarm. “He told me what had happened and I immediately called the police, which reached there within minutes. But we were so horrified at the presence of armed men in the school that I rang up the police again,” Sister Sebastina said, adding that the watchman was bleeding profusely and the police was insisting to take him to hospital even though they wanted it to take a round of the school first to confirm if the robbers had fled. It was after much persuasion that the police agreed to take a round of the school. The SHO of the Sector 26 police station said they had not been able to gather any solid clue about the robbers. He said the watchman had provided some description of the robbers, and they were trying to match those with criminals in police records.
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Minor among 4 held for robberies
Chandigarh, October 16 The accused had committed four robberies in various parts of the city on October 14. Thereafter, they had gone on to commit robberies in Mohali. The police recovered a motor cycle and five mobile phones from their possession and claimed that more cases of snatching and robbery were likely to be solved during their interrogation. DSP (south) Jaswant Singh Khaira said the accused were arrested following a tip-off on Thursday while they were planning to commit robberies
in the city. The accused have been identified as Gurtej Singh, alias Gogi, of Sector 20-C, Nitin Kumar, alias Gora, and Luvpreet Singh of Sohana village. A local court remanded them in three-day police custody, while the minor boy was sent to juvenile home. The other accused are in their early 20s, the police added. The DSP said Gurjit Singh Deepu of Sohana, a taxi driver by profession, was the kingpin of the gang. He was an addict and was at large. Luvpreet told mediapersons that Deepu had offered them drinks and said they would take them for a movie. “When we entered Mohali, he stopped a cyclist in Sector 52 and robbed him after slapping him. He told us that they would make money this way and celebrate Diwali. He then gave us Rs 600 each and later took back Rs 200 from each of us saying he should have the lion’s share as he robbed targets,” said Luvpreet. Luvpreet said he was working as a salesman and had quit the job a week ago. Gurtej was earlier arrested by the police in a similar case and was on bail. Luvpreet’s aunt, however, claimed that he was picked up from Sohana and was innocent.
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Postal dept strikes gold
Chandigarh, October 16 On the occasion of Dhanteras yesterday, the postal department netted Rs 10 lakh with a sale of 570 gm gold coins in the region, comprising the UT and Punjab. The sales have been brisk ever since the gold prices crossed the Rs 15,000 mark and since September 24, the department recorded a sale of Rs 26 lakh by selling 1,459 gm of gold coins. However, the USP of the increased sales has been the “festive offer” where the department is giving customers an extra .5 gm (half gram) coin with every 10 gm coin. The sales have in fact shot up post the festive offer date of September 24. In addition to this, the department is also offering a 6 per cent rebate to government employees and pensioners. Though the prices of the gold coins sold by the department are “slightly” higher than what is available in the open market, the “surety” of the “purity” of the gold has been attracting customers, officials say. Talking to The Tribune, Jagdeep Gupta, Senior Superintendent Post, Chandigarh, said the gold coin scheme was made popular due to good marketing and easy accessibility of low-end denominations like half gram (0.5gm), 1 gm, 5 gm and 8 gm coins during the festive season.
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Justice Khehar steps down as admin judge
Chandigarh, October 16 Nearly five months after he was made the administrative judge of the sessions division here, he has
rescued himself from the task. Chief Justice Tirath Singh Thakur communicated the information in this regard to other Judges of the high court during the “Full Court” meeting held yesterday afternoon. Available information suggests Justice Khehar’s decision to voluntarily step down as the administrative judge is connected to the circulation of anonymous letters among members of the Bar and the Bench. Apparently, almost all sitting and retired judges of the high court have received these letters, “eye openers”, by a “law-abiding citizen”. Referring to a house in Sector 8, the letter asserts “execution proceedings qua the house are pending at the Civil Court, Chandigarh”. The letter goes on to elaborate “The proceedings are pending in the court of Ms Amandeep Kaur, Civil Judge, Junior Judge, Chandigarh; and the Judge filed objection petition in the same in his own name in the month of August/September”. A copy of the “objection petition” under Section 47 read with Order 21, Rule 50 of the CPC, on behalf of objector Jagdish Singh Khehar is enclosed along with the unsigned letter. Justice Khehar, tipped to be the Chief Justice of the Uttaranchal High Court, was made the “administrative judge” in May. It is believed that a Judge recuses himself from being the administrative judge of a particular sessions division, if his personal case, or that of his kith and kin, is pending, in accordance with a long-established convention. With Justice Khehar’s decision to step down now, the administrative work of the Chandigarh sessions division has officially been handed over to Justice Kanwaljit Singh Ahluwalia of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The anonymous letter is a part of a series of three letters in circulation. Another “eye opener” carries the call details of conversation between a Punjab and Haryana High Court judge and two advocates from September, 2007, till May this year. It also talks of property dealings and their worth. The third “eye opener”, on a retired apex court Judge and his advocate son, tries to establish apprehensions of a nexus between the judges and their wards practising in the high court. Though the identity of the author is a secret, the language used in the communiqués hints that he belongs to the legal fraternity.
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Fire tender on sensitive duty found ill-equipped
The fire department has identified five fire sensitive zones in the city where it is difficult for fire tenders to reach. They are: Shastri Market, Sector 22; Sadar Bazar, Sector 19; grain market, Sector 26; Mauli Jagran and Burail village. The authorities have deputed staff and fire tenders in the markets to tackle any untoward incident. However, sources in the department revealed that a multi-purpose vehicle of the fire station at Industrial Area, Phase I, which had been deputed at Mauli Jagran under a special drive, was found to be ill-equipped. Sources said firemen of the fire station wrote in the log book this morning that all five nitrogen cylinders and DCP vessel of the vehicle were empty. Sources said in spite of the anomaly, the vehicle was sent to Mauli Jagran, ignoring the report of the firemen. It was later decided by the authorities to park the vehicle at Sadar Bazaar, Sector 19. Incidentally, the fire department had yesterday claimed that all fire tenders were fully functional and the fire department had checked vehicles before deputing them at various places in the city. Sources said the department had kept fire tenders, portable pumps, two hydraulic turntable ladders, high-pressure pumps and three foam tenders, on standby but there was shortage of drivers with the department. Meanwhile, PS Shergil, ADC Chandigarh, and PK Sharma, MC Commissioner, held a joint checking in various markets regarding fire safety norms and encroachments in the markets today. Certain shopkeepers selling firecrackers from temporary stalls at Shastri Market, Sector 22, were found to be not following fire safety norms and were asked to shut their shops. The enforcement staff also removed clothes and other articles displayed by shopkeepers from the passages in the market. Sharma warned shopkeepers to remove encroachments from the passage or face action. They also checked markets at Sectors 19 and 15.
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Adulteration fails to sour sweet tooth
Chandigarh, October 16 Unmindful of the after effects of the adulterated khoya, which could have been used in the manufacturing of the sweets, people could be seen making a beeline at various sweets shops in Chandigarh and its surrounding areas, including Mohali, Panchkula, Zirakpur and Mani Majra, to purchase the sweets of their choice. A random survey of the tricity by this reporter showed that people still purchased the sweets, as they felt that the festivities would be incomplete without them. “Even though there were other alternatives available, including small crockery items, which I could gift to my friends and relatives but I have to purchase sweets, as it is to be offered to Goddess Lakshmi during the puja ceremony on Diwali,” said Swantatar Kaushal. Sweet shop owners, including Sindhi Sweets, Gopal Sweets, Sai Sweets, Gobind Sweets and Anupam Sweets, claimed that despite price hike their sale at the counter had been as usual as they had always tried to maintain the quality, which had helped them retain their select clientele. They said even though they had been forced to increase the prices of the sweet items due to the steep increase in the prices of milk, khoya and sugar, they were expecting that the people would go in for major purchases during the last two days of the festive season. Another city resident, Anita Sharma, said as the cost of dry fruits had also increased by about 20 to 25 per cent, it was not possible for her to gift them to her relatives and friends. A gift pack of the dry fruits was available in the market from Rs 400 upwards depending on the quality and quantity of the items, she added.
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Sec 22 market continues to draw festival shoppers
Chandigarh, October 16 From Ganesha idols to curtains, fabrics, bedsheets, silverware to designer candles, decorative puja thalis and other household items, the market offers everything that Diwali shoppers might want to buy at cheaper rates. “The one thing which attracts people to this place is the price of articles here. You get most of the stuff at half the price. A metal wall hanging, for which you might shell out Rs 1,000 at a high-end store, will sell for around Rs 400 here. The same goes for other things as well,” Radhika Chopra, who works with a bank, says. “Though it is time consuming to find the exact kind of stuff you are looking for, it is worth the effort because you get discounts on bulk purchase,” adds Kanika Gupta, who frequents the place during festival season. Many retailers buy in bulk from this market. “Before the festive season, we get demands from retailers in the city in the form of bulk orders. There is not much of difference in the quality of products outside,” Manjeet Singh, a shopkeeper, says. With the change in profile of customers, the shopkeepers have also added options to cater to varying needs. “Now, a large number of youngsters come to the market, which was not the case sometime ago. Only their parents used to shop here earlier. We have gifting options for them this Diwali. Attractive puja thalis are very popular,” says Nanak Chand, another shopkeeper. Established in the early 1950s when the city was inaugurated, this oldest market still remains one of the most frequented places when it comes to shopping, especially during the festival season.
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UT to levy VAT on dhabas
The administration given an option to the dhaba owners to pay a lump sum tax in lieu of the tax payable under the Punjab Value Added Tax Act, 2005. The tax has been levied on turnover basis. A dhaba owner with a turnover of Rs 5 lakh but less than Rs 15 lakh is required to pay a lump sum tax of Rs 10,000. Those with a turnover of above Rs 15 lakh and less than Rs 30 lakh will be required to pay Rs 22,500, Rs 30 lakh and less than Rs 50 lakh will pay Rs 40,000, 50 lakh and less than Rs 1 crore will pay Rs 75,000 and less than Rs 1.5 crores will pay Rs 1,25,000. A dhaba owner may at any time exercise his option to pay lump sum tax in lieu of the tax. The person opting for the option will have to purchase goods from the UT on payment of VAT wherever applicable. In case a dhaba owner intends to close his Dhaba for the whole year, he will have to inform it 10 days before the financial year closes, failing which the owner will have to pay the tax. For the ease of the owners, it has been decided that the payment of lump sum tax could be done in 12 equal monthly installments with an increase of 8 per cent on the amount of lump sum paid in the previous year.
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Amends deemed assessment scheme
Chandigarh, October 16 As per the amendment, dealers can now file the prescribed Deemed Assessment Form (ST-XXX-A) in the stipulated period of 180 days rather then 90 days. This amendment will facilitate the implementation of the Deemed Assessment Scheme in the UT. A release issued here today said the relaxation was seen to be of great help to dealers in getting their pending tax assessment cases cleared through deemed assessment at their own option. The scheme covers the summary assessment of pending sales assessment cases prior to December 14, 2005, i.e. before VAT came into existence. Now, the deemed assessment fee to be deposited by the dealers has been increased at the rate of Rs 300 per lakh from Rs 100 per lakh of the gross turnover of sales, purchases and turnover under Section 4-B of the Act, but the minimum amount of fee will be Rs 1,000, which was before Rs 500. Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, has approved the amendment in the Punjab Value Added Tax Act, (as applicable to the UT). There was also a persistent demand by various trade unions, associations for extending the scheme on the lines of Punjab in the UT.
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‘Work for better patient care’
Chandigarh, October 16 It was attended by around 200 senior residents, junior residents and demonstrators of various departments of GMCH. The function was inaugurated by director principal, Dr Raj Bahadur, as the chief guest and presided over by medical superintendent, Dr Vipin Koushal. In his inaugural address, Dr Raj Bahadur asked the young doctors to strengthen the skills in their respective fields and work for better patient care in GMCH. Dr Vipin Kaushal congratulated association members for organising the event and expressed his best wishes for their success in future. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by joint secretary, Dr Rajat Bhatia, that was followed by the felicitation ceremony of the chief guest and the members of the governing body, which included president, Dr Rajeev Kansay, vice-president, Dr Kanwarjot Singh, general secretary, Dr Naveen Dutt, joint secretary, Dr Rajat Bhatia, treasurer, Dr Ritu Bharti, advisor, Dr Shikha Sarangi, media spokesperson, Dr Gurpreet Singh, and members of the executive body of the association. The inauguration was followed by a brilliant display of fireworks.
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Low awareness on ASHA scheme: Study
Chandigarh, October 16 Research undertaken by the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development has revealed that there is lack of information about the scheme. Moreover, there was need for widespread dissemination of information on all aspects of the NRHM, especially the Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA), a community-based functionary introduced by the mission. The research found that in Punjab, ASHA component had not received due attention and selection and training was yet to take place in many districts. Village health functionaries had very little knowledge about ASHA’s work, role and responsibility. ASHA must be a woman resident of a village, preferably in the age group of 25-45 year with formal education up to class VIII. She is to be selected by the village health and sanitation committee and the gram sabha and is required to coordinate with other social functionaries to promote good health practises and provide primary medical care for minor ailments. The research reported that selection of workers had been carried out mainly on the recommendations of sarpanches and other influential persons. The community was not made aware about the ASHA scheme. The programme was being implemented under the aegis of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. In some cases, women with strongest social motivation were left out. Majority of the women were BPL cardholders, but had not received any financial support from the government under relevant scheme, the research found.
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Anaesthesia Day observed
Chandigarh, October 16 Anaesthesiologists of the PGI got together on the occasion and paid homage to Dr WTG Morton’s path-breaking contribution in the field of anaesthesia. Dr Morton conducted the first public demonstration of ether anaesthesia at Boston, USA, 163 years ago on the same day, which went down as a milestone and heralded the beginning of a new era. According to experts, surgical procedures prior to October 16, 1846, used to be performed without any form of anaesthesia, sometimes with manual restraints and with the help of “strong men” holding the patient during the surgery. Anaesthesia as a science and art has since come a long way, which was perhaps not even foreseen by Dr Morton. Anaesthesia has also over the years encompassed the discipline of intensive care and is perhaps the only field to have a role in every sphere of the hospital. From operating rooms to ICUs to interventional radiology suites to pain clinics to cardiac catheterisation labs, anaesthesiologists have a vital role to play.
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Tenants demand rehabilitation
Chandigarh, October 16 According to a press note, the association is demanding rehabilitation of industrial tenants in the upcoming Industrial Area, Phase III. No new applications for the rehabilitation of the industrial tenants should be invited till the existing tenants uprooted from the Industrial Area were rehabilitated. Since the survey had already been done, the Chandigarh Administration should finalise the rehabilitation package immediately, the press note said.
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Air Marshal visits IAF station
Chandigarh, October 16 Addressing the trainees and personnel on the focus areas for reducing accidents in the IAF, the Air Marshal gave a presentation on data analysis on the last five years’ accidents and air incidents. He reiterated that flight safety concerns everyone and all personnel play a major role in ensuring flight safety. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Air Marshal Randhawa assumed his present appointment in January this year and has over 3,000 hours of flying to his credit. He was the leader of Thunderbolts, IAF’s erstwhile aerobatic display team of Hunter aircraft. During his tenure as the Assistant Chief of Integrated Defence Staff at Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff in the Ministry of Defence, he conceptualised and evolved the joint doctrine for the armed forces and joint doctrine for amphibious operations.
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Rodrigues serves notice on CNN-IBN
Chandigarh, October 16 The notice said: “The report repeatedly and dramatically telecast by your channel on October 15 that the PM summoned Rodrigues over the issue and that he had to rush to Delhi last Tuesday to explain his position to the PM and that the PM asked Rodrigues to quit as Governor. The sheer recklessness with which all this has been disseminated by your channel and you all is indeed astounding.” The notice has sought immediate apology, failing which legal/judicial proceedings will be initiated against the channel.
— TNS
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BPL beneficiaries get LPG autos
Chandigarh, October 16 This was the first project under the Swaran Jayanti Shastri Rozgar Yojana under which 18 auto-rickshaws are being handed over to the BPL beneficiaries for running in the tricity. Joint Commissioner TPS Phoolka said that under the urban self-employment programme of the scheme, a BPL beneficiary was is entitled for loan and subsidy for setting up a self-employment enterprise. Under the same component, the BPL beneficiary is allowed to avail a loan up to Rs 2 lakh with 25 per cent subsidy, subject to a maximum of Rs 50,000.
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Two injured as gun goes off
Mohali, October 16 The guard, Surinder Singh, was cleaning his .12 bore gun when it went off and the pellets hit two persons, Karam Singh and Ajay Singla. The incident took place around 11 am. The guard, deployed by Gulmohar Securities, had been posted at the jewellery shop, Lotus Diamond, a few days ago. The police has arrested the guard whose gun went off under Section 337 of the Indian Penal Code. The injured persons were admitted to a private hospital after the incident and were said to be out of danger. A police official said no ulterior motive had been found behind the incident in their initial probe.
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Plantation drive on BSF campus
Mohali, October 16 Sponsored by Pandit Chaman Lal (advocate) Memorial Trust, Kharar, the plantation drive was carried out in the presence of IG, BSF (West) Chandigarh, KJS Cheema; DIG VK Sharma, DIG KC Pandhi and DIG DS Dhaliwal. Cheema said in the recent times, the world had witnessed a drastic shift in climatic conditions that had been evaluated to be extremely harmful to life on earth. The main cause of change was human activity. He said many organisations had come forward to try to revert the change. Stress laid by each organisation was to execute activities that were eco-friendly. The first step towards achieving this was to go green by planting more trees.
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Awareness rally on female foeticide
Chandigarh, October 16 The students of classes 7th and 9th and volunteers of NSS unit of the school participated in the rally by carrying placards and banners against the social evil. The rally was flagged off by school principal Anujit Kaur. The students along with the volunteers of the NSS unit marked a grand presence and highlighted the social evil in an effective manner.
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12 cops honoured
Chandigarh, October 16 The DGP honoured constable Nirbhai Singh, who was injured while stopping a motorcyclist who did not stop at a picket laid by traffic police in Sector 43. In another incident, the PCR staff nabbed a man who snatched a gold chain from a woman near Hira Singh Chowk October 27. The next day, the PCR staff nabbed the snatcher when he was forcibly taking a mobile phone from a man in jungle area near the PGI. Similarly, a PCR mobile van shifted a seriously injured person to Fortis Hospital, when he refused to get admitted to the government hospital. He was carrying four mobile phones and Rs 2 lakh with him, which the police personnel returned to the victim. Those given rewards include sub-inspectors Surinder Singh and Harinder Singh, head constables Kuldip Rai and Satnam Singh, constables Gautam Singh, Jatinder Singh and Umesh and home guard volunteers Surinder Pal, Amrik Singh, Gurbhag Singh, Sukhjit Singh and Pawan Kumar.
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ESI launches new scheme
Chandigarh, October 16 Giving details of the project, GC Jena, Additional Commissioner and
Regional Director, said under the scheme, the employers and insured persons would be issued magnetic identity cards and would be registered online, thus facilitating the members to get medical
facilities.
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Chandigarh, October 16
Chandigarh, October 16
Chandigarh, October 16