The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

NEIGHBOURHOOD

10 acres of stubble gutted at power plant
Residents allege lack of water arrangements to be the main reason
Tribune News Service

Patiala, April 22
Around 10 acres of stubble was gutted at Punjab Biomass Power Plant, Sanaur-Chaura road, near here today.

Though the reasons of the fire had not been ascertained, residents alleged that it was due to lack of water arrangement at the plant. The fire spread widely and the fire brigade could douse the flames only by evening.

Meanwhile, neighbouring godown and sheller owners started transporting their belongings to safe places.

SDM, Patiala, reached the spot and took notice of the situation. People started protesting in front of him regarding the negligence of the power plant.

It is pertinent to mention here that when the Punjab Biomass decided to establish the dump at the residential area one year ago, even then the residents had objected and had informed district authorities. Four months ago, the SDM had inspected the plant and found that there were no proper water arrangements in the plant.

He had even issued instructions to the owners for making water arrangements but to no avail. The owners had kept only three water tanks that too were found empty.

The SDM informed that the district administration had ordered the closure of the plant three months ago, as they had ignored their instructions. After taking notice of the entire situation, the SDM said strict action would be taken against the defaulters after DC Deepinder Singh goes through the incident.

Except two security guards, none of the senior officials in the plant were present.

Patiala Blast
Babbar Khalsa takes responsibility

Patiala, April 22
Terrorist organisation Babbar Khalsa has taken the responsibility of the blast that occurred at 9 pm on Tuesday in Patiala at Arya Samaj near Satya Narayan Temple. In an e-mail signed by Wadhawa Singh Babbar and Jagtar Singh Tara, they declared that the blast was not meant to hurt any person or property.

It was just a warning for various Hindu organisations that were carrying on anti-Sikh activities. The e-mail mentioned the release of the Hindu calendar that had portrayed the alleged culprits of Operation Blue Star as heroes and the burning of Bhindrawala posters. — TNS

Man killed in accident

Fatehgarh Sahib, April 22
A Sirhind resident was killed after a speeding truck-tanker collided head-on with his car near Sirhind bypass.

The deceased has been identified as Nand Kishore (28). He was on his way back from Nalas village along with Vinay Arora after paying obeisance at a religious place.

Nand Kishore received serious injuries and was rushed to the PGI, Chandigarh, where he was declared brought dead. The police said a case has been registered against the truck driver, who is absconding. — TNS

COURTS

Finally, Babla granted bail
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 22
Nearly four months after he was taken into custody, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today granted bail to Devinder Singh Babla, a local Congress leader, former chairman of the market committee and sitting member of the municipal corporation.

A case of alleged irregularities in the allotment of sheds at the local vegetable market had been registered against Babla after he quit the post in August last.

During the hearing, Babla’s counsel asserted that the allotment had actually been made by a three-member committee, comprising the petitioner, a BJP member and a sub-divisional magistrate, but the petitioner had been singled out.

Acting on a complaint of Suraj Parkash Ahuja, a shop owner at the grain market, the police booked the councillor, along with Rakesh Saini, president of the Grain Market Arhtiya Association, on August 19, for allegedly allotting space in the market to 10 ineligible persons.

CRIME

Motorcycle, tyres of auto stolen
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 22
Thieves decamped with a motorcycle and tyres of an auto-rickshaw from different parts of the city.

Bala Devi, a resident of Sector 37, reported to the police alleging that someone had stolen a Hero Honda motorcycle (CH O3 F 0837) from outside her residence on April 15, while in his complaint, Lalit Mohan Malik, a resident of Maloya Colony, alleged that someone had stolen tyres of his auto-rickshaw (CH 04 K 0608), which was parked outside his residence on April 20.

SPORTS