NEIGHBOURHOOD

31 Haryana Roadways employees go on strike
Demand regularisation of service
Tribune News service

Kharar, May 26
Illegal sand mining in residential area near Gugga Marhi here has posed major threat to buildings.

Around an acre of land here, which lies on the way to Aastha Enclave, has developed craters as deep as 30 to 40 feet due to illegal mining.

There are three-storeyed flats as well as independent houses lying near this site. Deep digging has exposed the foundations of the nearby buildings.

The earth removed from here is being used for filling lands for construction purposes.

Area residents said that hectic construction activity in Kharar and nearby areas had led to escalated prices of earth. Paucity of adequate earth-filling matter has forced people to buy it at double the normal rates.

Earlier, a trolley of sand cost Rs 350, which now costs Rs 700. Contractors said that earlier, farmers used to give their fallow land on lease for mining.

“Shrinking land for agriculture and increasing housing colonies had aggravated the problem and created dearth for earth meant for filling land for construction,” he added.

The paucity has triggered new trend here where people owing vacant land in residential area lease it out for mining in violation of norms.

This has endangered the foundations of nearby buildings making it vulnerable during monsoons.

Kharar SDM Rajiv Kumar Gupta said that he would cross check from the Mining Department before initiating action.

Kharar, May 26
Students and teachers of Doaba College of Education on Monday organised career counselling for class XII students of rural schools to facilitate aptitude-oriented professional placement for them.

A career mela aimed at improving both educational decisions and human resource development of the rural youth.

Mela official Urmila Sharma, principal Doaba College of Education, said this exercise would also help the students to choose subjects in view of their scope and vocational potential.

During the session, the students were made to undergo mock aptitude test based on which they were given suggestions for their future career options. The students were informed about the eligibility criteria, duties and responsibilities, institutions offering respective courses, salary packages, etc.

The students of Doaba College of Education displayed colourful charts depicting various professions. About 400 students from different schools participated in the career mela.

Dera Bassi, May 26
Following a tribune report regarding the space problem at the grain market, Dera Bassi, the Mandi Board has released Rs 60 lakh to transfer panchayat land in its name at Dhanouni village for the purpose of construction of a new grain market.

Nearly 10-acre land will be transferred in the name of the Mandi Board. Informing regarding the above District Mandi Officer Gurcharan Singh said a cheque of Rs 60 lakh would be offered to sarpanch of Dhanouni village soon and after that the Mandi Board would start the process for the construction of a new grain market. Some days back, a site inspection committee of the Mandi Board visited Dhanouni village where 10-acre land had been acquired for the construction of a grain market.

Seven officials of different departments included in the committee had given their consent to get the land for the purpose of a grain market. The space problem in the grain market was raised by The Tribune in its columns. The grain market at Dera Bassi had only one-and-half acre area for the grain market, including the shops of commission agents. Mandi officials assured that a new grain market would be completed before the next season of paddy.

Chhat, (Banur) May 26
More than 100 employees of Chhat Bir zoo held a protest against the Zoo Field Director after he lodged a police complaint against three class IV employees for allegedly stealing eight eggs of Lady Merest Pheasant, a rare bird.

However, TK Behra, Zoo Field Director, took the police complaint back after the eggs were recovered from the cage of a snake that had entered the bird's enclosure from a hole. The snake was caught and residue of 3 stolen eggs was ejected from its mouth.

According to the protesting employees, on Tuesday, the caretakers informed Range Officer Raminder Singh that eight eggs of Lady Merest Pheasant were found missing from its enclosure. After getting the information, the Range Officer informed the matter to the Zoo Field Director. The protesters alleged that without investigating the matter the Zoo field Director called the police and lodged a complaint against the three employees. The protesters raised slogans against the director and demanding the inquiry against the Zoo Field Director.

After investigation, it was found that the eggs had been actually gulped by a snake. The snake was caught from a hole beneath the bird's cage and three stolen eggs were ejected from its mouth, protesters claimed.

The police official said they got the complaint from the Zoo Field Director but later the complaint was withdrawn.

Denying all allegations by the protesters, Behra said eight eggs of Lady Merest Pheasant were found missing and he had lodged a police complaint against the employees concerned. But after getting the eggs from the cage of the snake the complaint had taken back, he added.

Chandigarh, May 26
A clash between two shopkeepers over dumping of debris took a violent turn when a shopkeeper allegedly stabbed another in Mani Majra here this morning.

The police said the victim, Abhishek Garg, a resident of Sector 17, Panchkula, was injured in the attack and was admitted to the Sector 16 Government Multi Speciality Hospital, where his condition is stated to be stable.

Sources said the incident occurred around 12 pm, when the shopkeeper had an altercation over dumping of debris in a plot adjacent to their shops. During the scuffle the accused, Goldy, a resident of Pipliwala Town, Mani Majra, stabbed Abhishek with a knife.

The police said a case of causing injuries and criminal intimidation under Sections 324 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code had been registered. No arrest has been made so far. — TNS

Mohali, May 26
Local master athletes advocate GS Sidhu and his younger brother PS Sidhu have confirmed participation in the 16th Asian Master’s Athletics Championship to be held in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) this year.

While senior Sidhu will prove mettle in shot put and hammer throw in the plus 75 category, his brother will take part in the plus 65 category. Elated over their selection in the reputed international championship, the duo said, “We are looking forward to win gold medals in the Asian meet.”

Senior Sidhu has already won top honours in shot put during the Asian championships held in 2006 and 2008. “This time I will try to achieve a hat-trick at Kuala Lumpur. I am practising hard,” said GS Sidhu.

Junior Sidhu has also clinched a gold medal in hammer throw during the 31st National Masters Athletics Championship held in Chennai this year. “I am sure to win a gold medal in the forthcoming Asian championship (masters),” said PS Sidhu.

Though the master sportspersons have been toiling hard in a bid to bring laurels to the country, it seems that they are not happy with the government’s attitude towards them.

“As far as board and lodging are concerned, we bear the expenses each time. This time also we will have to shell out Rs 1.10 lakh to participate in the Kuala Lumpur games,” they added. They also lashed out at the Punjab government for not chalking out any policy for veteran sportspersons.