Chandigarh, June 4
The role of black money in property transactions in the city will be considerably reduced following a steep increase in collector rates, 25 per cent in rural areas and by 60 per cent in urban areas, by the Chandigarh administration today.

The unprecedented hike in collector rates will net more revenue for the state exchequer as buyers will have to pay 5 per cent of the new collector rate as stamp duty to the administration. The decision was taken after recommendations of a committee headed by ADC PS Shergill.

The new collector rates for residential property would Rs 39,936 per square yards as against Rs 24,960 per square yard fixed on May 28, 2007.

The new rate for the commercial property varied between Rs 1.24 lakh per square yard to Rs 3.49 lakh per squard yard as compared to previous rates ranging from Rs 93,000 to Rs 1.56 lakh per yard.

“Besides mopping up more revenue for the administration, the new decision will definitely reduce the role of black money in property transactions,” Amarjit Sethi, a leading property consultant, said.

Officials said the upward revision in collector rates was long overdue as prices had virtually skyrocketed in the last three years.

“A commensurate increase in collectorate rates is a welcome step to stablise the real estate sector in the region as Chandigarh property prices determine rates in the periphery,” BK Sanghi, chairman of the Haryana Group Housing Federation, said.

During the last property auction in December 2009, a square yard of residential property had fetched a whopping Rs 74,820, up from Rs 55,299 in 2008.

Similarly, commercial property was sold at the rate of Rs 2.74 lakh per square yard, though most commercial plots were not in the prime sectors. The oficials said the increase had been effected as there was a vast difference in the market price and the price at which the property was registered.

Chandigarh, June 4
Widespread pre-monsoon showers, preceded by a dust storm and gusty winds, threw life out of gear in the tricity, disrupting power supply, here tonight.

The dust storm led to extensive damage to property, including trees and electricity wires. A few road accidents, including one at The Tribune Chowk, were also reported.

The dust storm and rain brought much-needed relief to residents from the scorching heat.

Till the filing of this report, power supply was yet to be restored to some areas. Officials said strong winds were making their task difficult.

Chandigarh, June 4
It turned out to be an endless wait for hundreds of prospective travellers who had lined up at the railway reservation counters at the Sector 17 Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) today.

A snag in the BSNL line connected to computers meant for reservation was responsible for causing considerable harassment to commuters. The problem, which developed at around 11 am, could be rectified only by 4 pm. Railway officials said an estimated 500 people were unable to get their tickets booked.

Chaos prevailed as the reservation process remained suspended at all four reservation counters located at the bus station. Many had to return without tickets after waiting patiently for hours after being told a technical snag had slowed down the computerised ticketing system.

Due to the fault in the BSNL line, railway officials at the city’s train station found it difficult to even get printouts of the reservation status of various trains leaving in the afternoon. Eight major trains leave the station daily including the two Shatabdis and the Jan Shatabdi, Chandigarh-Lucknow, Paschim and Chandigarh-Jodhpur expresses.

For the Unchahar Express and Himalayan Queen, which left at 4:25 pm and 5:30 pm, respectively, officials had to arrange the reservation status list from the Chandigarh railway station.

Vijay Sharma, an industrialist, said after waiting for two hours at the reservation counter at the Sector 17 ISBT he had gone to the train station to get the reservation done. “My wife and son had to go to Lucknow to see her sick mother,” he added.

Sources said all four counters as well as the enquiry counter at the Sector 17 ISBT were nonfunctional today. “A fault in the BSNL line was reported to be the reason,” explained an official at the booking counters. She said she had also reported the matter to the Indian Railways headquarters in New Delhi. A number of commuters complained their enquiries on the reservation status had also not been answered as the system was down. Some of them travelled all the way to the reservation centres at the train station or to the Sector 43 Interstate Bus Terminus to get the tickets.

Chandigarh, June 4
A lieutenant colonel, who had alleged victimisation for blowing the whistle on his commanding officer, today filed a contempt petition with the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) against the Army on grounds that it had not followed the Tribunal’s order that he be considered for the promotion.

In April, the AFT had ordered that Lt Col BS Goraya’s name be included in the list of prospective candidates and he be considered for promotion to colonel in the selection board that was to be held in May this year.

The selection board was considering him in December 2009, but a gap in his confidential report profile from September 2008 to May 2009 led to his name being excluded. The Army had debarred his commanding officer to write his confidential report.

The AFT had ruled that the gap in the confidential report for the said period not be taken into consideration to withdraw the officer from the board. The order given three days before the board was scheduled to be assembled and was faxed to the Army headquarters immediately.

The board assembled on May 3, but the petitioner was not considered. According to the petition, he learnt that the board was again assembling on May 11 and he communicated the AFT’s order to the authorities concerned.

The authorities were again requested to consider the case of the petitioner for promotion in view of the directions of the AFT, but in the result of the board, released on May 12, showed the petitioner as withdrawn case and no consideration, whatsoever has been given to his case.

Colonel Goraya, Second-in-Command of an Army Supply Corps battalion, had complained against his commanding officer for various irregularities in May 2009. A court enquiry was ordered and the petitioner was attached to Headquarters Western Command in August last and he has since been attached to Western Command.

Chandigarh, June 4
The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has dismissed the applications of two Haryana civil services officers who claiming promotion to IAS cadre had challenged the promotion of 13 other state civil officers. Applicants BB Kaushik and Ashok Bishnoi both serving at present as the ADC, Kaithal, and the ADC, Panipat, respectively had claimed that the Department Promotion Committee promoted four officers junior to them.

In addition to the Union government, the Haryana government and the Union Public Service Commission, the applicants made the 13-promoted officers as party to the case.

Both applicants had alleged that the proceedings of the Department Promotion Committee held on December 18, 2008.

According to applicants, as per the IAS regulations, the State Civil Officers within 8 years of service in the state cadre were eligible for promotion to the IAS cadre as per seniority and zone of consideration. They also claimed that they were eligible for promotion but were not considered for want of vacancies. Moreover, four officers junior to them were promoted and in the case of two officers, in order to extend notional benefits to them the respondents dropped the criminal and vigilance proceedings against them before holding the DPC, alleged the applicants.

The tribunal, however, dismissing the two applications observed that the respondents had placed the record pertaining to all private respondents as well applicants before it and on the perusal it was found that the claims of applicants held no merit. The record of the promoted officers was certainly better than that of the applicants, observed the tribunal.

Chandigarh, June 4
The dispute over the bus parking time in front of ticket counters seems to have been resolved for now as the State Transport Authority (STA), Chandigarh, has decided to issue new timetable providing the level playing field to every bus operator here today.

Protesting against the timetable implemented last month, yesterday, the Punjab Roadways employees stopped operating their buses from Chandigarh and did not allow CTU buses to be ply in the Punjab area.

The alleged that in the previous timetable, every bus of the CTU was allowed to beparked for 10 minutes on the ticket counters while the buses from other states had to do so for just 3 minutes due to which they had to leave the bus stand without sufficient number of passengers.

Roadways general manager Gursewak Singh Rajpal said he had submitted a proposal with the STA secretary at a meeting held this morning and she had assured him that all the apprehensions of Punjab roadways employees would be taken care of.

Vandana Disodia, Secretary, STA, when contacted said a new timetable had been issued following which all parties were satisfied.

Chandigarh, June 4
With an aim to preserve the architectural heritage of the City Beautiful, as it was originally envisaged, the Government of India has set up an expert committee under the chairmanship of Punjab Governor and UT administrator Shivraj V Patil.

The committee will look at both the original concept of the city as well as maintenance of the important public buildings in the city. The focus will be on some of the buildings in the city, which are now more than half-a-century-old.

The member-secretary of the committee is adviser to the UT administrator, while other members are eminent professionals, who have professional expertise, in-depth knowledge and sensitivity to the planning concepts of Chandigarh and Le Corbusier’s philosophy. The UT administrator had recommended the names of some experts to be included in the committee and as per his recommendations, the Government of India has constituted the committee.

Those who will be members of the committee are nominee of Ministry of Culture, nominee of Ministry of Urban Development, nominee of Ministry of Home Affairs, SS Bhatti, retired principal of Chandigarh College of Architecture, Raj Rewal, architect, Renu Saigal, former chief architect, Chandigarh, Madhu Sarin, architect and town planner, Chand Nehru, Jai Singh Gill, former chairman of the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission, Manoj Datta, director, PEC University of Technology, and BN Goswamy, art historian.

The expert committee for preservation of architectural heritage of Chandigarh is likely to make its recommendations within three months.

Chandigarh, June 4
Residents of two hundred houses at Dadu Majra village are left with no option but to buy drinking water as the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation has failed to meet the basic requirement of the area. Residents today arranged three water tankers by paying Rs 450 each.

Since morning, women and children went from door-to-door collecting money for arranging water tankers. When the water tankers came, women and children were seen standing in long queue, carrying pitchers and buckets to get water for at least two days so that they did not have to go to the near by colony to fetch water.

Whereas, the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation is aware that these houses are not getting proper water supply for the past three months, due to some technical fault, but the department has not made any standby arrangement for the villagers till date.

Raju Devi, resident of Dadu Majra said that it was for months now that they did not get proper water supply for household chores. They have met area councillor Kamlesh and Public Health officials for the redressal of their problem several times. But all they could get was assurances from the department that after the installation of the new pipeline every thing would be fine in their area.

Kamlesh expressed her helplessness and said that she had been in touch with the department concerned, but they had taken no action till date. She said that she had even taken up this issue in the House too and the official replied that as the population was increasing they were not able to meet the full demand of the colonies.

Another resident Pinki of the colony said that they had decided not to pay their water bills this month, as they did not get a drop of water in May. She said that as the holidays of children had commenced, it had become very difficult to her to meet the need of water on a routine basis.

Meanwhile, during a surprise checking this morning by Kamlesh Kumar, Assistant Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, along with field staff, it was found that Sushil Jain, resident of house number 1126, Gobindpura, Mani Majra, who had taken temporary water connection for construction purposes was filling the water containers for commercial purposes and many empty ones were lying in the hall of the premises.

The water-filled containers were being loaded in two vehicles. Officials impounded both these vehicles and legal action has been initiated against him.

Chandigarh, June 4
India is a land of diverse multi-racial, multi-lingual, multi-cultural and multi-religious traditions where the monarchs and common man identify themselves and relate to the same Indian cultural heritage signifying unity in diversity. From the times immortal, monarchs belonging to different religions had influenced the life of common man and their cultural ethos find representation in the heritage forts, temples and other monuments.

The city-based father son duo of film maker GS Channi and Gyandev Singh, both NSD alumnus, have immaculately captured the cultural soul of India in their 26 episode TV documentary “Forts of India” for Doordarshan. — OC

Chandigarh, June 4
Out of the frying pan, into the fire. The adage perfectly fits the case of former national coach and international hockey player Sukhbir Grewal, who is caught in the red tape of the Chandigarh police to recover his Maruti Gypsy, found over a year-and-a-half after it was stolen.

So much so that even orders dated January 21, 2009, issued by Judicial Magistrate First Class, failed to get the local police to hand over possession of the vehicle to its owner.

Fed up with the attitude of the police, Grewal, who represented the Indian national hockey team at the international level for 11 years and missed the 1980 Olympics due to a backbone injury, said he was left with no option but to seek legal redress of his grievance.

Sources said the investigating officer had caused the delay. The vehicle kept lying in the crime branch for months before it was sent to the Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory (CFSL) at Sector 36 for verification of its engine and chassis numbers.

“The thieves had replaced the engine and changed its chassis number. We have sent four other Gypsies for verification to the CFSL. It is a long process and takes time. It is only after the CFSL confirms the original numbers will we be able to restore it to its owner,” said inspector Charanjit Singh, in charge of the crime branch.

Grewal, who was the national coach of the Indian hockey team at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and was presently Director, Coaching and Monitoring, Hockey Punjab, said his 2000-model Maruti Gypsy (CH03D-3562), bearing engine number 101706 and chassis number 2049927, was stolen from in front of his residence at Sector 36 in August, 2008.

His son Indervir Singh Grewal reported the matter at the Sector 36 police station, where a case of theft was registered on September 2, 2008.

“I got a call from the police in early November to identify my Gypsy as the crime branch had busted a gang of vehicle thieves. The police recovered five Gypsies from Haryana. Except for mine, the others were police vehicles. I identified my vehicle and thought that I would soon get it back, but it was not to be,” said Grewal. It was then that he got caught in the police red tape.

Grewal said the condition of his hardtop Gypsy was almost the same when recovered. But later, it began deteriorating after lying in neglect for months together with the crime branch.

Mohali, June 4
The police has initiated an inquiry into the circumstances leading to the death of Dr Gurpreet Kaur, mother of Rattanpreet, a Class VII student of YPS, who was beaten up by two teachers of the school. On receiving the distress call from Rattanpreet, she had suffered a cardiac attack.

Soon after the incident, Dr Barinder Singh, father of the victim, had complained to the police authorities about the circumstances leading to the death of his wife. DSP (City-II) Swarandeep Singh said on the basis of the complaint the police was questioning the persons related to the incident. The students, the sacked teachers and family members of the victim were being questioned.

After the death of the woman, the police had initiated inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC. But after the complaint, an autopsy of the victim’s body was conducted and the inquiry was being conducted. The school authorities have not lodged any complaint against the teachers with the police.

The police was still inquiring into the matter and had not registered any case. — TNS

Chandigarh, June 4
Following the application of a Sector 42 resident, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed Sony Ericsson to replace the handset purchased by the complainant with a new handset of the same model and make with one-year warranty.

The company and other parties were directed to pay Rs 5,000 to the complainant as a compensation,besides, Rs 3,000 as costs of litigations.

The complainant Om Kalia, in her application, stated that she had purchased a Sony Ericsson W 610i mobile phone set for Rs 7,940 from Naresh Departmental Store, Sector 22.

According to the complainant, the set had some problem since the day of its purchase. She requested the owner to repair, who advised her to change the SIM card. Accordingly, the complainant changed the SIM card by spending Rs 100, but the problem still persisted.

Later, the service centre changed the software, but that, too, could not solve the problem. The complainant again approached the service center, but the set was returned with a remark “liquid damaged”.

In another incident, the forum also directed Arvindra Electronics, Sector 22-B, and branch manager, Whirlpool, to repair refrigerator free of cost to the entire satisfaction of the complainant. They were also directed to pay Rs 5,000 as compensation for mental agony and harassment, besides, Rs 5,000 litigation cost.

Harpreet Kaur, a resident of Sector 42-B, Chandigarh, filed a complaint stating that she purchased a fridge from Arvindra Electronics for Rs 30,700 on November 1, 2007. According to the complainant, the items stored in the refrigerator started freezing within six days of its installation. The complainant approached Whirlpool and the company changed the thermostat. Thereafter, items kept on top two shelves of the fridge started freezing. The Whirlpool official was approached again, who advised the complainant to install a stabiliser. According to the complainant, even after installing the stabiliser, the fridge was still not working.

Despite requests, the company failed to rectify defects. According to the company, the defective part is repairable and they were still ready to replace it as per warranty terms, but the complainant was not ready.

The forum, however, observed: “It will not be ideal to direct the company to replace the refrigerator with a new one. But in this case, they have failed to repair/replace the defective parts after repeated requests of the complainant. The complainant suffered mental agony and harassment due to mal-functioning of the refrigerator after spending Rs 30,700 and therefore, she is also entitled for Rs 5,000 as compensation.”

Mohali, June 4
An information sought under the Right to Information Act has revealed that a bridge linking Manauali-Dheri villages and the other linking Aramgarh-Kambali villages are still under construction from the last more than nine months. Both the bridges were scheduled to be completed by May 25.

Dr Jasdeepak Singh Kambala, a resident of Kambali village, who had sough the information, said despite the fact that both the bridges were crucial for the residents of the area, the PWD was taking its own time in completing the projects.

“These bridges are nowhere near completion. The PWD minister of Punjab gave assurance in the last Vidhan Sabha session that the construction would be completed in the stipulated time,” he added.

Now, the monsoons are about to arrive and work would be affected once again. The temporary bridge from Manauali to Dheri gives way during rains and road traffic is disrupted and people are virtually cut off and have to travel long distances to reach their destinations.

The bridge connects Dairi, Manakpur, Cahumajra, Giga Majra, Nagari, Menda Majra and several other villages. Residents of these villages have to travel long distances to reach Manauali and Mohali. Manauali has a post office, dispensary, school, and other important facilities.

It may be mentioned that the Punjab State Human Rights Commission took serious view of the issue and registered it as a case last year. On February 19, the department concerned had assured the completion of the above projects on time. Then PSHRC dropped the proceedings.

Mohali, June 4
A team of officials of the Mohali district administration, led by SP (City) SS Gill, today swooped at the office of the director, rural development and panchayats, and forcibly evacuated a protesting member of the Para-medical Karamchari Union, Karamjit Kaur, to the civil hospital, Phase VI.

The woman was sitting on a hunger strike in support of the demands of the union. The woman was evacuated after she refused to accept food. The police has already imposed Section144 of the CrPC around the office of director, rural development and panchayats.

Zirakpur, June 4
In the absence of proper cleaning facilities for drains, the residents of Dyalpura village are facing inconvenience as the water kept overflowing on the roads. Cesspools of stinking water and potholes on the road have become hazards for residents to walk in the village.

Residents of the village alleged that they have urged the village panchayat many times for cleaning the drains, but in vain. They demanded that drains should be cleaned properly on priority basis.

Manmohan Singh, a resident of the village, said the drains were blocked and were not cleaned for the past few days, resulting into dirty water entering houses in the village.

Another resident Jarnail Kaur said it was difficult to cross the road as the drain water was smelling foul and mosquitoes were breeding in it. “We are living in a hell as nobody is paying heed to the grievances of poor people,” she added.

Meanwhile, village sarpanch Baljit Singh claimed that the drains would be cleaned shortly. He added that he had written to the mandi board officials to repair the roads and drains in the village.

Mohali, June 4
The Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) has decided to give a golden chance to students who got compartment in the 2009 middle standard exams, despite availing two chances.

Earlier the PSEB had refused to give the golden chance to the affected 5,500 students.

But after The Tribune highlighted the issue, the board authorities have decided to give the chance to the students.

It was highlighted that career of the students was at stake, as they were waiting to be promoted to Class X in the new academic session (2010-2011) after passing Class IX exams, the students had been demoted to the middle standard.

Soon after the 2009 elections, a delegation of Bathinda schools had prevailed upon the state government to give a special chance to the students, who had failed in the 2009 middle standard exams.

“Earlier the rule was that the students either passed or failed in the middle standard exams. But the board after declaring the result on May 11, 2009, revised the gazette as the students who had failed in two subjects were made compartment cases and given two chances (September 2009 and March 2010) to clear the same,” said a senior official in the board.

Sources said, as the students, who got compartment in the March 2010 middle standard exams, were availing the special chance, 5,500 students could also be given a golden chance. Now, the board had reduced fee from Rs 1,000 to Rs 500.

Panchkula, June 4
The Saksham Rehabilitation Society would organise a 16-day summer camp for children with special needs from Saturday at Government Primary School, Sector 4, Mansa Devi Complex.

The society president in a press note said during the camp, activities such as art and craft, drawing and painting, fine art, yoga, dance and music would be organised for these children by professionals and trained persons.

Chandigarh, June 4
Panjab University’s Ecological Club is gearing up to celebrate the Environment Day by creating awareness among students and teachers on the campus through a tree plantation drive.

The students of the department of social welfare would also visit Khuda Lahora village, which the university has adopted for creating awareness related to the environment.

In addition to this, an exhibition of posters and banners made by schoolchildren during the “Inspire camp” in PU is also scheduled. The university had also urged staff members to pool cars and not bring their vehicles on the campus tomorrow in the wake of the Environment Day.

“There was a lot of resistance from all quarters when the university made it mandatory to not bring the vehicles on first Mondays of the month. But we will urge to the students and staff to practice it voluntarily at least once a month. The tree plantation drive will be hosted by PU to celebrate the Environment Day,” said Prof AS Ahluwalia of the Ecological Club.

Chandigarh, June 4
With a significant increase in the number of companies offering training to sixth semester students of PEC University of Technology, there is an emerging trend of “sizeably paid trainings” in professional courses.

Organisations like Microsoft McKinsey, Goldman Sachs, ST Microelectronics, Freescale have now recognised effort of students as “partners in progress” and have offered them attractive training stipends varying from Rs 13,000-Rs 25,000 per month. These students are also being offered opportunities to work in key projects by these organisations during their six-month training semesters.

The stipend in some companies has doubled this year and the highest bagged by the four students recruited by Microsoft for training is Rs 25,000 per month.

Companies recruited 323 students from PEC this year and additionally, the number of students who opted to stay in the university for specialised courses has decreased to one-third compared to last year.

In 2009, 136 PEC students opted for these courses and this has now reduced to 41. More than nine students have joined foreign companies and research institutes at France, Canada and Pennsylvania for training this year.

“Working in these companies provides a chance to build up communication skills, get knowledge of how the industry functions and even adjust to the environment,” said Kapileshwar Singh, who is under going training at Goldman Sachs, Bangalore.