Chandigarh, July 9
The process for the draw of lots for the special housing scheme for UT employees, floated by the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) in January 2008, has virtually been completed.

With the board engaged in the last phase of scrutinising the applications and removing discrepancies and shortcomings in the applications, the applicants can now hope for the draw of lots to be held in August or September this year. This will end a long wait for the applicants including senior IAS, HCS, PCS and judicial officers and other employees from various departments, to have a house of their own in the city’s upcoming Sectors 52 and 56.

Flat prices may be hiked The board is considering an upward revision of prices after working out the rough cost estimates for the dwelling units. Officials said this would be added to development charges for calculating the exact cost of the flats, adding giving possession at the advertised prices was not feasible. CHB office open today With a view to remove discrepancies and shortcomings in certain applications and give applicants a fair chance to participate in the draw of lots, the Chandigarh Housing Board office will remain open on Saturday (July 10).

“The final phase of sorting out the applications is almost over and we are set for the draw of the lots for the long-delayed housing project over an area of about 45 acres,” a senior official said, requesting anonymity.

The scheme virtually offered a bonanza to the applicants with ‘category A’ (three bedroom) houses having a covered area of 2,000 sq ft, costing only Rs 34.7 lakh. A three bedroom house in the Sector 63 scheme, having a covered area of 1,424 square feet, would cost Rs 39.57 lakh to an allottee in the general category.

A ‘category B’ (two bedroom) house, with a covered area of 1,400 sq ft, would cost Rs 24.3 lakh for UT staff, but general-category allottees would have to shell out Rs 29.14 lakh for the same, with a reduced covered area of 1,075 sq ft.

Allottees in the general category would have to pay Rs 17.15 lakh for a ‘category C’ (one bedroom) house, measuring 684 sq ft, while UT staff would have to pay Rs 13.53 lakh in the same category, with a house measuring about 900 sq ft.

From its very inception the scheme had been mired in litigation and the Punjab & Haryana High Court had cleared the scheme only on February 6 this year.

Mohali, July 9
Contrary to expectations of prospective allottees in Aerocity having an early windfall, the draw of lots can be possible only by mid-September.

The draw of lots, expected to be stretched over two weeks, is likely to conclude by the end of September, almost three months after the closing date of the housing scheme, which is July 6.

Banks have sought at least 15 days to process and compile the data, both size-wise and category-wise, before forwarding it to the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA).

An official said rescheduling of the entire process had been necessitated in light of overwhelming response to the housing scheme. Till Friday evening, banks had transferred around Rs 7,100 crore to GMADA’s coffers. The figure could easily touch the Rs 8,000-crore mark, much above the expectated level.

The State Bank of India (SBI), the main bank that handled the scheme, had so far transferred around Rs 2,500 crore to GMADA. The exact details of the funds collected (including those through finance) would be known at the time of reconciliation. Estate officer Balbir Singh said, “Though we will have to wait for some more days before the final picture emerges, seeing the response, we expect the total number of applications to touch the 3-lakh mark.”

Sources in GMADA said handling 3 lakh applications was a lengthy process. After the data along with the applications was transferred to GMADA, the authorities would need at least three weeks to screen and segregate the data.

The list of successful applicants, whose names would be included in the draw of lots, would be displayed on the website and applicants would be given some days to file objections, if any.

“The applications have to be segregated in to 64 categories, seven different sizes of plots and seven different categories of applicants. It is a lengthy process,” confided officials.

Though no official schedule had been agreed upon so far, sources said it would depend upon the pace at which banks forwarded the data to GMADA.

In October, GMADA would start the process of refunding the earnest money to unsuccessful individual applicants or banks in case of financed applications.

Unconfirmed reports said GMADA, to achieve transparency, was contemplating issuing a public notice regarding the schedule to refund to banks and individual applicants.

“After GMADA electronically refunds money to banks in October, banks will have to refund money for a period varying between two months and three months,” said the officials.

As per details in GMADA’s brochure, the earnest money would be refunded to unsuccessful applicants within 90 days from the date of draw of lots or 180 days from the date of closing of scheme. For the period beyond 180 days, GMADA would pay interest at 5.5 per cent per annum.

Khant (Fatehgarh Sahib), July 9
Two young men died in the wee hours of the morning today when they were hit by a rashly driven Skoda car (registration no: PB08AU 3333). The impact of the collision threw them several feet away from the accident site.

The deceased, identified as Amandeep Singh and Kamaljit Singh, both in their twenties, were watchmen on their way back after a ‘theekri pehra’ (night vigil) at about 3 am in the morning.

The car’s driver has been identified as Mantej Singh, a resident of Hardohla Kalan village in Hoshiarpur district and a student of an engineering college in Dera Bassi. Two boys and a girl from Chandigarh were accompanying him in the vehicle.

Police officials refused to file a case in the incident, saying the relatives of the deceased struck a compromise with Mantej and settled the matter at Rs 9 lakh.

Fatehgarh SSP Gurpreet Singh Gill, refusing to give details about the car’s co-passengers, said no case will be registered against the car driver due to lack of a complainant. “The car’s co-passengers are not at fault and I’ll not give their names. There is no complainant in this case as both sides reached a compromise”, added.

When contacted Khamano SHO Palwinder Singh said both sides struck a compromise, adding the police will initiate inquest proceedings under section 174 of the CrPc. When asked about the amount

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that the car driver agreed to pay in compensation, he claimed he did not have any idea as the matter was settled between the victims’ families and the driver.

However Hari Singh, Amandeep’s uncle, said Mantej’s family members offered an amount of Rs 4.5 lakh for each of the victims in lieu of nonregistration of a case. Besides this amount the district administration also announced Rs 2 lakh for the families of each victim after villagers blocked the Ludhiana-Chandigarh highway for two hours in the morning.

Balvir Singh, a former sarpanch of Khant village, said the victims’ family members reached a compromise with the car driver with the help of the police. “Since police officials offered either registration of a case or compensation we opted for money in view of the poor financial condition of the victims’ families. They are too poor to fight a long legal battle against the car driver, who is said to be wealthy”, he added.

Balvir pointed out the area residents caught hold of Mantej in a nearby ‘dhaba’ (makeshift eating joint) where he had fled after his car had hit the two youths. The impact of collision was so great that one of the victims, Kamaljit, fell 25 feet away in a nearby pond and Amandeep fell 8 feet away from the site of the accident, he added.

Kamaljit was located about an hour and a half after the accident. His legs were found to be fractured and he had drowned in a pond.

Meanwhile, Harman Sidhu, president of a Chandigarh-based NGO, Arrive Safe, said that police could have booked the car’s driver for rash and negligent driving that snuffed out two young lives. “Where there is no complainant the investigating officer can himself become a complainant and file a case,” he averred.

Chandigarh, July 9
A 53-year-old senior accountant with the Punjab Accountant-General’s office at Sector 17 here was killed and two others injured when a truck rammed into a scooter and a rickshaw near the Centra Mall traffic lights here this morning.

The police said the victims were identified as Sunil Dutt of Sector 4, Panchkula, 45-year-old Rita of Darua and her 14-year-old daughter Ragini. They were rushed to the Sector 32 Government Medical College and Hospital, where Dutt was pronounced dead on arrival.

Rita suffered fractures on both legs, apart from injuries on other parts of her body. Ragini suffered minor injuries. The condition of Rita was stated to be critical.

Eyewitnesses told the police that the accident occurred around 9 am. The truck first rammed into the rickshaw. Seeing this, Dutt tried to intercept the truck, but was run over by it in the process. Investigating officer Sukhdev Singh said Dutt was on his way to office. His body was handed over to members of his family after post-mortem examination.

The police arrested and booked the truck driver, Teg Bhadur of Darua, on charges of causing death due to rash and negligent driving. — TNS

Chandigarh, July 9
Like other mega-projects of the city, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is going to look into land allotment for the garbage processing plant to JP Associates by the municipal corporation (MC).

In a communique by the CBI to the Chandigarh administration, the Home Secretary has been asked
to submit documents relating to the plant to it,
sources said.

In the audit report on mega-projects, faults were also found in land allotment to JP Associates for the garbage plant. On the basis of this, the CBI had asked the authorities to submit all documents relating to the land allotment. Even documents related to the installation of machinery at the plant had been asked for by the CBI.

The sources said the CBI had received a number of complaints on the allotment to the company and
also related to the installation of machinery at the garbage plant.

For setting up the garbage plant, the MC had called global tenders. Some companies which had applied for the project were rejected by officials on the grounds that they did not have the latest technology.

In one of the house meetings, local MP and Union minister Pawan Kumar Bansal had suggested to the authorities to look

into the presentation of the JP Associates for
setting up a garbage plant though it had not applied
in a tender.

The company gave its presentation to the MC authorities and they allotted the work of the plant to the company. A tour to Germany was organised for a few councillors to check the technology which they proposed to instal at the plant.

Allegations had been levelled against the company that it had not installed machinery at the plant as per the MoU signed between it and the MC. Show-cause notices had been issued to the company in this regard.

Chandigarh, July 9
Continuing with its efforts to make the Industrial Area free of violations, the UT estate office (EO) has served fresh notices on many industrial plots that have been misusing the premises and engaging in encroachment.

The move comes a few months after the EO cracked its whip on industrialists misusing their premises by resuming nearly 60 sites. These sites were located in both phases of Industrial Area.

Over the past one year, the EO has served nearly 500 notices on those who have been misusing their industrial plots without getting their land use converted under the UT administration’s conversion policy. The administration had stopped allowing change in land use over a year ago.

All defaulters are liable to pay a fine at the rate of Rs 500 per sq ft. Official sources claim that out of these defaulters, nearly 30 to 40 per cent have already submitted the penalty totalling over Rs 2 crore.

While it has been clearly laid down under the norms that only those trades and industries involved in manufacture of goods or items will be allowed in Industrial Area, certain units have been found running commercial activities on industrial plots.

From most of these erring industrial plots, commercial shops of clothes, crockery, electrical goods, etc. have been running in complete violation of the rules.

It has also been found that most of the premises that have been resumed and even those served with notices are less than two kanal in size. Plots measuring two kanal do not even have the option of changing the land use.

Most of these industrialists are now pinning their hopes on the new industrial policy for change in land use.

Panchkula, July 9
Cracking its whip on illegal structures in the Budhanpur colony located opposite Sector 16 in the city, the officials of the HUDA today demolished 10 illegal structures.

Three JCB machines were pressed into service to demolish the illegal structures, which include seven commercial, and three residential structures in the presence of Duty Magistrate Inderjeet, HUDA SDO Vimal Deep and other officials who were accompanied with a posse of police contingent.

The demolished commercial sites include Suman Paper Mart, Jindal Welding Works, Bansal Light, Sai Medicos, Anand Welding and Globe electronics, which were illegally set up in the green belt along the main road. The liquor vend set up illegally was to be removed too but as the land had to be provided to the contractors, HUDA would now charge rent from them for this financial year.

One of the officials, on the condition of anonymity, said that notices under Section 18 (1) B were served to the owners of illegal commercial establishments and house owners as per the orders of the high court to vacate the site within seven days of the receipt of the notice. He said after receiving no response from them they decided to demolish the structures.

He said shopkeepers in the area had presented stay documents from the court. He said that the department failed to get the stay vacated as their defence counsel had failed to present himself in the court. He said new proceedings would be initiated in the case soon to get the stay vacated and the shops would be removed from the prime HUDA land.

Chandigarh, July 9
If all goes to plan, the city will have its first day care centre especially for senior women citizens of the region by next month. The municipal corporation’s women empowerment committee approved the proposal at a meeting convened today.

The committee directed the official of the corporation to identify the community centre in which the centre could be set up.

It was decided that nominated councillor Dr Neelam Malik would chalk out the blue print for the activities to be introduced so that the estimated cost of the centre could be worked out by the authorities.

The members suggested that medical check-up facility for senior women citizens be made available at the centre. They added that the care centre would function from a community centre located in the middle of the city till the Mahilla Bhavan was constructed.

Beside, the committee also approved the proposal of three counselling centres for the guidance of girls in the city. The proposed centres would come up in sectors 15, 28 and 34 and would function from community centre.

The committee also discussed the revised plan of the Mahilla Bhavan with the architect to whom the work had been allotted by the authorities.

Chandigarh, July 9
The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has issued notices to Union of India, principal secretary of Punjab and Punjab DGP Paramdeep Singh Gill following an application filed by former DGP, PSEB Patiala, AP Pandey asking for higher pay scale as per new notification.

The applicant stated that as per a notification issued on September 27, 2008, the post of DGP in the state cadre carried the scale of Rs 80,000.

He stated that the notification came into force in the Punjab government on January 27, 2009. After Aulakh moved on deputation with the Government of India, the next senior most officer KK Atri, DGP, was granted the scale from February 28, 2009. Atri retired on June 30, 2009.

He stated that after the retirement of RS Gill, Punjab DGP, on February 28, 2010 the applicant became the senior most DGP in the state cadre.

However, when Atri retired, the state government appointed Paramdeep Singh Gill as the DGP. He alleged that the state government had misconstrued the provisions of pay rules.

When Pandey came to know that the pay scale had been erroneously granted to Paramdeep Singh Gill, he submitted a representation. The applicant retired from the post on June 30, 2010.

Panchkula, July 9
The switching on and off of streetlights manually is soon going to be a thing of the past as the Municipal Corporation is contemplating to instal solar switches on the streetlights in the city.

According to official sources, the administration was likely to invite expression of interest by the first week of August and the same would be operational by September. The sources said the project worth Rs 5 lakh would be outsourced to a private company. The project is the brainchild of Deputy Commissioner Ashima Garg, who is showing keen interest in advancing the city technologically, the sources added.

At present, the job of switching off and on was being done by about 50 men manually, who go around the town switching off the lights in the morning and switching on the same after sunset. The switches will be installed on the main streetlights and also on the high-mast streetlights, which are currently lying non-functional in various parking lots.

Briefing about the new plan, the DC said each streetlight would have its own solar switches, which would automatically get switched on after sunset and switched off during the day. She said the job of switching on the lights manually was a very cumbersome process and there was every possibility of a worker making mistakes in this regard.

The DC said that they had been receiving complaints from the general public regularly alleging that streetlights in their areas had either not been switched off or switched on. The new plan would take care of such complaints, she added. 

Zirakpur, July 9
The Zirakpur Municipal Council has planned to spend Rs 40 lakh on the drainage system to remove waterlogging problem in Baltana, Zirakpur and the surrounding areas. The proposal has been mooted after the waterlogging problem faced by residential colonies in the recent rains. The project will be completed in three months.

MC president Narinder Kumar Sharma along with other councillors chaired the meeting. He said the council has set up a plan to construct an open drain between Vikas Nagar to link road on the Zirakpur-Kalka National Highway; similarly another open drain would be constructed between Wadhawa Nagar and Panchkula road.

However, the council authorities have blamed Panchkula residents for water logging in residential colonies near to Panchkula. They alleged that during the recent rains the seasonal choe at Panchkula was choked, as a result, the water overflowed and entered the residential colonies at Bharat Enclave, Vikas Nagar and Wadhawa Nagar. Taking the matter seriously, they have asked GAMADA officials to discuss this issue with Panchkula authorities.

He said many residential colonies are in the low-lying area, which is leading to water logging problem.

“We have decided to spend Rs 40 lakh on the drainage system to remove waterlogging, the project will be completed in three months,” he said. He said a request has been sent to GMADA to take up this issue. During the recent rains many residential colonies had faced flood-like situation after water entered their houses.

Chandigarh, July 9
Increasing the number of seats in the sports wing as compared to the last year, the Chandigarh sports department has allotted 378 seats in schools and 278 seats in the sports coaching centres this year.

The trials to select players under the sports wing would begin from July 19. The schedule of the trials has been circulated to all schools, colleges and coaching centres.

The department had allotted a total of 593 sports wing seats in the schools and sports coaching centres last year.

“The purpose is to generate techniques and to achieve excellence in the sports,” said sports director ML Sharma.

The players, who secured the first three positions at the state level, inter-school and state open championship, would be eligible for the selection under the sports wings in various disciplines.

The sports wings at the schools would start from August 2 till January 31, whereas the sports wing at the coaching centres will start from August 2 up to February 28.

Under the sports wings, a nutritious diet would be provided to trainees everyday. For the smooth functioning and effective supervision of the sports wings, coordinators and chief coordinator are being appointed by the department to look after the progress reports regarding the sports wings.

Mohali, July 9
Start of the new “L” series saw the VIP number “0001” fetching Rs 3.25 lakh during the auction of “fancy” vehicle registration numbers held at the office of Mohali district transport officer (DTO) here today.

In a daylong auction, the department earned around Rs 11 lakh from the auction that attracted a lukewarm response. DTO, Mohali, Karan Singh, said the VIP number “PB-65-L-0001” went for Rs 3.25 lakh. A total of 170 registration numbers were sold fetching the department Rs 21.97 lakh against a total reserved price of Rs 4.56 lakh.

Giving details, officials said for number “PB-65-L-0001”, the bid was given by Giani Sardara Singh Foundation. The maximum revenue was fetched by the single digit series. The number “PB-65-L-0002 fetched Rs 55,000. The number “0010” attracted the lowest bid of Rs 5,500.

Numbers 0003, 0004, 0005, 0006, 0008 and 0009 fetched Rs 13,000, Rs 20,000, Rs 32,000, Rs 22,000, Rs 22,000 and Rs 12,000, respectively.

Chandigarh, July 9
Panjab University administration officials today released circulars relating to implementation of the Senate’s decision taken on April 4 to create additional seats as freeships for meritorious and poor students in various departments.

Following a report in the Chandigarh Tribune on the departmental staff’s ignorance about these freeships during the peak admission season, circulars were sent today to all departments with details on how the seats would be allotted.

Students coming from economically weaker sections can now also avail of the freeships in self-financing courses offered by the university.

The PU vice-chancellor has decided that an additional 5 per cent freeship seats may be filled up over and above the sanctioned number of seats in all fully and partial self-financing courses. Among the exceptions will be courses that are regulated by DCI, MCI, BCI, AICTE norms.

Students who fulfill the eligibility conditions as mentioned in the “guidelines for freeship and tuition fee concession printed in the Handbook of Information-2010” can apply for this concession in writing at the time of admission and counselling.

Students who are entitled for these freeships would be required to submit an affidavit along with other required documents at the time of admission and counselling. PU officials said if any document was found to be false, or if there was any attempt at concealing information, the candidate’s admission would be cancelled.

Initially, the board of control concerned or the coordinator will fill all the sanctioned seats by following the normal admission procedure. A list of candidates eligible for freeship concession will then be drawn up, with meritorious students being allotted seats.

The fees for self-financing courses will be charged in two installments on the pattern of UIET and UILS from the 2010-11 session, PU officials said.

Chandigarh, July 9
For admission to 404 seats in Panjab University’s department of laws, the counselling kicked off here today.

The seat allotment at the University Institute of Legal Studies (UILS) on the basis of common entrance exam also began today. According to officials of the department of laws, the merit was much higher this year in the department.

There are 226 seats under the general category and on the first day, more than 400 students were called for the counselling on the basis of the entrance exam merit list.

Chandigarh, July 9
Counselling for the seat allotment at the PEC University of Technology will begin from tomorrow. The first counselling will be till July 15 and the next counselling session would be held in July end, said officials.

This year, the students availed the facility of registering themselves online and no separate letters for the counselling were sent to them. Meanwhile, regarding the new self-financing postgraduate courses at PEC, for which the proposal has been sent to the board of governors of PEC, the authorities have not released any official statement. — TNS