NEIGHBOURHOOD

‘Sexual Harassment’ by SP
Victim reaches Ambala on foot to meet Hooda

Ambala, August 25
Civic officials have finally woken up to the issue of unauthorised colonies that have mushroomed in the town. Notices have been issued to residents of over a dozen such colonies that have come up during the past four decades. The move is said to be a fallout of the recent floods that struck many illegal colonies situated on the banks of the Tangri river.

Residents of some of these colonies have been issued a show cause notice under section 12(2) of the Punjab Scheduled Roads & Controlled Areas Restriction of Unregulated Development Act, 1963 by the District Town planner. Others have been issued notices under section 45 of the Haryana Canal & Drainage Act, 1974 by the water works division.

The notice stated construction of illegal houses or buildings near the banks of the Tangri is causing obstruction in the free flow of water in the river. “The residents are therefore directed to demolish the same or they will have to be demolished by the department concerned”, it added.

A few residents were even asked to appear with legal documents like site plans, ‘nakal jamabandis’ and registration deeds.

About 500 houses will be affected by the proposed demolition. During the recent floods these houses were under about 9 to 10 feet of water due to their close proximity to the river Tangri.

Those who have been living there for the past 25 to 40 years are, however, at a loss of what to do. In an appeal to local officials they said though they had been living in the colonies for decades the government had till date not found them to be “illegal” while issuing ration cards or providing them with other facilities like voter’s ID cards.

The residents are now demanding a ‘bandh’ should be built to stop the flow of the river towards their houses instead of demolishing their structures.

Kalka, August 25
Goods worth lakhs of rupees were gutted in a fire incident at cotton grinding shop and grocery shop here last night.

These shops situated adjoining to Patiala House of main bazaar NH-22, Kalka, are owned by Vinod Kumar and Pawan Kumar, respectively.

Vinod, owner of the cotton grinding shop, said the fire incident, which took place due to short-circuit at 2 am on Tuesday night, gutted the cotton and grocery items worth Rs 12 lakh.

He said the incident first came to the notice of Himanshu Goel, one of the shopkeepers, who intimated the police and SDM Kalka.

The fire tenders from Parwanoo and HMT were called, but they delayed in reaching the spot.

He added that the delay lead to more loss. The fire tender from Parwanoo reached Kalka after some police personnel reached the Parwanoo fire station. The fire tender from Panchkula reached first at Kalka. Three fire tenders from Panchkula, Parwanoo and HMT managed to extinguish the fire by 6 am.

Kharar, August 25
Students of electrical engineering from Guru Gobind Singh College of Modern Technology have secured positions in merit list of Punjab Technical University.

Haralson Singh Choker has topped with 89.2 pc marks followed by Sumesh Dogra with 88 pc marks. Gurvinder Singh, Rahul Sharma and Vikas Kaushik are the other three students who have scored 86.9 pc, 85.7 pc and 85.8 pc marks respectively. — TNS

Ropar, August 25
A guest lecture on 4G mobile technology was held at Institute of Management Studies, Bhaddal, for students of MCA and BCA.

Ritu Kajla from Tata Consultancy Services, Gurgaon, elaborated future trends in telecommunications. She gave a brief on progress and technologies used in 4G, along with their advantages and disadvantages.

She said 4G technology would be able to support interactive services like video conferencing with more than two sites simultaneously. Data would be transferred at much higher rates at lesser cost and global mobility would be possible with better security features. She said Indian companies were working slowly on it because they foresee lesser users of this technology here.

Dr VP Nagpal, director principal, IMS, Bhaddal, said mobile technology was a prominent subject of interest for students and such programmes play a vital role in the overall development.

Dera Bassi, August 25
The residents of Dera Bassi sub-division have high hopes with the visit of the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

Residents here have been facing several problems like air and water pollution, lack of civic amenities, land disputes etc.

Sewage discharge by some factories flowing into nearby drains is affecting the ground water in several villages.

According to sources, at some places, air pollution by meat plants is affecting the life of nearby areas. Sapatar Singh, resident of Samgouli village, who was fighting a legal battle against the pollution caused by meat plants, said they couldn’t eat their meals due to the foul smell and dirty water released by these plants was flowing into the nearby drains and choes.

They had raised the issue with authorities concerned, but nothing had been done so far, he added.

Congress leader Deepinder Singh Dhillon and former member of the Zila Parisad Kuljeet Singh Randhwa, said due to industrial sewage, residents of several villages were forced to drink dirty water. Also some chemical factories were being run without treatment plants, they added.

The sources add that the major problem here is lack of irrigation water because there is no canal and proper deep tubewells for irrigation.

Former Deputy Chairman of the Punjab Planning Commission RR Bhardwaj and Bhadur Singh Jharmari, former chairman of the Panchyat Samiti, Dera Bassi, had regretted over the issue of Dashmesh canal that was not constructed despite repeated assurances.

The issue was raised during elections by political leaders, but the canal couldn’t come into existence till now. Residents demanded that Dashmesh canal should be constructed to fulfill the irrigation needs of the area.

Most tubewells setup by the Punjab State Tubewell Corporation are non-functional. Residents were disappointed with the way development projects were being handled due to lack of initiative from councillors here.

Notably, 10 councilors out of 13 have opposed MC president and said funds were not being used.

There is also an increase in the disputed registries of land executed during by the revenue department. Several registries had become the reason of disputes among concerned parties and various cases were registered in police stations due to these alleged illegal registries.

Amritpal Singh, former president of the municipal council, Dera Bassi, had expressed concern over the disputed registries of land. He demanded action against the accused of disputed registries because some poor people had lost their land.

Dera Bassi, August 25
Dera Bassi will have a grain market in the open area of storage. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will lay the foundation stone of the new grain market at Dhanouni village tomorrow.

With the construction of this new grain market the problem of congested place would be solved, stated some farmers of the area.

Nirmaljeet Singh, XEN, mandi board, and Surinder Singh Jolly, chairman, market committee, Dera Bassi, said all formalities for the construction of the grain market were complete and this would be completed soon.

The grain market would be completed with the cost of Rs 4 crore, 32 lakh, and nearly 10 acre would be covered for this grain market, they said.

Retired district mandi officer and Samser Singh, farmer of barouli village, said farmers of the Dera Bassi area were facing a tough time in handling the wheat and paddy harvest due to lack of storage space in the old grain market that was situated in the residential area of Dera Bassi city. Farmers had the only option to sell their crops in the grain markets of Haryana and Chandigarh. These problems would be solved with the construction of the new market in the open space, they added. Sukhdev Mittal, arhtiya, also expressed happiness over the construction of the new market.

Bassi Pathana, August 25
Members of Lions Club organised a function here today to mark the beginning of Vanamahotsava week.

Hundreds of people from every walk of life particularly students attended the function.

Kirpal Singh Bhambhira, president of the club, highlighted the importance trees to prevent pollution. He said people were suffering from various types of diseases due to pollution. “If we didn’t take appropriate steps soon, our future generations will have to suffer. The need of the hour is that every section of the society should take the responsibility and must contribute in saving the environment, which can be done only by planting saplings.”

Lion Sham Gautam, regional chairman and Gurmeet Singh, secretary also addressed the gathering.

Members of the club also visited all the educational institutions in the town and planted saplings.

Ambala, August 25
Tall claims of the municipal corporation to make the city clean and green have fallen flat, as there seems to be no respite for residents of Durga Nagar, Sham Nagar, Azad Nagar, Kasturba Colony and Subhash Nagar.

Though the MC launched a cleanliness drive, stray animals and stinking streets continue to be the bane of city.

Local dairy owners leave their animals on busy roads and streets of the town, thus putting hundreds of lives in danger.

Anil Vij, MLA, Bharatiya Janata Party, said a number of projects were yet to see the light of the day.

Projects, including shifting of grain market and subzi mandi of Ambala Cantt from the congested places to some open area outside the city, is still pending.

He said the canal-based water scheme project for the Cantonment residents had also failed to take off. He said the project was to be completed by June 30. The foundation stone was laid by the then, Chief Minister Bansi Lal, in 1999.

Following the recent floods, several colonies situated near Tangri river were submerged. Vij said residents had complained that they had suffered huge losses but no one from the administration heeded their pleas.

Demolition orders from the Town and Country Planning have further added to the woes of residents.

When residents objected to the demolition, they were told that 1,500 houses near Tangri river were illegal and obstructing the flow of water.

Anil Vij visited the affected area. He said these houses were built about 20 years ago and the government should initiate concrete measures to check the genuine problems of residents.

Residents claimed that they had got the land registered in their names and officials of the administration had not objected at the time of the construction of houses.

Dr PS Ahuja, president of Kasturba Colony, said even moderate showers submerged their houses.

He alleged that sweepers from the neighbouring colonies dumped heaps of garbage in front of the colony gate and on the municipal land near Subhash Park, posing a serious threat to the health of residents of the area.

Panchkula, August 25
A local court today sentenced a Zirakpur-based property dealer to two-year-imprisonment for molesting a woman in 2009.

Awarding the punishment, Additional District and Sessions Judge Ritu Garg convicted Sandeep Gupta under Section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC. The court also slapped a fine of Rs 2,000 on the accused.

Mansa Devi, a resident of Kalka, had lodged a complaint with the Panchkula police against Gupta, who was subsequently arrested by the police on September 4, 2009. In her complaint, the victim had alleged that the property dealer had called her to his office to return her the money that she had paid for a house that she never bought.

The police said that the victim had made an advance payment of Rs 4 lakh for a house valued at Rs 10 lakh. However, due to some reasons, the deal did not work out. When the complainant went to the property dealer’s office, he tried to rape her, she alleged.

Chandigarh, August 25
The Chandigarh Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and Minorities Financial and Development Corporation Limited has enhanced the pocket money being given to inmates of the Old Age Home to Rs 500 per month from Rs 400.

The corporation, which is managing the Old Age Home, has been providing various benefits to the residents who do not have any source of income. This will be brought in to effect from August 1, 2010.

Besides, the corporation also takes care of all boarding and lodging expenses of residents and also bears their medical expenses. 

Chandigarh, August 25
Shivalik Public School, Mohali, drubbed Malwa Khalsa School, Ludhaina, by five goals to one in the ONGC 9th SN Vohra Sub-Junior Under 14 Hockey Tournament being held at the Sector 42 Hockey Stadium here today.

Sahil struck the field goal for Shivalik School in the 5th minute, while soon after Maninder sounded the board with field goal for his team in the eighth minute.

However, Malwa School was able to reduce the margin when its player Harmanpreet scored the field goal in the 16th minute of the game.

Soon after Harkirat of Shivalik Public School scored the field goal in the 17th minute taking the score to 3-1 at the end of the first-half.

Maninder scored his individual second goal by sounding the board through field goal in the 41st minute and in the 54th minute Harjot sealed the fate of the Malwa School by scoring the field goal.

In the second match, MRS Hockey Academy, Amritsar, in a closely contested match defeated Gurukul Academy, Doraha, by four goals to two via tie-breaker. Arshdeep of MRS Academy scored field goal in the 10th minute.

However, Milanpreet of Mehta Academy levelled the score in the 13th minute through field goal. Match ended at one each during the regulation period.

Winners were decided through a tie-breaker.

Chandigarh, August 25
S.G.G.S. College, Sector 26, Chandigarh, won the Panjab University Inter College Netball (Men) Championship-2010-11, held on the campus grounds here today.

The winning team beat PU Campus by 25-23 in the final match, whereas, for the third place, GGDSD College, Sector 32, got the better of PG Government College, Sector 11 by 28-10.

In the kho-kho (women) A-division tournament, the Government College for Women, Ludhiana, beat the GGS College for Women, Sector 26, Chandigarh, by 12-3.

The other results are as under:

Khalsa College for Women, Sidhwan Khurd b Government College, Hoshiarpur, (score: 11-01).

Khalsa College for Women, Sidhwan Khurd b G.G.S. College for Women, Sector 26, Chandigarh, (score: 16-01)

Government. College for Women, Ludhiana, b Govt. College, Hoshiarpur, (score: One inning and 4 points)

Following are the results of kho-kho (women) B-division tournament:

MBBG R.G.C., Mansowal, b Guru Nanak College, Moga, (score: One inning and 6 points)

S.M.S.K. College (W) Miani b B.S.S.G. Govt. College, Sidhsar, (Score: One inning and 11 points)

G.N. College, Narangwal, b MBBG R.G.C. Mansowal, (score: One inning and 12 points)

SHSM College for Women b S.M.S.K. College (W) Miani Chella, Makhsuspur, (score: 14-01).

Weight lifting: KL SD College, Ludhiana, declared the overall champions (13 points) in the Panjab University Weightlifting (men) Championship 2010-11.

The second place was secured by SGGS College, Sector 26, (10 points) whereas SCD Government College, Ludhiana, (8 points) and GKSM Government College, Tanda Urmar, (Hoshiarpur), (6 points) remained at the third and fourth places, respectively.

Following are the results:

Snatch clean and jerk

(56 Kg): 1 Kuldeep Singh (Gobindragh Public College, Alour), 2 Rohit Bajaj (SCD Government College, Ludhiana).

69 Kg: 1 Surinder Kumar (MR Government College, Fazilka), 2 Rajdeep Singh (SGGS College, Chandigarh), 3 Amit Kumar.

77 Kg: 1 Kulbir Singh (KL SD College, Ludhiana), 2 Pritpal Singh (GKSM, Tanda Urmar).

85 Kg: 1 Bhupinder Singh (SGGS College, Chandigarh), 2 Randeep Singh (GKSM, Tanda Urmar), 3 Harinder Singh (KL SD College, Ludhiana).

94 Kg: 1 Sharandeep Singh (KL SD College, Ludhiana)

105 Kg: 1 Harjot Singh (SCD Government College, Ludhiana).

Panchkula, August 25
The Haryana Olympic Association (HOA) and the Haryana Circle Kabaddi Association will organise the circle kabaddi exhibition series between India and Pakistan at various places in Haryana from September 13.

Stating this to the media here today, PV Rathi, president of the HOA, said the first exhibition match of the series would be held in Faridabad on September 13, which would be inaugurated by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. He said other six matches would be held in Gurgaon, Rohtak, Bhiwani, Sirsa, Jind and Kurukshetra.

Rathi said a cash prize of Rs 75,000 and Rs 50,000 would be awarded to winners and runners-up, respectively, after every match. He added that the winner would also be given a cash prize, which was yet to be decided.

The HOA president said the talent hunt scheme introduced in the state had received a huge response as 80,000 candidates had applied for trials in various sports disciplines. He said that next year, they are hoping to receive more response as the talent hunt would be held school-wise and about 15 to 20 lakh budding players were likely to participate. He 1,606 players have qualified for the scholarships of Rs 2,000 and Rs 1,600 to be given at a special function to be held soon. He said that they have also taken up the issue of increase in scholarship amount with the state government.

Chandigarh, August 25
Bharti of SGGS College School, Sector 26, with 30.64 points has bagged the first position in the U-14 All-Round Best (Artistic) team event in the Inter-School Gymnastics held here today.

Aditi Pandey of St Stephens, Sector 45, with 33.80 points and Manisha GMSSS, Sector 16, with 17.90 points have secured second and third positions, respectively.

Moti Ram Arya School, Sector 27, with 51.80 points has bagged the first position, while Saupin School, Sector 32, with 50.10 and DAV Public School with 47.50 points have secured second and third positions, respectively, in the team championship.