NEIGHBOURHOOD

Breaches resurface in Bhakra canal
Our Correspondent

Breaches were plugged recently

The water in the canal was stopped a month ago to plug breaches. However, the breaches have resurfaced, putting a question mark on the material used in the repair work. Area residents accuse the canal department authorities of using sub-standard material in the repair work.

Patiala, June 26
Monsoon, which announced its arrival a few days in advance, brought down temperature providing a major relief to residents, who had been reeling under sweltering heat and long power cuts for the past few weeks. However, the incessant rain also led to waterlogging in several low-lying areas of the town, caused problems to residents as they complained of choked sewerage. Waterlogging in several markets kept shopkeepers busy clearing water using pumps. However, there were no signs of letup as it rained continuously throughout the day.

“I cleared the water that had accumulated in front of my shop in the morning but in the afternoon again, the area got waterlogged,” said Jaswant Singh, who runs an electronic repair shop in Dharampura Bazar.

“We do not have to worry about power cuts as the entire day remained pleasant. Evening showers made it even more fun,” said a family busy walking in the Baradari Gardens.

Model Town residents had a tough time facing flood-like situation caused by incessant rain. “The government should see our plight. It is difficult to even step out of the house,” they rued. Similar situation prevailed in Sher-e-Punjab Market, Charan Bagh, Lehal Colony, Sewak Colony, Sirhindi Bazaar and other areas.

The rain also affected movement of traffic besides hitting departure of several buses from the bus station. A majority of buses departed behind schedule as it was impossible for passengers to reach the bus station due to water-logging.

Dera Bassi, June 26
Residents of Gulmohar City, Ashiana Colony and other nearby colonies have been facing inconvenience due to the digging of an approach road for the laying of sewerage system.

GMADA has been carrying out the work on laying the sewerage system for the past four months but has been unable to complete it so far.

With monsoon hitting the region, the road has turned into a pond.

Residents allege that due to the slow pace of work, it has become increasingly difficult for them to use the road. They rue that they cannot use the road as it is slushy and dangerous to drive on.

Jaspal Singh, a lawyer, and other residents say the authorities have dug up the road but have not been able to complete the work on laying the sewerage system, causing them huge inconvenience.

They have sought the early completion of work on sewerage and construction of the approach road.

GMADA’s junior engineer Resham Singh says the work on the laying of sewerage is nearing completion and the road will be constructed and repaired soon.

Municipal council’s executive officer Sarbjeet Singh admits that rain has compounded the problem of residents using the approach road near Gulmohar City.

He has assured the residents of visiting the site and reviewing the work on the laying of the sewerage system soon. Officials concerned will be asked to complete the project soon, he adds.

Dera Bassi, June 26
A woman from here who had gone to Delhi on June 22 was found missing.According to sources, Puspa Rani, wife of Mahinderpal, a resident of Shakti Nagar, Dera Bassi, who had gone to Delhi on June 22, neither reached Delhi nor did she returned.

She has three children and was working as a sweeper in Sukhmani College. Husband of the missing woman said his wife Puspa had gone to Delhi to meet her brother and she spoke to him around 2 pm and told him that she would be reaching Delhi in 15 minutes, but she neither reached Delhi and nor did she returned home. Her mobile phone is also switched off, he added. The police had started investigation after receiving the complaint.

Meanwhile, an 18-year-old boy, a resident of Mukandpur village, went missing from June 15.

According to police, Naresh Kumar, who was working in a local Bhushan factory, had gone to the company to get payment, but never returned. His mobile phone is switched off, the police added.

Kharar, June 26
In a bizarre incident, drivers of a private computer multinational company of Mohali, teased two girls and tried to kidnap one of them in public near Balongi sales tax barrier around 11:30 am today.

In her complaint to the police, Ritu Chauhan, a native of Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh) and a resident of Balongi told the police that she was working at Phase VI, Mohali, and was taking her friend for an interview in Mohali. When they reached near Balongi sales tax barrier, two youngsters in Tavera car came to them and started teasing.

When the girls tried to ignore them, they parked their vehicle in front of them and forced one of the girls into the vehicle. Alert girls raised the alarm and with the help of residents one of the accused was nabbed on-the-spot.

The arrested accused has been identified as Gurjit Singh from Sohali village in Kurali. 25-year-old Gurjit‘s accomplice Mandip Singh managed to flee.

The police has arrested Gurjit and registered an FIR against him under Sections 341, 354, 363, 290, 510, 511 and34 of the IPC.

Ambala, June 26
Three persons, including a woman have been reportedly booked in an alleged fraud case worth Rs 42.5 lakh.Manit Singh, a resident of Gola village, Ambala district, lodged a complaint with the police that he had purchased an eight marla plot and had paid Rs 42.5 lakh to three members of a family- Om Parkash, Sukhdev Singh and their mother Kanta Devi, residents of Saini mohalla.

The deal of the plot located near the Manji Sahib Gurdwara, Ambala City, was finalised on May 7, 2007, and the payment was made on the same day, but they kept delaying completion of the plot registration in his name and finally refused.

The complainant stated that the three were neither completing the registration formalities nor refunding the amount received by them. Rather, they threatened to kill him. The police is investigating the matter.

Chandigarh, June 26
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked judicial officers in Punjab, Haryana and the UT (Chandigarh) to ensure that the interim amount handed out in matrimonial and other disputes is paid by the 10th of every month. In case of consecutive defaults, a penalty of up to 50 per cent of the monthly amount can be imposed.

The directions by Justice Rajesh Bindal are based on a Delhi High Court judgment in the Gaurav Sondhi versus Diya Sondhi case. Quoting the relevant part of the judgment in his four-page order, Justice Bindal asserted that in matrimonial disputes the court should ensure “whenever interim is ordered” it is paid by the 10th “unless the court finds that the nature of the employment of the husband and his manner of income makes such monthly payments impractical. “In such a situation, appropriate orders may be passed, which shall take into account the circumstances of the husband, which warrant departure from the time-bound monthly payment directions”.

The Delhi High Court had made it clear that the payment should be made through counsel in case of difficulty in receiving or tendering the amount to the wife or the child.

“In case of the first default in payment, the court may condone it. However, in the case of the second without any justification, it will be open to the court to impose a penalty of up to 25 per cent of the amount of the monthly awarded.

“In case there is a third or fourth default, the penalty may go up to 50 per cent of the monthly amount, upon the court finding that the default was not condonable or continuous in nature…. “Husbands having irregular employment, daily wagers or those on causal employment will be entitled to have their defaults viewed liberally”. Justice Bindal concluded: “The directions should not be limited to cases pertaining to matrimonial disputes. Rather, this should be followed even in cases pertaining to motor accidents claims or any other dispute where money is required to be paid”. 

Zirakpur, June 26
The police today booked an unidentified person on charges of attempt to murder on the complaint of Varun Mehta, a resident of Panchkula.The police official stated that the incident occurred when the complainant Varun was moving towards Panchkula from Patiala. While he reached near Lucky dhaba, an SUV hit his car from the rear side. He went out from his car to the check the situation, where the unidentified person allegedly put a pistol on his temple.

Meanwhile, the accused managed to flee, along with the vehicle, the police official added.

Panchkula, June 26
Avinash, a resident of Kala Amb (Himachal Pradesh), alleged that some unidentified persons forcibly took away his Swift car near Khangsera village near Barwala block on the National Highway no 73 late last night.

The victim, in his complaint to the Barwala police, stated that he was returning from Chandigarh and going towards Kala Amb when some unidentified persons in another car overtook his car near Khangsera village and forced him to stop the vehicle.

He alleged that two accused came out of their car and one of the accused pointed a revolver towards him. — TNS

Chandigarh, June 26
Despite the arrest of various gangs adept at lifting motor vehicles from the city, another four vehicles were reportedly stolen in the city in the last 24 hours. Thieves continue to be on the prowl in the city as three vehicles were stolen during daytime.

The stolen vehicles include one motorcycle, one scooter, one car and an SUV.

Aman Vashist, a resident of Sector 18, Panchkula, reported to the police that his Hero Honda CBZ motorcycle number HR-04-A-5051 was stolen from Bougainvillea Garden, Sector 3. A case under Section 379 of the IPC has been registered at the Sector 3 police station.

Satinder Kaur, a resident of Ambala City, reported to the police that her Aviator scooter number HR-01-9370 was stolen from Sahib Singh parking, Sector 17. A case has been registered at the Sector 17 police station.

Gagandeep Kaur, a resident of Sector 45-A, reported that her Safari Car number CH-04-H-7205 was stolen from outside her residence on the intervening night of June 24 and 25. A case under Section 379 of the IPC has been registered at the Sector 34 police station.

Anita Chaudhary, a resident of Sector 51, reported that her Indica car number CH-04-J-0954 was stolen from outside her residence last night.