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‘Shamlat’ land fraud Case in multi-crore scam was registered six months ago Rajinder Nagarkoti Tribune News Service
Panchkula, August 1 District revenue officials have been facing serious charges of having allegedly forged documents and given ownership of ‘shamlat’ land to villagers without the district administration’s consent over a period of 14 years from 1995 to 2008. It was on the state government’s instructions that a criminal case of forgery and criminal conspiracy under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act was filed at the Chandimandir police station in the first week of February this year. It was alleged a few officials of the Panchkula revenue department and the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) had transferred ownership of ‘shamlat’ land in Chowki to village residents. At current market prices the disputed land is valued at several crores of rupees The Haryana government had later transferred the probe into the land scam to the state’s CID department. Deputy superintendent of police Ashok Bakshi, who was earlier handling the investigation, said the police had sent several letters to district administration officials asking it to provide all records related to the fraud but they had still to do so. When contacted DSP Mukesh Malhotra, who is currently investigating the case, said the Panchkula administration had yet to provide the relevant records to the police. “Recently we received a few documents but are still awaiting the entire records pertaining to the case”, he added.The delay in handing over the records to the police is hampering the probe into the alleged fraud, said sources. Following a complaint filed by a resident of Chowki village, Mukhtyari Devi, the state government ordered an inquiry into the sale of about 200 acres of land. She had alleged revenue officials had forged documents and had transferred the land's ownership to villagers without the consent of the competent authorities. The inquiry report, filed on January 6, stated land acquisition officials had made serious mistakes in the matter, adding officials of both HUDA and the revenue department had failed to perform their tasks and responsibilities. The report suggested disciplinary and criminal proceedings should be taken against the officials who had registered the sale deed of the ‘shamlat’ land.
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Seniors get 7-day break at dental college
PU declares holiday, bows to pressure from student leaders Neha Miglani Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 1 Citing the “advice” of the Supreme Court to keep away seniors from first year students at the onset of a new academic session, certain student leaders had been repeatedly approaching the dental college authorities to declare holidays for seniors as has been the practice in the past. Representatives of the Students Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) even asked the university to give a week-long holiday this year if not two weeks like in the past. The PU authorities have ordered the closure of classes for seniors in the dental college for a week with immediate effect. “The decision to declare holidays was taken in a meeting held in the evening,” said Naval Kishore, outgoing Dean Student Welfare, PU. The principal of the dental hospital, Dr SP Singh, confirmed having received the instructions from the university. Traditionally, the PU issues a notice every year in order to ensure a difference in time between the commencement of the classes of seniors and the fresh batch of medical students. This year, however, the institute did not issue any fresh circular in this regard.In the absence of any circular, the college today began classes for seniors and juniors simultaneously. “The interference of student leaders is so much that students now virtually get away with anything by pressurising the authorities. This is not a healthy sign and is bound to damage the institute,” said a faculty member on the condition of anonymity. A faculty member of the dental college said the department had already formed anti-ragging teams consisting of five members each. “The Supreme court clearly advises and does not instruct on separate commencement of classes. Call it the run-up to the student council poll or the inherent interference of student leaders, they came to us asking for even a single day holiday just to tell students outside that they were a powerful entity. Parents also face inconvenience if classes are suspended for a week when the session has just commenced,” the faculty member said.
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High-security number plates launched
Chandigarh, August 1 The stiff competition among vendors is set to begin with about 125 vehicle owners being issued HSRP authorization slips by the Registration & Licensing Authority on the very first day. The scheme was launched today by adviser to the UT administrator, KK Sharma, in the presence of senior administration and police officials at the Sector 42 office of the subdivisional magistrate (south). Sarghi Kohli, a Sector 61 resident, became the first person to be issued the new license plate for her car (Registration no: CH01 AD0019). Two vendors have set up their business in the city for supplying the plates for vehicles registered with the RLA. These are Celex Technologies, located in shop no 53, ISBT, Sector 17, and Utsav Safety Systems (P) Ltd, which has set up shop at plot no 182/65 in Industrial Area, Phase I While Celex has fixed its rates for supplying high security registration plates to a two-wheeler at Rs 350, the firm is supplying these plates to a four-wheeler for Rs 600 and for a heavy vehicle the price is Rs 650. “We will increase or reduce the
On the other hand, Utsav has fixed its prices at Rs 280 for motorcycle/moped, Rs 300 for a two wheeler, Rs 560 for a four-wheeler and Rs 600 for a heavy vehicle. Presently there are 18 vendors in the country who are eligible to sell high security registration plates and a list can be obtained from the RLA office. Details are also available on the website www.morth.nic.in.
Features of high-security plate
Tamper-proof plate: Not possible to change or repaint it in case of theft -Reflectivity: A vehicle with HSRP is visible from a minimum distance of 200 metres in night due to retro-reflective sheeting Chromium-based hologram: Carries the image of “Chakra” as notified by the Government of India Security
Inscript: Type of colour or ink is based on pearl pigment colour which changes intensity when the visual direction between the viewer and the licence plate is changed. Laser etched 9-digit alpha numeric code: This is a sequential identification unique to every plate. It is laser engraved and cannot be erased. Snap lock: External fastening device used as normal bolting procedure for the plate. Prevents removal and reuse of the plate. Third licence sticker: Contains information pertaining to a vehicle’s registration. Serves the purpose of double secure identification mark. Online connectivity: A vendor will set up an information management system connected to all embossing stations. This process shall be a central data collection of the vehicle population throughout the state.
Benefits of the scheme
Purchase of pre-owned vehicles is less risky Easy to identify traffic offenders Easy to trace stolen vehicles involved in crimes
Rules
High-security registration plate
(HSRP) mandatory for all new vehicles For old vehicles, there is a two-year deadline Old vehicles must submit original registration certificate along with an application at the Registration and Licensing Authority
(RLA) office
How to procure plate
Visit RLA office in Sector 17; office of SDM (south), Sector 42; or office of SDM (east), Industrial Area, Phase 1 Get the new vehicle passed Get the registration number along with three copies of HSRP authorisation slip from the RLA One slip will be kept for the RLA record, one will be with the owner and the third slip is for the vendor Vendor will provide two copies of HSRP delivery document Keep one for record and take along the other for fastening of plates to RLA office. HSRP plate will be fastened in presence of RLA officials only and on the premises of the RLA RC will be issued once the HSRP is fixed
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Multi-speciality hospital, but no thyroid kit
Chandigarh, August 1 About 50 to 60 patients reportedly come for thyroid functioning tests every Monday and Thursday, but for the last five days, they have been returning disappointed as the tests are not being undertaken. Those who can wait are being asked to return after a week to try their luck again and those with urgency have to rush to private labs and pay more than double the amount for the same test. Sunita (name changed), who was seen this morning desperately trying to convince an attendant at counter no. 1 of the OPD about her urgency for the test, said she had visited the GMSH last Thursday too and was told to come today. “I will have to come again next week,” she said, adding that she could not afford to pay Rs 500 to a private lab for a thyroid test that cost Rs 225 in the hospital. When this correspondent approached the counter posing as a patient, she was told that due to the non-availability of the kits, the tests would not be done for another week. The attendant said the kits had been out of stock for the last five days and it might take another week for them to arrive, quickly adding that there was no guarantee to it. Insiders reveal that this was not happening for the first time and almost every year there was a shortage due to the tender procedure involved for procuring the kits. “It is odd that no solution is being worked out and every year the problem is allowed to repeat itself,” said a doctor, remarking that though the hospital was labelled “multi speciality”, it neither had an endocrinologist on the rolls nor a thyroid kit. The Medical Superintendent, Dr Rajiv Vadhera, confirmed the non-availability of the kits but said efforts were being made for their early procurement. He said tenders for the kits were finalised for a year, but the supply came in batches and got delayed sometimes.
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Tricity scan
189 donate blood: A total of 189 persons donated blood, including many first timers and women. The blood donation camp was conducted by a team of doctors from the department of transfusion medicine, PGIMER, Chandigarh, and was supported by Ambedkar Study Circle in memory of Shaheed Udham Singh. The Chandigarh unit of the All-India Anti-Terrorist Front organised the blood donation camp under the leadership of Rajesh Sharma.
Pledge to protect identity:
Candidates announced:
Power shutdown:
Freshers welcomed:
Training for faculty:
Mobile found:
Houses for EWS:
‘Re-carpet roads’:
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Claims of colony squatters to be reviewed
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 1 Recently a team from the UT Estate’s Office, during a visit to the site to check the modalities of removing illegal structures there, found that around 150 families were still residing in the colony. “These were the families, whose claims were rejected due to some objections raised by the committee,” said Rahul Gupta, UT Assistant Estate Officer. While most of the families said there was a typing error in the spelling of their names, the Estate officials claimed that they had scrutinised the cases properly. “Now, we have shortlisted 70 such cases, which will be reviewed on August 3 and 4 at the SDM’s office, hockey stadium, Sector 42,” said Gupta. Around 400 families of the colony have already been rehabilitated under the scheme.
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Immediate repatriation of GMCH MS sought
Chandigarh, August 1 Though as per terms of the deputation, Dr Kaushal, who has till date not sought any extension of his term at the GMCH-32, should have automatically gone back to his parent department, the PGI, after the expiry of his two-year deputation period, he continues to serve the UT administration. Sources in the PGI revealed that director Prof Vinay Sakhuja had recently written to the UT administration asking them to repatriate Dr Kaushal. When contacted, Dr Kaushal refused to comment on the development. Meanwhile, sources in the GMCH maintained that efforts were on to seek an extension for Dr Kaushal. Interestingly, apart from Dr Kaushal, the Director Principal GMCH-32, Dr Raj Bahadur, is also on deputation to the hospital from the PGI. Though he had come on a two-year stint in December, 2007, he had managed two extensions of one year each since then. Dr Bahadur, who is one of the front-runners for the post of the PGI director, is on an extension till 30 November, 2011. According to sources in the PGI, two more doctors from the hospital, Dr D Behera (pulmonary medicine) and Dr JS Thakur (community medicine), are also on deputation to Delhi. While Dr Behera is presently working as the director, LRS Institute of Tuberculosis, Delhi, Dr Thakur is with the WHO. Sources said Dr Behera’s term of deputation would end on September 29 this year. The sources said Dr Thakur’s term with the WHO ended on March 31 this year and he had applied for an extension. However, it could not be confirmed whether the extension was given to him by the PGI’s governing body or was still under consideration.
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‘City Forests’ are new attractions
Chandigarh, August 1 Under the novel concept of ‘City Forests’, the UT forest department has
developed three pockets, spread over 25 acres, at Sector 26, Sector 39 and Mani
Majra. At Sector 39, seven acres of forestland has been used to create ‘Peacock
Park’. The department has also come up with ‘Arboretom’ at Sector
26. The third, ‘City Forest’, has been created near the IT Park,
where 11 acres of abandoned land has been used. “The purpose of converting deserted land in an urban area is to give jungle lovers the feel. Apart from that, the pockets will also act as green lungs for the city,” says Santosh Kumar, UT Chief Conservator of Forests. He has added that the three ‘City Forests’ are ready and will be thrown open to the public in a week or two. After fencing the area, the department has set up benches and laid tracks. “In the City Forest near IT Park, we have created a meditation hut. Those who want to have a feel of ther jungle can visit these areas any time,” says Santosh Kumar. While the department has used its own land for ‘Peacock Park’ and ‘Arboretom’, the land near the IT Park does not belong to it. “We are trying to transfer it in our department’s name,” says Santosh Kumar. He has added that the land had been used for brick kilns, but was lying abandoned of late. The city has a total of 6.5 sq km o forestland in urban areas. “The other pockets in our area will be developed under this concept one by one,” says Santosh Kumar.
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Sukhna eight feet under
Chandigarh, August 1 While the measuring scale showed today’s water level at 1,154.20 feet, it was 1,162.50 feet in July past year. “We consider 1,160 feet the normal water level of the lake. As there has been less rain this season, I do not expect it to reach even the normal level,” says an official with the Chandigarh administration. The maximum water level of the lake is 1,163 feet, after which officials have to open the floodgates to release water. So far, the city has received about 460 mm of rain since June 1. Figures show the city having received 1,178 mm of rain the previous monsoon. The rain this year has filled the 190-odd check dams in the Sukhna catchment area, says the official. He has maintained that water will start flowing from the check dams to the lake only if the city receives heavy rain in the coming days. So far, the water level has gone up by just one foot due to rain, he has added. With the lake receiving less water this year, the accumulation of fresh silt is negligible. As the water level did not cross the maximum mark the previous year, there was no need to open the floodgates then. These were opened only once, in 2009.
Down to one-third of original size
The 3-sq-km rain-fed Sukhna is 1.52-km long and 1.49-km wide. After its completion in 1958, the water-spread area of the lake was 188 hectares and the average depth 4.69
metres. It originally had a depth of 18 feet, but due to heavy silt deposits, the average depth reduced to eight feet and six inches and the area to 1.5 sq km. The lake lost nearly 66 per cent of its area and water-holding capacity till
2009.
Siltation rate falling every year
According to a study by the Society for Promotion and Conservation of Environment, the siltation rate has been decreasing every year. Around 15 years ago, the siltation rate was 150 tonnes per hectare per year, but the figure was between 0.71 and 6.44 tonnes per hectare per year now. The average depth was about eight feet and the maximum 16
feet.
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Police finds loopholes in BKU leader’s claims
Panchkula, August 1 Guni had alleged in his complaint that four persons -- Ashok, Randeep, Soni and Ratanmaan -- attacked him along with another unidentified person at 9.15 pm at Barwala. While Ratanmaan is a resident of Karnal the other three belong to Kaithal. The police in its investigation has found that three of the accused, Soni, Randeep and Ratanmaan, were present at their houses around 10 pm. Even the fourth accused, Ashok, was at the house of his sister on the occasion of Teej festival. Last night Guni Prakash (50), chief of the Mahender Singh-Sharad Joshi faction of the Bhartiya Kisan Union was brought to the General Hospital with a bullet injury. Guni Prakash, a resident of Kaithal, alleged that five persons shot at him at Tangri river bridge, near Barwala. According to Guni Prakash, he was here at the residence of his relatives at Bataud village and going towards Sarakpur village, near Raipur Rani, on a motorcycle alone when five persons got down from a Maruti Alto car and fired two rounds upon him. While one of the fires missed the target, the other hit him on a shoulder, he alleged. Doctors at the General Hospital, Sector 6, Panchkula, referred him to the PGI, Chandigarh. After the incident the Panchkula Police contacted Kaithal and Karnal Police to verify the claims of the victim. To their surprise it was found that Randeep, Soni and Ratanmaan were present at their homes even as the distance between Barwala and Kaithal would take more than two hours journey. Further it was found that the motorcycle had no marks of damages, which otherwise was expected to fall down during such attacks. Moreover, it was in a neutral mode, which again showed that Guni Prakash had sufficient time to put the vehicle in order before the alleged attack on him, sources added. There was a history of enmity between Guni Prakash and the accused, said sources. Ashok and Soni, both brothers, had lodged a complaint with the police in the past alleging that Guni Prakash had duped them of Rs 3 lakh on the assurance of arranging a job for Soni in the electricity department as an assistant lineman. In this case an application of the anticipatory bail of Guni Prakash was dismissed on July 7 at Kaithal, said sources. Besides, a few years ago Guni Prakash had lodged a complaint with the Kaithal Police that Randeep had fired a shot at his home. Later, the complaint was found to be false. Panchkula Superintendent of Police, confirming that there were loose ends in the statement of the victim, said the district police would investigate the incident before reaching to any conclusion.
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No CVO, no MC action
Chandigarh, August 1 MC Additional Commissioner Lalit Siwach said no action could be taken on the inquiry report as the UT administration had not given official charge of CVO to any officer with the MC. During a recent General House meeting of the MC, a decision was taken that the vigilance cell would take action against the officials found guilty in the report. But interestingly, for the past three months, the post of CVO had been lying vacant as the UT administration had failed to appoint an official to the post. This was the fate of not only this inquiry report, but also of pending cases piling up for the past quarter of a year. In fact, for routine complaints, the MC had been recommending complainants to approach the UT CVO to take action as there was no official on this post with the MC. The MC CVO’s post fell vacant with the repatriation of the then Joint Commissioner-cum-CVO Kamlesh three months ago. MC records showed that a number of reminders had been sent to the UT administration, with a request to appoint CVO, during the past three months, but no action had been initiated by the administration yet. Sources in the MC revealed that a number of cases, which had huge financial implications, were pending with the vigilance cell, but action could not be taken as no official had been assigned charge of
CVO.
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Defaulters to be penalised
Chandigarh, August 1 As per the proposal, if a company digs up a road for laying pipes or cables without seeking permission, it will have to pay Rs 302 per running foot, while for a road cut on concrete area, the penalty will be Rs 404 per running foot.
MC Chief Engineer SS Bidda stated that the proposal of imposing fine would be sent to the Commissioner for approval. He said an inquiry had been marked into an illegal road cut found in Sectors 28 and 29 yesterday. One of the senior officials of the civic body the authorities could not take action against violators, as in the existing policy, no such provision was made. Whereas the irony is that the authorities, instead of penalising the defaulters, end up pulling up their own officials. In the past four months, two cases of illegal road cuts by private companies came to the fore. In both the cases, FIRs were filed but no action was taken against the companies involved in the digging up of roads. Whereas in a departmental inquiry of the MC, responsibility of those officials was fixed, who did not take action even after the matter was exposed.
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Terminal Ballistics Research Lab gets new Director
Chandigarh, August 1
An alumnus of the Department of Physics, Panjab University, he joined the TBRL in December 1984 and since then he has been working in the field of “Detonics of High Explosives and Shock Dynamics”, which remained his area of specialisation. He played an instrumental role in the development of explosive wave shapers and technologies for dynamic shock compression of materials. With the blend of ultra-fast diagnostics, modelling and simulation techniques, he made his division a centre of excellence for performance evaluation and design optimisation of various explosive systems needed for making the country self-reliant in strategic technologies. He played the lead role in creating state-of-the-art experimental facilities consisting of two-stage light gas gun and split Hopkinson pressure bar that have made the TBRL a unique laboratory for characterisation of materials under different loading conditions.
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PU issues circular to departments
Chandigarh, August 1 The circular reads, “It has been observed that appropriate regard is not being paid to the sacredness of the Right to Information Act and replies are not sent in time to the applicants, thus causing discomfiture and even penalties are imposed in some cases.” The circular further says in a majority of the cases, dealing officials of various branches are putting up obscure and incomplete replies. Even if the information is not available with the university, the application is required to be sent to the quarters concerned with a proper copy to the applicant as well. PU announced that henceforth, if any delay is observed at any level, the official concerned will be held accountable. The circular further mentions that “any penalty is imposed because of such inaction or delay, the same will be recovered from the official concerned, besides other disciplinary action, as may be deemed fit.
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Prof Amrik is new DSW
Chandigarh, August 1 Professor Gurmail Singh, chairperson, department of economics, has been appointed new dean international students and Professor Varinder Walia, department of zoology, has been appointed dean alumni relations. Professor Kalpna K Mahajan retains the charge of dean student welfare (women).
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