The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

NEIGHBOURHOOD

MC POLLS PATIALA
Internal strife disrupts work
MC’s development work fails to get desired attention
Umesh Dewan
Tribune News Service

Jaspal Pradhan

Inder Mohan Singh Bajaj

Patiala, May 19
It was sheer factionalism within the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) as well as the Bharatiya Janata P arty (BJP) that remained at the centre stage during the five-year tenure of the Patiala Municipal Corporation. The divided with the MC proved detrimental for the city residents as the development work failed to get the desired attention.

With factionalism dominating the corporation working, it would not be wrong to say that the development of 50 municipal wards of Patiala was put no the back burner. There are as many as 35 SAD councillors and nine BJP councillors in the house.

Two separate groups of municipal councillors of the Akali Dal had made several attempts to topple Mayor Ajit Pal Singh Kohli-son of former SAD Minister Surjit Singh Kohli. On the other hand, bickering within the BJP was so much that Deputy Mayor Sonia Devi resigned from party’s primary membership and two other BJP councillor resigned from councillorship alleging rampant corruption in the civic body.

Soon after the SAD-BJP house was constituted in August 2007, resentment started brewing among the senior Akali councillors for elevating first-timer Ajit Pal Singh Kohli as the mayor, notwithstanding that several senior Akali leaders were still there in the house.

Jaspal Pradhan, leading one group of councillors, and the SAD (Urban) president Inder Mohan Singh Bajaj, whose son Amarinder Bajaj was a councillor, had also raised the banner of revolt, separately.

The problem within the SAD-BJP house became public in 2009, when almost two dozen councillors revolted against Kohli and also boycotted the general house meeting.

Since Kohli’s detractors had levelled serious allegations of corruption against him and also staged a protest with placards mentioning “Mayor Hatao, Patiala Bachao”, the Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal constituted a high level committee to look into the matter.

Almost one and half year back, Sarita Gera, municipal councillor from ward number 7, resigned alleging that she was humiliated and harassed by the mayor because she was exposing the alleged corruption prevalent in the Municipal Corporation.

Another BJP councillor Navneet Kaur also resigned due to same reason. The recent case that put BJP in embarrassment was the resignation of Deputy Mayor Sonia Devi. Sonia resigned while accusing the mayor and Senior Deputy Mayor Anil Bajaj of indulging into gross financial irregularities.

WING COMMANDER’s ESCAPE from custody
Air Force police fails to find any clue
Suman Bhatnagar

Ambala, May 19
The Air Force police has failed to achieve any clue of wing commander Shashank Shekhar who had escaped from Air Force custody on May 13. The parents of Shashank are also worried about their son who was stated to be tensed due to pressure of the superiors of the department.

The air force police has launched a massive hunt in search of escapee wing commander. The police has made a search in several adjoining villages of the air force station. It is learnt that the air force authorities have been investigating the disappearance of the wing commander in mysterious circumstances.

The station has 12 feet high boundary wall affixed with barbed wires. The security personnel are deployed round the clock on the main gate. Security towers are also available around the boundary wall. It seemed to be very difficult to scale the boundary wall of the air force station.

On the complaint of squadron leader AK Chauhan an FIR was registered against the wing commander under the Air Force Act 1950 at the Ambala Cantonment police station.

It is to be mentioned that Shashank, who basically belonged to Ambala City, was transferred to Amritsar from Chandigarh in October 2011. He has been missing from the duty since October 24, 2011. A DDR by the Amritsar Air Force Authorities was registered with the Ram Dass International Airport Police Station at Amritsar in this regard.

He was nabbed by the joint efforts of Air Force Police and Dehradun police on May 11. Later, he was kept at the rest house of Ambala Air Force station, from where he managed to flee.

13 days on, no potable water for Lalru
Parmod Mehta

Lalru, May 19
People of Lalru village have been facing drinking water problem for the past 13 days. The residents have been trying to get potable water from here and there in this summer season. Lalru residents had complained to concerned authorities regarding the problem but no solution could be found till now. Residents said that the main reason of the problem was the mismanagement and not any technical fault.

Meanwhile, the SDM Inderjeet Kaur Kang said that drinking water problem in Lalru would be checked from the officials of concerned department and resolved soon. The SDO public health Sehal Anand said that water problem was caused by defect in tubewell motors. One motor was replaced and another would be replaced soon, he informed. Other reason of problem was setting up of sewerage lines, which caused leakage in drinking water supply pipeline.

He assured that problem would be resolved soon in 5 or 7 days.

Water shortage in Kalka
Bharat Nagar without water for last three days
Hemant Kumar

Kalka, May 19
With the rising of the mercury, various areas of Kalka and its adjoining villages have been facing acute water shortage problem these days. The residents of Bharat Nagar, Kalka adjacent to narrow gauge railway colony irked that they were not getting water supply for the past three days.

Subsequently, they have been facing inconvenience, despite of the fact that the matter has been repeatedly brought to the notice of the public health department. Many area residents of the Kalka town including Lower Kurari, Kurari mohalla, Kalka, Basant Vihar and some parts of the Housing Board Colony complained that they have been facing water scarcity problem these days.

Many residents of the areas of upper zone of Kalka, including upper mohalla and parade mohalla also alleged inadequate and low-pressure of the water supply.

The residents of Basant Vihar, Mittal Colony have also complained that many times as the water supply in their area is contaminated.

The residents of Tagra village, adjacent to Bharat Nagar Kalka also complained that they had been facing low water pressure for the past couple of months, but the concerned department has not taken any initiative in this regard.

Two youngsters allegedly commit suicide
Suman Bhatnagar

Ambala, May 19
Two youngsters ended their lives by allegedly consuming some poisonous substance. The deceased were identified as Pooja and (Vikram), residents of nearby villages. Sources said they were found in unconscious position near Shaha Chowk around 15 km from here on Friday. One of their acquaintances noticed them and informed the police.

Both were rushed to the Civil Hospital, Ambala Cantt, from where they were referred to PGI Chandigarh. Police sources said that both died there in the wee hour of this morning. It is learnt that the duo had informed their parents that they were going to Mullana for some work but later they were found unconscious. The cause behind the extreme step could not be ascertained so far.

Factory ash causing eye ailments
Parmod Mehta

Smoke comes out of a chimney of the liquor factory near Banur on Saturday. Photo by writer

Banur, May 19
People of some villages situated near Liquor factory, Chandigarh distillers and bottles limited, here have been facing harassment due to ash coming through the chimneys of factory. The ash affects the residents till the distance of 5-kilometer area and sometime it becomes the reason of eye ailments.

Residents of the nearby villages had alleged that they were harassed from the ash of liquor factory because it affect on eyes and affect the clothes and other things lying in the houses.

According to information, the ash originates from the co-generation power plant of factory in which rice husk was used.

This power plant generates steam to produce the liquor.

In the absence of proper pollution control norms it create harmful ash.

The CPM leader Gurdarshan Singh khaspur and the BSP leader Surinder Pal Singh told that the ash coming out from the chimneys of factory fall on the things lying in the houses of people of nearby villages and also cause eye ailments and asthma diseases.

They demanded that the officials of Punjab Pollution Control Board should take appropriate steps to control the problem. Liquor factory head, Rajiv Bhandari, had denied about the problem.

He said that the company was adopting all the pollution control norms. Meanwhile, XEN Punjab Pollution Control Board, Joginder Singh, said that the problem would be checked out and appropriate steps would be taken to resolve it and that the company management would be asked to adopt the pollution control norms.

CRIME

Six arrested for using LPG in vehicles
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 19
Special technical team of PCR headed by Inspector Sukhwinder Singh busted a racket of LPG gas pilferage today. During the raid at Raju Prince Service Station, Shahpur Colony, Chandigarh, its owner Satbir Singh and his servant Yuvraj were caught red-handed.

They were transferring gas from four domestic LPG cylinders to three autos and one Accent car. The police also held the vehicle owners.

Two machines along with equipments used for pilferage were also recovered from the site.

Food and supply inspector Gian Chand also visited the spot and verified the commercial use of domestic gas. All the six accused, two of the service station, three auto-drivers: Rajan, Manoj and Santosh Kumar and a car owner, Sandeep Kumar, were arrested and a case has been registered against them.

One held with pistol
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 19
The Crime Branch of Chandigarh Police arrested Rakesh Kumar, a resident of Mauli Jagran, near Railway Light Point and recovered a country-made pistol and one live cartridge from his possession.

Kumar was arrested on Friday and a case under the Arms Act has been registered at Manimajra police station. Police stated an inquiry has been initiated in the case.

SPORTS

rowing championship
Amrit, Manisha win title in doubles sculls
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 19
Rowers Amrit Pal Kaur and Manisha won the doubles sculls event during the Chandigarh State sub-Junior and Challenger Sprints Rowing Championship conducted under both boys and girls category, at Lake Club, here today. The winners completed the winning patch in 2:25.01 minutes.

In the girls (sub-junior) single skull event, Amrit Pal Kaur completed the race in 1:53.13 minutes to win the category.

In the Boys (challenger sprints) single sculls category, Jagsir Singh won the gold medal with the timing of 1:39.05 minutes while rower Gurmej Singh won the silver medal in 1:40.36 minutes along with Dishant, who won bronze medal after completing the race in 1:51.36 minutes.

Results: Double sculls (CM2X)-Dishant Sehgal and Gurmej Singh (gold) 1:34.94; Ayush and Shail (silver) 2:01.11; coxless pairs-Vikinder Kumar and Jagmeet Singh (gold) 1:29.05; Desraj and Ravinder Jit Singh (silver) 1:33.18; Tarsem and Harpreet (bronze) 1:34.47; Jagraj Singh and Jaswinder Singh (4th Position) 1:35.29; Angrej Singh and Manjeet Singh (5th) 1:52.41.

Ludhiana show Chandigarh the door
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 19
The cricket team of Ludhiana defeated Chandigarh during the ongoing U-19 Dhruv Pandove Trophy Tournament. Ludhiana defeated Chandigarh on 1st innings lead of 82 runs and garnered three points while Chandigarh got zero.

Resuming at 69 for 5 Chandigarh batsmen caved in cheaply in 38.1 overs for a total score of 118. Sandeep Singh with a haul of six wickets was the most successful bowler for Ludhiana. Ludhiana were bowled out for 121 in 55.2 overs in their second innings. Sunny Pandey 25 and Khushwinder 27 were the main scorers for Ludhiana. Abhilash Sharma 7 for 48, Bhagminder Singh 2 for 15 were the main wicket takers for Chandigarh. Chandigarh was given the target of 204 in 20 overs for an outright win. Chandigarh fell short by 14 runs in their heroic chase. Amritpal Singh 2 for 73 and Sandeep Singh 2 for 91 were the main successful bowlers for Ludhiana

Brief Scores:

Ludhiana 1st innings: 200 all out in 77 overs

Chandigarh 1st innings: 118 all out in 38.1 overs (Jaskaranveer Singh 42, Abhilash Sharma 33, Anil 24 Sandeep 6 for 45)

Ludhiana 2nd Innings 121 for all in 55.2 overs. (Sunny Pandey 25 and Khushwinder Sharma 27 Abhilash Sharma 7 for 48, Bhagminder Singh 2 for 15).

Chandigarh 2nd innings 191 for 5 in 20 overs (Simranpreet Singh 117 not out, Jaskaranveer Singh 57, Amritpal Singh 2 for 73 and Sandeep Singh 2 for 91)

In the second match, Amritsar declared their first innings closed at 433 for 7 in 101 overs. Mohit Handa completed his unbeaten century 101. Mohali was bundled out for 148 in 74.3 overs. Shine Sharma 45 and Suber Hayer 15 were the main scorers for Mohali. Left arm spinner Rahul Kanojia had a rich haul of 7 for 61 as he ran through the Mohali innings.

Following on Mohali were 43 for 1 in 11 overs at close of play. Amritsar got 3 points for their first innings lead while Mohali got 0.

Brief Scores:

Amritsar 433 for 7 in 101 overs (Karan Sharma 61, Abhinav Sharma 84, Avneet Singh 86 and Mohit Handa 101 and Jatin Rana 34. Maninder Singh 4 for 88, Anmoljeet 2 for 89 and Gurpreet Singh 1 for 59).

Mohali 1st Innings 148 all out in 74.3 overs. (Shine Sharma 45 and Suber Hayer 15

Rahul Kanojia 7 for 61)

Mohali 2nd Innings 43 for 1 in 11 overs at close of play. (Suber Hayer 31 not out).