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House tax: MC faces heat
Chandigarh, February 22 The decision to impose the embargo was taken by the Administration after a recent meeting between UT and MC officials. UT officials have now sought UT Administrator Shivraj V Patil's approval in this regard. A senior official of the Administration said the corporation must implement "policies and practices" to generate revenue to finance infrastructure projects. The Administration had been insisting on imposition of house tax, but the MC had failed to heed its advice. As a result, the Administration had decided not to transfer land to the MC free of cost, he said. Only in cases where it was required for the construction of roads, hospitals and schools, land could be provided on nominal charges or free of cost, the official said. MC Commissioner Vivek Pratap Singh said discussion regarding land required for infrastructure projects had taken place with UT officials recently. They were yet to get the minutes of the meeting, he said. The UT Administrator had recently made it clear to city Mayor Subhash Chawla that imposition of house tax was a must for the development of the City Beautiful. Patil had said that house tax was mandatory for getting grants under the JNNURM, which could be used to improve the infrastructure and services in the city. On January 1, after the mayoral elections, the Mayor had announced that the MC would not impose tax this year. Tax rates proposed by nominated councillors
After a discussion with UT Administrator Shivraj V Patil, the nominated councillors of the MC had tabled the house tax agenda at a recent meeting of the House. The nominated councillors had proposed that owners of all houses bigger than 125 sq yards or five marlas should pay house tax at the rate
of Re 1 per sq sq yard per year, but not more than Rs 1,000 annually. An occupant of a five-marla house in the city should be made to shell out Rs 125 per year, followed by Rs 187.5, Rs 250 and Rs 375 per year for occupants of 7.5, 10 and 15-marla houses. As a one-kanal house has an area of 500 sq yards, according to the proposal, the occupant of a one-kanal house should be made to shell out Rs 500 per year, followed by Rs 1,000 per year for occupants of two, three, four, five and six-kanal houses. No house tax should be levied on houses spread over less than 125 sq yards.
City may lose JNNURM grants
The city will lose around Rs 400 crore under
the JNNURM if house tax is not imposed. The Administration and the MC
will not be able to seek more funds under the JNNURM for future
projects. The MC had signed an MoU under the JNNURM with the Ministry of
Urban Development to levy house tax to raise funds.
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Administration gets choosy over boundary walls
Chandigarh, February 22 The UT estate office has singled out private houses by putting cross marks on all walls higher than the permissible 5 ft and 11 inches. It has spared government houses with high boundary walls, some of which are as high as 8 ft. "While UT officials cite security reasons for raising the height of boundary walls of government houses allotted to senior officials of Punjab, Haryana and UT, the security concerns of the common man living in private houses is ignored," said Manjit Singh, a resident of Sector 7. Affected residents of northern sectors, especially those living in Sectors 7 and 8, who have been issued notices under Rules 10 and 14 of the Chandigarh Estate Rules, 2007, point out that the estate office is not adopting a uniform policy while deciding on the height of the boundary walls of houses. Besides issuing notices to "violators", the estate office has put cross marks on the rear boundary walls of their houses. "The same yardstick should be adopted in case of government houses also," said another resident, Prof SP Khullar (retd). Officials of the UT estate office said they could issue notices only in case of private houses and not government houses, which came under the jurisdiction of the engineering department. SK Chadha, UT Chief Engineer, said deciding the height of boundary walls was the work of the architecture department. According to the norms, the front boundary walls cannot be raised beyond a height of 3 ft and 8 inches. "Only in case of the rear and side boundary walls, a height of up to 5 ft and 11.5 inches is allowed," said an official of the estate office.
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Monica Goyal’s in-laws charged with murder
Chandigarh, February 22 In January, the police had filed a chargesheet in the case in which it had attached a report from the CFSL, a vital evidence in the case which suggested that the teacher was murdered by her husband and in-laws after torturing her. The court framed charges of murder as well as of abetment to suicide against all accused under Sections 306 and 302 of the IPC as the police had filed the chargesheet under sections of abetment to suicide as well as murder. Monica
Goyal, a 35-year-old computer teacher with New Public School in Sector 18, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in October 2012. The victim was taken to the Government Multi-Speciality Hospital
in Sector 16 by her in-laws where she was declared brought dead. The victim's family members cried foul and alleged that her in-laws murdered her. They alleged that she was being harassed for the past many years. On November 8, 22 days after the incident, the police had slapped charges of murder against all accused after receiving the CFSL report, which suggested that she was murdered. Initially, the police had booked all of them in a case of abetment to suicide. After the incident, a team of the CFSL had reconstructed the death scene and hung a dummy from a ceiling fan. “The forensic team came to the conclusion that Monica was first beaten up brutally the night before her death and then her body was hung from a ceiling fan. The CFSL also did not rule out the possibility that Monica may have been hung from the fan in an unconscious state,” states the chargesheet.
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Hair and now: Students thrash barber
Chandigarh, February 22 That was not to be. On Friday, five guys — all friends — decided to get a hair cut. They went to a Sector 20 barber shop, and waited, and waited. Then they did something they were not cut out for: they got back at the barber. The barber sustained injuries and was taken to a hospital from where he was discharged after treatment. Sehanwaj, a resident of Colony No. 5, reported to the police that he was going home last night when the five assaulted him. Identified as Jaskaran, Navneet, Parminder, Sukhwinder and Daljit Singh, they have been arrested. The police says they stay as PGs in Sector 20-D and study in the city. The police has registered a case under Sections 147,148, 149 (rioting), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC at the Sector 19 police station. PS: Heard in a swanky city salon: In the West, the clients socialize as they wait for their turn. The clippers, the knife and the razor make quick rounds of the tufts and trim the tresses to their shape. Meanwhile, you talk, others talk, you listen and maybe a song is born, or dies. The five will have to learn not to test a barber’s patience.
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Colours blend with joy as 3-day rose festival takes off
Chandigarh, February 22 The festival showcases a wide array of flower arrangements and competitions in different category of flowers. Just opposite to the rose garden were fun games, camel rides and mouthwatering food stalls at the Leisure Valley. As soon as the inauguration ended, a series of competitions kicked-off at the Rose Garden. While the brass and pipe band competition attracted many music lovers, the floral hats brought cheers among the children who dropped at the counter to get their pictures clicked with decorated hats donning their head. The Rose Festival is not just about flowers. It also offers cultural extravaganza and attracts innumerable people from different walks of life, including foreign tourists who were glued to their seats during the folk dance performances. As the day progressed, Mr and Ms Rose Competition attracted the crowd. The differences between the Congress councilors surfaced once again. Pardeep Chabbra, area Councilor from Congress, gave a miss to the festival on the inaugural day. It is the Municipal Corporation (MC) that organises the Rose Festival. Visually impaired students present folk dance
As many as eight students from the Institute for the Blind, Sector 26, were no-way behind when compared to the other teams performing folk dance. The coordination and perfection showcased by the students in their dance surprised everyone and gathered applause from scores of spectators. The students performed "Luddi", a Punjabi folk dance that celebrates people's triumph. The dancers exhibited special dance moves, including head movements, sinuous and serpentine movements. The team bagged 3rd position in the folk dance competition.
Public awareness
The members of the Aam Admi Party also ensured that they reach the rose fest and mobilise the visitors against corruption. The party members wearing white caps with 'mujhe chahiyeh Jan Lokpal' written on them sensitised people about the importance of Lokpal bill.
Stalls for cultural heritage
There were different variety of stalls providing a platform to the artists and artisans to project their rich cultural heritage.
Snehalaya inmates
set up food stall
A stall of food items cooked by the inmates of ‘Snehalaya’ was also set up on the occasion. Some of their special items, including 'gajar ka halwa' and 'channa puri' were the main attraction for food lovers. As many as 21 inmates managing the food stall took 8-week food course at a hotel management institute to learn cooking, especially for putting up a food stall at the Rose Festival.
Free eco-friendly Holi colours distributed
The Eco Club of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 46, displayed a wide variety of eco-friendly holi colours made from mehandi powder, arrowroot powder, and hibiscus flowers. They were offered free of cost to people. The medicinal
herbal seeds, including Stevia, Panwar, Aprita , Arind were also distributed among the crowd that visited the Rose festival.
Star nite draws Lukewarm response The star nite witnessed a lukewarm response with maximum number of seats at the venue lying vacant. On the first day of fest, performance by Punjabi singer Sarbjit Cheema was
organised, however, not many turned up to watch the Punjabi night. Interestingly, the singer
gave his performance with stands lying vacant. The police officials were more than the spectators.
Parking menace
Inadequate parking space for thousands of people visiting Rose Festival is a major problem. While there is a limited parking space near Leisure Valley and Rose garden, the visitors preferred to park their cars in Sector 17, and near DAV College, Sector 10.
Schedule for day 2...
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City doctor is IMA vice-president
Dr Ramneek Singh Bedi was installed as the national vice-president of Indian Medical Association at the 87th National Conference IMACON at Kanyakumari. IMA is the largest association of doctors in the country. He is the second doctor from Chandigarh State to be elevated to this position. He is currently the President of IMA, Chandigarh, for the second year in succession. Nomination
Dr SS Chahal, Vice-Chancellor, Desh Bhagat University, Mandi Gobindgarh and former Vice-Chancellor of Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology Udaipur has been nominated as the chairman of the Research Advisory Committee for three years by the the Indian Council of Agriculture Research, New Delhi.
Bereaved
Baljeet Kaur (78), wife of former joint director, food and supply, Punjab, GS Chawla, died on Friday morning. Her cremation was largely attended.
Conference on equitable growth
A two-day conference on “Innovation for Equitable Growth” was inaugurated today at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) in association with the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC), New Delhi. Dr Girish Sahni, Director, Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Chandigarh, was the chief guest on the occasion. Somnath Ghosh, CMD, NRDC, New Delhi, delivered the welcome address. Prof KK Bhutani, Director, NIPER, introduced the chief guest and the dignitaries to the audience.
Panchkula scan Swami Devi Dyal College of Law, Barwala, organised a legal-aid camp at Mandapa village in Panchkuala district. Advocate RS Chauhan was the chief guest on the occasion. He was accompanied by Advocate Sanjeev. As many as 250 villagers attended this camp. The organisers and participants of the camp provided knowledge to the village residents regarding domestic violence act, public interest litigation, RTI, Lok Adalat , BPL Scheme, MNREGA and Harayana State Legal Services Authority.
— TNS
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Procurement process made easy
Vivek Gupta Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 22 It is learnt that the this decision will expedite the process of buying the school uniforms, which is struck for past one year. Till last year, the education department used to follow the e-tendering system to buy uniforms for all these students. But series of goof-ups and corruption allegations led the department to decentralise the process and accordingly it was decided to empower the school management committees, working in each government school, to buy the school uniform separately for its respective students. These SMCs came up in these government schools after the Right to Education Act, which stipulated that every government school was required formulate its own SMCs, comprising parents and school staff as members and head of the school as overall in-charge of the committee. “A high level committee was constituted for the purpose of finalising the formalities for these SMCs. After several rounds of meeting, the guidelines have been finally approved at the highest possible level, said a senior government official. As per the fresh guidelines, shortly to be sent to all the government schools, the SME of each government school would make the purchase in the most economical manner and satisfy itself about the quality of the uniform and reasonability of price. There is no need for a SMC to invite a tender up to the purchase of Rs 1 lakh. It can procure the uniform of the same value by constituting a local purchase committee, which will do the required survey. However, uniforms with total value of more than Rs 1 lakh and up to Rs 10 lakh will however be procured under the system of limited tender enquiry as provided under Rule 151 of General Financial Rules. The number of supplier firms in limited tender enquiry should be minimum of four, for which the efforts are required to identify higher number of suppliers. If total value of the school uniforms exceeds Rs 10 Lakh and up to Rs 25 Lakh, then the same will be done by the procedure of e-tendering as per the instructions of Chandigarh Administration where in complete tender document will have to prepared and a wide publicity will be done for the same. The upper ceiling of the amount for the procurement will be Rs. 300 per set of uniform for the class I to class V students and Rs. 375 per set of uniform for class VI to class VIII students. The purchase order should be issued to the lowest evaluated bidder by incorporating the accepted forms. In case the uniforms are not found in conformity with the specifications prescribed, the same should be rejected. Guidelines for SMCs
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Usha Mangeshkar graces musical evening
Chandigarh, February 22 The function began with Usha Mangeskar offering a floral tribute to legendary singer Mukesh. The organiser of the programme Jainendra Singh said, the city was blessed to have Usha Mangeskar who has a huge contribution in film music. The musical concert revised the old era of Hindi film music as several amateur singers sang old songs of Mukesh, Mohammad Rafi, Talat Mehmood, Jagjit Singh, Mahender Kapoor, Salil chaudhary, SD Burman Amateur singers from the tri-city, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal performed at the event. A special tribute was given to Jagjit Singh by a singer with his famous song, "Tum Itna jo Muskura Rahe ho”. Host of amateurs singers sang a number of songs from classic movies like Pakiza, Madhumati, Usne Kha Tha, Maya, and many other. The function was organised by Legendary Mukesh Musical Arts and Cultural Society (LEMACS). Usha appreciated the efforts of such societies in promoting the good music.
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Runway was clear: IAF
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 22 A senior IAF officer said that it was a normal go-around for the incoming IndiGo aircraft after the Air Traffic Control (ATC) informed the aircrew that their approach height was higher than the appropriate height required for touchdown at the designated point. The radar monitoring the approach indicated that given the aircraft’s altitude, it could overshoot the runway. The same was conveyed to the aircrew by the ATC, following which they decided to abort the landing and make a fresh approach along the correct glide path, the officer said. The IndiGo crew conveyed that they would turn left after aborting, but they were advised to turn right, as a cautionary measure, because there was another aircraft flying near Sarsawa, he said. Sarsawa is at a distance of over 50 nautical miles, but only a few minutes flying time away. Reports, based on claims by onboard passengers, had stated that the Indigo aircraft had a narrow escape on Tuesday after the aircrew spotted another aircraft on the runway and aborted landing at the last minute, making a sharp ascent. This had created panic among the 200-odd passengers onboard. The entire conversation between the pilots and the ATC was recorded, as mandated for all the traffic control services, and it did not indicate that any emergency or abnormal situation had been created, the officer said. Go-arounds are not uncommon at airports and can result from inclement weather conditions or incorrect glide paths or airspeeds. The runway and air traffic services at Chandigarh are controlled by the Air Force. IAF officers claimed that no report about this incident had been made to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) or any other authority, nor are there reports of the airline taking up the matter with the DGCA or Air Headquarters.
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Photo exhibition inaugurated
Chandigarh, February 22 Travelogue writer Angad's images tabled a perspective of a transition from a passionate traveller to a professional photographer. His images projecting India's vibrant heritage greeted the audience. "Like any artist, I try to find my creative space and throw my experience and instinctive mind behind my lens", said Angad. Idris, a passionate thinker, had some of the amazing shots showing the deep roughness of life in a philosophical tone. His images from Jerusalem to Leh, from Colombo to Kumbh Mela, offered an extraordiary view of the world from a lenman's eyes. Mathew's work on the other hand was inspired from his role as a graphic designer. The human figures in his images showed the life in a void form to project a sense of emptiness against ulta-modern world. The exhibition will go on till February 24 at Art studio, IFM, in Sector 9.
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PU to discontinue MBA (Executive) course
Chandigarh, February 22 Faculty of UBS has also stated that presently the department did not have the sufficient faculty for this course, following which the faculty has recommended the suspension of admissions to MBA executive course form coming academic session. MBA executive is a three-year course open for the executives having two-years of experience in a commercial or industrial establishment and fulfilling the required qualification. Students who are presently enrolled in the course said, rather then discontinuing the course, the department should restructure the model and conduct classes during weekends, so that more of the professionals could join the course. “The course stretches for three-years which also acts as deterrent for the professionals willing to join the course”, said a student.. The syndicate in the forthcoming meeting will once again discuss the demand for allowing prosecution of Professor OP Katare, which have been forwarded by CBI from Jaipur. The CBI is seeking prosecution against Katare for allegedly misleading the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), in the matter of granting recognition to an educational institute in Jaipur.
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Poor working of govt hospitals: NHRC issues notice to UT Administrator
New Delhi, February 22 The report stated patients were being hassled due to the lack of coordination between the staff. The medical personnel deputed on the emergency duty were found missing from their seats. The commission has observed that the pathetic conditions in the government hospitals, as reported, are deplorable and if immediate remedial steps were not taken, the same would lead to loss of precious lives. The commission has asked the UT Administrator to submit a report in the matter within four weeks.
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Rs 5 lakh recovered, 20 vehicles impounded
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 23 Alerted by reports of traders evading VAT while transporting goods from outside, the department has set up nakas, being shifted regularly, across the city. The excise officials are performing a five-hour duty in shifts. Commissioner, Excise and Taxation, Mohammed Shayin, said the move was necessitated as the financial year was coming to an end and the department had witnessed a dip in the revenue collection. While in Punjab there are tax collection centres at the entry points to Punjab and Haryana, there is no such facility at the entry points to the UT.
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Amrita
Sher-Gill art week
Chandigarh, February 22 Dayanita Singh talked about her photography and literary work. Her work has been exhibited at the Venice Bienale 2011 and she will be in the German Pavillion in Venice Bienale 2013. In 2012, she exhibited File Museum at Frith Street Gallery London, House of Love at Nature
Morte, New Delhi, Fiction in the Archives in Asia Pacific Trienale and Being of Darkness at Guangzhou
Trienale. Navina Sundaram worked as a political television
editor-cum-reporter and as foreign correspondent for North German
Radio & Television in Hamburg. In her capacity as filmmaker,
roving correspondent, news-reporter, anchor woman, she worked for
programmes on the national network. She has also made scores of
documentary films.
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3 child labourers rescued
Chandigarh, February 22 The three minors have been sent to Snehalaya in Maloya. The labour department has also imposed a fine on these shops. The police received information that children as young as 10 years were being made to work, and were not even given proper clothing and shoes. The shop owners have been identified as Badlu, Jitender and Shiv Kumar.
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Irregularities: Homoeopathic college faculty approaches PU VC against management
Chandigarh, February 22 The faculty has claimed that the college is flouting the rules of PU by not retiring few favourite faculty members even after they have attained the retirement age and also overlooking the fact that the eligibility of that faculty member has been questioned several times by Central Council of Homoeopathy
(CCH) due to irregularity in the qualification. "As per CCH inspection report the teacher is not eligible to be an external examiner or internal examiner, evaluator", as per the three-page representation. The faculty has also raised objections over
the re-employment of KS Katoch after his retirement, without the existence of any such
provision for PU affiliated college. "The college has also given him the additional charge of Deputy Medical Superintendent, which is otherwise a regular post and rightfully belong to the long stagnated hospital staff of the college", as per the representation. Faculty members of the college also mentioned that the Personal Promotion Policy (PPP) was formulated by the authorities which were not inconformity with the CCH regulations. "The fate of PPP is still pending and many of the eligible teachers are facing long stagnation despite giving representations and reminders. A committee by the PU has already been formed to look into the matter", stated a faculty member. The teachers in their representation mentioned that they were apprehensive about facing a harassment and disciplinary action by the college authorities for approaching university. When contacted KK
Dhiman, Principal of the college, he said, a representation had also been received by him from the faculty members which had been forwarded to the college management for examining. "The management is examining the representation and appropriate action will be taken if anything is against rules and regulations,"
Dhiman said.
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32 law schools to take part in moot court
Mohali, February 22 Patil emphasised on the importance of moot courts and said it was one of the primary modes of legal education to prepare law students for facing courtroom work. He said such competitions helped law students to attain proficiency in the actual application of law and also enhanced their communication skills, advocacy, competence and legal perspective, since the legal profession was very challenging. He said, in India the first thing a lawyer should do was to understand the Indian Constitution thoroughly. He advised the students to attend courts as it would be more helpful than books. As many as 32 law schools from around the country will be competing during the next two days to win a cash prize of Rs 50,000 in various categories. Major-Gen R G Krishnan, officiating Patron, AIL, in his inaugural address said, the present scenario was throwing up ever-new challenging socio-economic issues, it was only a sound mind coupled with the spirit of delivering justice that could well equip the budding lawyers to meet the challenges of the legal profession. — TNS
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