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Dasehra Mehakdeep Grewal Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 3 During the festivity, not only did effigies worth Rs 87 lakh go up in flames, but the residents’ oath and commitment for a pollution-free city were lost too. While yesterday, government employees and students were seen carrying out cleanliness drives in their premises as well as neighborhood areas to ensure a clean city, within no time, the tall claims fell flat as amid the festivity, the organisers did not make any efforts to clean the remains of the burnt effigies. Festive spirit engulfed the city as people, dressed in colourful attires, thronged the venues in large numbers to get a glimpse of the burning effigies of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhakarna at Sectors 46, 17, 29, 27, 7 and 24. The Dasehra celebrations in Sector 17 began with a procession of artistes, donning traditional attires. The procession started from a temple in Sector 23 and culminated at the Sector 17 Parade Ground. Grand celebrations were held at Sectors 34 and 29. It was an all-religious affair at Sector 24 , where heads of all religions gave the message of communal harmony. After the celebrations got over, all that was spotted on the grounds were burnt effigies and heaps of wrappers of food items. A stampede-like situation was witnessed at some grounds in the city and also at the Sector 5 ground in Panchkula after the burning of the effigies as people jostled with each other to take away the remains of the Ravana’s effigy. The police had to intervene to bring the situation under control. The spectacle of firecrackers being burnt in huge numbers in the effigies led to air and noise pollution. Gaurav Gaur, a faculty member at the Centre for Social Work, Panjab University, said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has initiated a cleanliness campaign, which should not be limited to a day. Youngsters need to carry on the campaign with a sense of responsibility. They should enjoy the tradition and ensure that they do not litter the venues.” Ravana goes high-tech: The Ravana’s effigy at Mani Majra had a rotating head. Instead of the traditional way of lighting the effigies with fire, remote controls were used for the purpose at the Dasehra ground, Sector 27. In Panchkula, a remote-controlled Ravana was used at the parade ground in Sector 5. Birds worst affected: Chief Forest Conservator Santosh Kumar said, “Common birds are the worst affected due to noise and air pollution created by burning of crackers, they leave their nests and fly away in order to save lives as the carbon dioxide released in the air affects them.” At 83 ft, Sector 46 Ravana the tallest The major attraction was the tallest Ravana at Sector 46 that stood 83 ft tall. Showering of petals by a glider and colourful fireworks were the other attractions at the Sector 46 Dasehra function. Clean venues, Kirron asks organisers Member of Parliament Kirron Kher appealed to all organisers of Dashera to clean the venue of their functions latest by Saturday. She said, “I have told all organisers to return the grounds to the Administration in the same clean way as these were given to them.”
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Audit report slams MC’s tax branch
Rajinder Nagarkoti Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 3 The report states that during the audit of property tax receipts, a number of deficiencies were found. The controlling officer did not sign the receipt entries in the cash book. Reconciliation of the cash book with the bank had not been done, the report pointed out. The MC is levying property tax on the basis of a survey conducted by Punjab Engineering College in 2004. During the past 10 years, the MC has not carried out any new survey and many commercial establishments have come up in the city now. The failure of the civic body to conduct a fresh survey is leading to a loss of revenue. According to data available with the tax branch of the MC, there are 1,750 defaulters who have not paid tax to the corporation. Since no action is taken against the defaulters, the MC is suffering a financial loss. The report also pointed out that “some vouchers of property tax receipts were missing. Besides the list of defaulters and interest/penalties imposed upon them has not been shown to the audit wing”. A senior official of the MC said they had now decided to attach the properties of owners who had defaulted in the payment of the commercial property tax. The MC had already served final notices on a number of defaulters whose amount of arrears was more than Rs 1 lakh, the official said. MC fails to recover
Rs 22 lakh from councillors
The MC has failed to recover Rs 22 lakh from Congress councillors and nominated councillors who had voted for the cancellation of the day market project in Mauli Jagran when construction was under way in 2012. The audit report pointed out that the MC had failed to recover Rs 22 lakh from the councillors. Last year, the report had held these councillors responsible for the
financial loss, and recommended recovery of money from the councillors who had voted in favour of the cancellation during a meeting of the House in 2012.
MC’s negligence cost exchequer
Rs 3 crore
The audit report highlights that the negligence of the Municipal Corporation has cost the exchequer nearly Rs 3 crore as the civic body failed to collect service tax from April 2011 to March 2014 and ended up paying money from its coffers to the Central Excise and Service Tax Department.
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Day after, DC orders probe to check violations
Hina Rohtaki Tribune News Service
Panchkula, October 3 After Phulia got to know that the factory had a tainted past and a worker had died in a blast in the factory in 2011, caused due to tyre pyrlosis (being carried out illegally without permission from the pollution control board), he ordered the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) to look into the case and submit a report. “I have asked the regional officer of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board and the Assistant Director of Industrial Safety and Health to submit details of all violations in the factory in a report and whether they had the requisite permission or not,” said SDM Hema Sharma. Phulia said he had also asked the Fire Department to do a survey of all factories and serve notices on the defaulters immediately. Last night, 30 fire tenders took over five hours to extinguish the fire that had spread on to the road after chemicals kept in drums spilled all over. A truck and a pick-up parked in the factory were reduced to ashes. The boundary walls of factories in plot numbers 219 and 221 also got damaged in the fire. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. The police suspect short circuit could be the reason. Past incident
June 19, 2014: As many as 16 persons landed in the hospital due to generation of chlorine when a fire broke out in a water treatment unit opposite M/s Colour Udyog.
Factory of victim’s brother was gutted in 2008
On August 21, 2008, a major fire had broken out in a neighbouring chemical industry owned by Ashwani Jindal’s brother. It had taken 11 fire tenders six hours to douse the blaze then.
Tainted past
In October 2008, M/s Colour Udyog was sealed by the Panchkula administration for violating certain norms. The order was passed by the then SDM, Ashok Kumar Meena, under Section 133 of the CrPC. However, Jindal moved court, which vacated the order. In November 2011, after the death of a worker in a blast, the pollution control board had served a notice on the factory as it did not have the mandatory NOC.
Only one fire station
Panchkula city, which has a population of 2.10 lakh (as per the latest census), has only one fire station. The station has only eight fire tenders. Fire tenders have to be called from Chandigarh, Ambala, Naraingarh and Kalka whenever there is a big fire.
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Cops more busy issuing challans than regulating traffic
Chandigarh, October 3 Slamming the traffic police, the report mentions that the traffic wing of the police had 440 personnel against the sanctioned strength of 174, which was two and a half times more than the sanctioned strength. And despite such a huge strength, the number of road accidents in the city was high from 2011 to 2013. A total of 389 persons were killed in accidents during this period. The report states that of the total 440 police personnel in the traffic wing, 175 were in the head constable and inspector cadre, who issue challans for traffic violations. Thus on an average, each police personnel issued 3,845 challans, indicating that the traffic policemen were more busy issuing challans then regulating traffic. SSP (Traffic) Maneesh Chaudhary said the observations made in the audit report were not right. “The first duty of the traffic police is to enforce law, which can be done by penalising the violators,” the SSP said. He said traffic regulation by the Chandigarh police could never be quantified. “We have roped in more people for the challaning drive and to set up nakas at night to check drunken driving to ensure that there are no fatal accidents,” he said.
Coming down heavily
on the police, the report points out that two trauma vehicles were lying parked since 2013. By doing so, the police deprived accident victims of immediate help. The audit report has pointed towards the underperformance of the Chandigarh police as they have failed to workout 28 per cent of the cases registered under the IPC during the past three years.
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In Panchkula, hi-tech ‘Ravana’ goes up in flames
Panchkula, October 3 A stampede like situation prevailed at the venue as crowd jostled to take remains of the burnt effigies. The situation was brought under control by the police. “People rushed to take the remains of the Ravana’s effigy. We somehow managed to come out of the venue,” said Satish Sharma, a resident of Sector 11, Panchkula. “People consider taking remains of Ravana’s effigy as a good omen. It happens every year,” said one of the organisers. Meanwhile, Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki was the chief guest at the Dasehra celebrations here while KK Khandelwal, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, was the guest of honour. Haryana Chief Secretary Shakuntala Jakhu was also present besides other administration officials. “To attract crowd, we used a remote-controlled effigy of Ravana, not only to put it afire but also for gestures like brandishing of sword and lips changing colour,” said Vishnu Goel, chairman of the Mansa Devi Charitable and Development Trust that holds the function at the parade ground every year. After the ‘Ravana Dehan’, a huge traffic jam was witnessed on the road separating Sectors 4 and 5 near the Tawa chowk.
From the Dasehra ground
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Patiala IMA to adopt village in flood-hit Jammu and Kashmir
Chandigarh, October 3 A medical officer, she along with a team of doctors of Patiala has returned on Monday after spending a week there under the banner of Crisis Response Committee of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) to organise medical relief camps for the flood-affected people in the remote areas in Anantnag and Kulgam districts of Jammu and Kashmir. “People were in trouble. They had developed skin aliments. I have seen pictures of beautiful scenery but it was destruction everywhere,” she said. Dr Madhur Mattu and Dr Ranbir Singh, members of the team shared same emotions. “The IMA, Patiala, has decided to adopt a village in Kulgam or Anantnag district under the ‘IMA Aao Gaon Chalein Programme’ for continuous supply of medicine and other medical relief material for the coming months and the matter has been discussed with our branch president Dr JPS Sodhi,” Dr DS Bhullar said. As observed by the IMA team, although there was no immediate threat of flood-related epidemic in the areas visited, the post flood-related ailments noted by the doctors included skin and respiratory problems, fever, eye problems, paediatric ailments in common, gastrointestinal problems along with anxiety neurosis (AN) and depression possibly from huge losses after flood. He added that on the first day, more than 600 patients were examined with the distribution of free medicines in the camp organised at Government High School of Khanabal town about one km from Anantnag. On the second day, 1,169 patients were examined in Goond village, 20 km from Anantnag in Kulgam district by the team. On the third day, a medical relief camp was organised in the Town Hall in Islamabad town adjoining Anatnag wherein more than 1,300 patients were examined. On the last day of the camp, the team visited Veer and Danter villages in Anantnag district and examined more than 3,500 patients. In all, about 7,000 patients were examined by these doctors of Punjab and free medicines worth more than Rs 5 lakh were distributed, the entire money for which has been contributed by doctors of the IMA, Patiala. The team also visited Arigutnoo village, one of the worst-affected remote areas in Kulgam district to assess the situation after floods for possible aid by the IMA Punjab, including medicines and other urgently-required relief material. According to Dr DS Bhullar, a senior IMA leader and coordinator of the medical relief team, it was really a big challenge for the doctors to provide medical services in the remotest and rural flood-affected areas of the state especially for the doctors, including three women, who experienced such a challenge for the first time in their life. “But our team accepted the challenge and now, they are satisfied for serving the people voluntarily on humanitarian grounds,” Bhullar added.
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Students get training in self-defence
Cops impart training to NSS volunteers at Government College of Education Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 3 On the third day, a lecture on organ donation was given by Prof Dr RK Dhiman, Head of the department of Hepatology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research. The lecture commenced with a life story of a young girl who battled and won the disease of Hepatitis-B. The volunteers were urged to donate their organs. Meanwhile, the students celebrated Dussehra with traditional fervour and enthusiasm. They also carried out a cleanliness campaign at the village school and college campus in the morning. They were encouraged to keep their surroundings clean at all times.
7-day programme
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Navratra offerings: Mansa Devi shrine gets richer by Rs 1.20 crore
Panchkula, October 3 Chief Administrator of the Mansa Devi Shrine board, SS Phulia DC, Panchkula, said the shrine received whopping donations of foreign currency. He said 187 American dollars, 40 of Canada, 45 of Australia and 30 pounds of England were donated by the devotees. A total of 3.60 lakh devotees have paid obeisance. Last year as well, the shrine had received over 1 crore as donations.
Legal literacy camp at Navratra Mela
Justice SK Mittal, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court-cum-Executive Chairman HALSA, visited the legal literacy camp, organised by District Legal Service Authority, Panchkula, at the Mata Mansa Devi Navaratra Mela, on Thursday. Justice Mittal said a National Lok Adalat will be held all over India on December 6 in which all kind of civil cases will be taken up for settlement. More than 1000 persons have visited the legal literacy camp in the current Navaratra Mela till date. Ravi Kumar Sondhi, District and Sessions Judge, Panchkula; Deepak Gupta, District and Sessions Judge, Ambala; and other judges along with a large number of panel lawyers were present.
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Fervour marks festivity in Mohali
Our Correspondent
Mohali, October 3 Among those present at the celebrations were Deputy Commissioner Tejinder Pal Singh Sidhu, who was the chief guest, MLA Balbir Singh Sidhu and chairperson of the District Planning Committee Amanjot Kaur Ramoowalia. Despite all efforts by the police to ensure smooth movement of traffic, there was a snarl up for some time near the Phase VII light point. Traffic had to be diverted to maintain movement of vehicles. Celebrations were also organised in Sector 70 by the Sanatan Dharam Mandir Welfare Committee. In Phase II, the Sooch Sewa Samiti held Dasehra celebrations. The festival was celebrated by the Residents Welfare Association in Sector 66 and the Ankush Club in Phase I here.
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Apple traders, Market Committee officials fail to break deadlock
Chandigarh, October 3 The supervisor of the Market Committee said a trader whose licence had been suspended cannot carry out a business activity. On the other hand, traders contended that they had stay orders from the Home Secretary against the orders of suspension issued by the Secretary, State Agricultural Marketing Board
(SAMB). The licence of Mahajan Trading Company was suspended for six months on the basis of the findings of a committee that probed the alleged evasion of fee by firms owned by the committee chairman. The orders were challenged before the Home Secretary. Following an argument between both the parties, the Market Committee officials withdrew from the scene. Recently, the committee had issued show-cause notice to other four arhtiyas for not adhering to the terms and conditions of the
licence. The next day, the erring traders deposited the fee to the tune of around Rs one lakh.
— TNS
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Illegal mining: Villagers slam govt
Mohali, October 3 Protesters blocked traffic and gheraoed vehicles being used for the unauthorised activity. Vehicles used to carry sand illegally were stopped by the protesters, who later informed
the Congress MLA and former minister, Jagmohan Singh Kang. Kang reached the spot and brought the alleged illegal mining to the notice of the Deputy Commissioner and the SSP. The MLA said instead of acting against the persons who were indulging in illegal mining, the police had threatened to take action against the protesters who had blocked traffic. He said he has asked the SHO concerned to not to release any of the vehicles used in the unauthorised mining. The MLA also accused the police of adopting double standards. He claimed that strict action was taken by the police if any Congress supporter brought sand for use, be it even at a gurdwara. But if SAD-BJP supporters resort to illegal mining, no action is taken, alleged the MLA.
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Spectre of snarl-up catches motorists
Chandigarh, October 3 The Chandigarh Police’s claim of making elaborate arrangements to regulate traffic notwithstanding, long queues of vehicles were seen in Sectors 17, 19, 22, 34, 45, 46 and 47. Traffic snarls were also witnessed on the road from Housing Board light point to the Transport Chowk as residents had parked their vehicles on the roadside to watch burning of effigies, leaving little space for other vehicles. Southern sectors witnessed traffic jams with cops proving to be of little help. Roadside vendors selling various articles added to the chaos. Many people were seen parking their vehicles in nearby localities and walking their way to the venue of Dasehra celebrations.
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swachH bharat abhiyan NSS survey reveals dustbins not installed at key points on varsity campus Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 3 In a communication to the Dean Student Welfare office, the NSS wing had recommended installation of dustbins at the Student Centre, market place, near the rose garden on the campus and the canteen of the UIET on the south campus. A large number of students informed the NSS team that due to the unavailability of dustbins at prominent places on the campus, cleanliness had taken a back seat. In a report prepared by the NSS wing of the varsity, it recommended installation of 20 dustbins at the Student Centre, five at the market place in Sector 14, three near the rose garden and two at the UIET canteen. The NSS wing also proposed that shopkeepers should be given the responsibility for the maintenance of these dustbins and in case of any negligence, heavy fines should be imposed on them. The team also found that though stands had been fixed at places earmarked for dustbins, these had not been installed. Dean Student Welfare Navdeep Goyal said, “Action will be initiated on the recommendation of the NSS wing and dustbins will be installed.” He said that no fine amount would be imposed on any shopkeeper but the office was in the process of taking action against those who don’t follow the university instructions. PU Programme Coordinator Dr Yog Raj Angrish said, “The results of the week-long cleanliness drives undertaken by the NSS will be useless until the authorities install dustbins at various places.” RECOMMENDATIONS
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300 students take part in Model UN Conference
Chandigarh, October 3 The three-day event was attended by 300 students from across the country. Former Chief of the Army Staff General VP Malik (retd) spoke about India’s role in the UN Peacekeeping Mission. “India’s first peacekeeping mission was sent to Korea. The field ambulance was sent along with the officers, medical team and soldiers,” he added. General VP Malik also delved into his own experience in the Indian Army while discussing India’s role in the UN Peacekeeping Force. “The younger generation if groomed right and sensitised on the right issues at the right time, can go on to become world leaders and can take on new challenges.” Atul Khanna, Director, Strawberry Fields World School, said, “A series of debates will be held during the course of the convention to touch all issues that are being talked about in international forums. ” The Model UN conference is organised as an activity to prepare future world leaders. PLATFORM TO DISCUSS WORLD ISSUES: The ‘Strawberry Fields MUN 2014’ — scheduled from October 3-5 — has over 250 students from Classed 9-12 come together from across the country to participate in discussions on themes such as sustainable development, equal opportunities and global warming to ethical governance, importance of skilling and food security.
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Grandparents day celebrated
Panchkula: Brilliance World School, Sector 12, celebrated Grandparents Day on the school premises. The elderly were touched when their grandchildren offered them a card with best wishes at the commencement of the function. This was followed by the principal’s address in which he exhorted the students to be respectful towards their grandparents and seek their wishes. He explained the importance of grandparents in filling the emotional void in the lives of children. There was complete bonhomie as grandparents intermingled with each other and participated in group games. The children sang songs and dances on the occasion. The chairman, Sham Sunder Bansal gave away prizes to all winners in the group games. Students clean
school premises
The students of Jainendra Public School, Sector 1, took part in the Swachh Bharat campaign. Principal Sudha
Babbar, teachers and students took a solemn oath on keeping the environment clean. The teachers along with students held a cleanliness drive and cleaned the classrooms and campus. Rallies were organised to clean the roads and nearby areas and to create awareness among masses. The students were motivated to keep their surroundings clean. Cleaning drive
The students of Hansraj Public School, Sector 6, took part in the Swachh Bharat campaign. Principal Jaya Bhardwaj was the first to pick up the broom and launch the initiative. The drive was not confined to the school campus. The students also cleaned the General Hospital and market.
— TNS
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Gandhi Jayanti celebrated at PU
Chandigarh, October 3 PU Vice Chancellor Prof Arun K Grover was also present. Department chairperson Dr Manish Sharma spoke about the week-long celebrations, which commenced from September 26-October 2. The Best Mali Award for the year 2014 was awarded to Phool Chand. He was given a cash award of Rs 2,100 and a certificate. The result of the inter-school on-the-spot painting competition was announced. Aditi got the first prize, Sumit second, Anushka Shrivastave third and Upinder got a consolation prize. The Centre for IAS at Panjab University celebrated Gandhi Jayanti. Richard Attenborough’s ‘Gandhi’ was also screened for the students. The film covers Gandhi’s life in 1893 when he was thrown off a South African train for being in the Whites-only compartment till his assassination in 1948.
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Poll code violation Bipin Bhardwaj Tribune News Service
Kalka, October 3 The complainant has also sent a picture and the video footage to the CEO. Taking a note of the violations, the returning officer (RO) Kalka, Shakti Singh has issued a show cause notice to Manvir Kaur Gill and asked her to explain her position in next 24 hours. The RO, after discussing the issue with additional deputy commissioner-cum- nodal officer for election, Panchkula, SP Arora, has issued the notice to Gill. The returning officer claimed that the Congress candidate has been asked to submit her reply in next 24 hours. The complainant could also be summoned to establish the authenticity of the video footage. If found guilty, action will be taken against her as per the provisions, the RO said. Manvir Kaur Gill, the Congress candidate, refused to comment on the issue and said she had not received any notice from the RO yet. She, however, claimed that candidates of other parties also participated in Ramlilas and Dasehra functions.
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Swaraj to seek votes for Latika Sharma
Kalka, October 3 To attract crowd and highlight policies of the party, Bhojpuri actor-turned- politician Manoj Tiwari will also campaign for Latika Sharma apart from the BJP president Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister, and Nitin
Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, in coming days. The dates for the campaign, however, have not been decided.
Swaraj will arrive by a helicopter in Kalka at 10:30 and address a rally in New Grain Market at 11 am seeking votes of the party candidate Latika
Sharma. Varinder Garg, media in-charge of the BJP, said KL Thakur, MLA
Nalagarh, HP, Gian Chand Gupta, party candidate from Panchkula, Vishal Seth, district president,
BJP, and some other prominent leaders will address the
gathering. — TNS |
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RTI activist RK Garg said there was a need for organising traffic awareness sessions for commuters to sensitise them about violations. “It’s time for the police to introspect. Moreover, the commuters and policemen should share a healthy relation, which can be ensured only if policemen are polite to people,” he said.