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| Thursday,
October 11, 2001, Chandigarh, India
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Encroachments continue to flourish in Panchkula Panchkula, October 10 While each tries to pass the buck, encroachments continue to grow unabated in these colonies even as the two departments watch as silent spectators from the sidelines. Violation of building by-laws mostly comprise raising of unauthorised structures, encroachment of road berms and opening of commercial establishments. These irregularities have continued to grow over the years and no action has been initiated. The Estate Officer, Ms Geeta Bharti, said that the Housing Board, in a recent communication to her office, had asked them to remove encroachments from these colonies. “They send us details of encroachments in their colonies time and again. We are not authorised to take action. Still the matter keeps coming back to us. We cannot initiate action against the growing violations,” she said. However, Housing Board officials hold an entirely contradictory view. They claim that these colonies fall with the “HUDA perview”, especially since the pieces of land were bought from them. “The whole development was carried out by them. Now, they can’t wash their hands off the task of checking encroachments.” Sources, however, said that an anti-encroachment drive in these colonies was to be jointly carried out by the two departments. “We only have to assist the Enforcement Wing of HUDA in the drive against constructions in violation of bylaws of the Housing Board. We are ready to give HUDA any type of assistance,” an official said. It is learnt that the Housing Board has already issued notices for violations of all kinds to the occupants in these colonies but is awaiting HUDA initiative in taking action. Sources in HUDA said that a meeting of officials of the Housing Board and the Estate Office would be convened shortly to decided the matter and initiate action against the violations. |
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Mohali a civil defence
town SAS Nagar, October 10 The Subdivisional Magistrate (SDM), Mr Jaipal Singh, said the town along with four other towns of Punjab had been included in the list of civil defence towns. While Batala and SAS Nagar had been notified as category I towns, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur and Patiala had been put in category II towns. There were 10 other civil defence towns in the state. Mr Singh said in the wake of the retaliatory strikes by the USA in Afganisthan, the training of the wardens had become all the more important. Training of the wardens was going on in different places in the town. Describing the town as a strategically important place due to its proximity to the Air Force base on its south-east and some other defence installations, an official of the Civil Defence Department said the place was an important industrial hub with some units catering to the needs of the defence forces. To put the civil defence machinery in place, the SDM recently called a meeting of officials of different departments. As per the norms, the District Magistrate was the Controller of Civil Defence and the SDM was the Deputy Controller. The authorities had identified at least four public buildings — the Punjab School Education Board in Phase 8, Government Senior Secondary School in Phase 3B 1, the PUDA office complex in Phase 1, and the building of the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research in Sector 67 — where air raid sirens and hooters could be installed. The town which had been divided into 25 wards had 32 major industrial units. The rescue services in which there has to be one party for a population of 25,000 would be provided by the Home Guards. The Chief Warden, Deputy Chief Warden and the sector wardens had been deputed. A direct telephone link to important places and vital installations through simultaneous broadcasting facilities (SBF) would be linked with a regional civil defence control centre (RCDCC) at Ambala. A sub-control centre would be set up in one of the public buildings. |
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Verification exercise begins Chandigarh, October 10 The staff led by Inspector Jagbir Singh today conducted raids on the Sector 29- B colony this morning. As many as 22 persons were rounded up and later released after their verification was done at the cell. The UT Police has tightened security in and around the city from October 8. A close watch is being kept on all vital installations in the city like the Airport, Canadian Consulate, British Library , ISBTs in Sector 17 and Sector 43 as well as the Railway Station. A close vigil is being maintained on all passengers entering the city from Jammu and Kashmir and also on the trucks in Transport Area that enter the city from the strife-torn state of Jammu and Kashmir. The police is also making elaborate security arrangements for the Ramlilas to be held at various places in the city. |
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Little progress in fake licence
scandal Sources inform that no estimates have yet been made on the number of fake licences issued by the accused officials of the Licencing and Registration Authority in connivance with certain touts. It is only after the scandal was unearthed by the Vigilance Department in August, that a number of people are discovering that their driving licences or certificates of registration (RCs) of motor vehicles are fake. The accused, it is believed, have issued hundreds of fake licences and registration certificates to anyone willing to pay a price. A learner’s driving licence could be procured from them for Rs 500 while the permanent licence for Rs 650. One such case came to light when an unknown person visited Mr Jasbir Singh, a resident of Sector 35 to hand him over an RC of a scooter on his name and address, even though the vehicle did not belong to him. The incident happened almost a month ago. The man left the RC with a bewildered Singh after telling him that he had found it lying unclaimed . The RC of a Bajaj Chetak scooter (CH-03A-3919) with chassis number 09480 had been purchased on a hire purchase agreement from Kapoor Finance. Mr Jasbir Singh, too, owns a scooter (CH-01R- 4392) and his scooter has been registered on his Sector 35 address. It is suspected that the owner of the scooter (CH-03A-3919) with a fake RC allegedly got a copy of the ration card from the office of Food and Civil Supplies department with the help of touts there, submitted it as a proof of residence and thus got the RC made. The local police is on the lookout for the said scooter with the Police Control Room today having given orders to its vehicles stationed at various places in the city to impound the scooter. It may be noted that on August 1, the Vigilance Department had booked 10 persons, including the in charge of the
Licensing Authority, Gulab Singh. The office of the Licencing Authority was accused of issuing licences without verifying the documents. Other than Gulab Singh, Madan Lal and Ravi of the said office were also booked . Three touts — Jasbir alias Balli, Jaswinder alias Jassi and Resham Singh — were also implicated in the case registered under Sections 420, 467, 468 and 120- B of IPC. All 10 persons had been in collusion in order to get licences and registration certificates of vehicles made by submitting fake medical
certificates, ration cards and mark-lists. The touts, after roping in their client, would themselves get the documents attested and other formalities completed. |
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CTCC expels Senior Deputy Mayor Kala Chandigarh, October 10 This was decided at a meeting of the CTCC presided over by Mr B.B. Behl and attended, among others, by the local MP, Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal. Mr Kala and another councillor, Ms Sunita, had been facing disciplinary action for ''anti-party activities.'' The duo had been accused of violating the party whip to participate in the corporation meeting to elect Mayor. While Mr Kala who was also accused of raising slogans against Mr Bahal and Mr Bansal for deciding to indirectly help a so-called rebel Akali. The disciplinary committee of the party, however, exonerated Ms Sunita for her absence from the meeting on the basis of her medical certificate saying she was hospitalised on the day. The CTCC fixed October 22 as the last date to receive applications from aspirants to contest the poll. The three-hour long meeting discussed the issues of setting up campaign and manifesto committees, the advertisement material and how it would be utilised. |
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WiLL phones from Oct 15 Chandigarh, October 10 This was stated here today by Mr
R.C.Vaish, Principal General Manager, Telephones, Chandigarh, in a talk with TNS. Initially, about 2000 WiLL phones would be offered to subscribers in “technically non-feasible” areas where the BSNL was at present unable to provide connections through landlines due to a variety of reasons. Those who had applied for shifting of their phones would also be covered under the scheme. “our attempt would be to first cover those who had applied for connections and shifting of their existing phones up to June 2001,” said Mr
Vaish. These would be fixed wireless terminals (FWT) about the size of normal telephone sets. These are installed without any wires or poles. Another 700 lines have been earmarked for the hand-held mobile phones which are similar to the normal
cellphones. About 700 mobile sets have been procured by the BSNL. Each set costs about Rs 13000 but BSNL will sell these at Rs 10,000 each. Meanwhile, the BSNL offices which are at present scattered all over the city are expected to shift to their new building in Sector 34 within the next few months. The building structure is ready and the corporate office of the Principal General Manager, Telephones, BSNL, has been allotted the third floor. The layout of the offices and the installation of work stations has also been finalised. Mr Vaish said it had also been decided to close down the telephone exchange at Mullanpur and shift the existing telephone lines to Ratwara Sahib. The building for housing the phone exchange has been provided by Gurdwara Ratwara Sahib. The Mullanpur exchange had a capacity of 320 connections but only 260 were functional. Another 599 prospective subscribers were on the waiting list. Since there was no room for expansion of the exchange in the present building at Mullanpur, it had been decided to shift it to Ratwara Sahib where it would be expanded to 1000 lines. At present, there were only 151 phone connections at Ratwara Sahib. |
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Overbridge to be completed by year-end Dera Bassi, October 10 Presently the commuters are using — the Bhankharpur-Mubarikpur Dera Bassi and the Bhankharpur-Issapur Dera Bassi routes. The project is being carried out on a built operate and transfer (BOT) basis due to paucity of funds with the state government. Of the 17 RCC pillars of the main portion of the bridge, 16 have already been completed, while the work on the last pillar over the railway line is going on a war footing. The management of the construction company claims that the bridge will be opened by the vehicular traffic by December end. According to the PPWD authorities, toll tax will be charged from road users to recover the cost of bridge. |
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Residents, shopkeepers resent shops in
houses Chandigarh, October 10 More than 20 full fledged shops are operating out of houses in Sector 37-C. These shops are functioning in houses allotted to slum dwellers about two decades ago to rehabilitate them. Then the rent on a per-month basis was fixed at Rs 15. The slum dwellers later sold off their dwelling units. In certain cases these dwelling units have been sold several times over. At least five such units have been resumed by the Estate Office for violations, however, the shops continue to operate in the same premises as appeals against resumption are pending before the higher authorities. Sources say till the appeals are decided the shops can continue to function and a final decision may take several years. Due to their commercially important location the dwelling units have become hot property. In some cases even the first floor of the houses has been let out on rent. With rents being lower than the booths across the road, these houses are in great demand. So much so that music shops, auto mechanics, photo studios, a cyber cafe, a halwai and hairdresser parlours are functioning from here. A person running his shop from a booth in the adjoining Sector 37 market says shopkeepers in the houses offer lower rates on goods and services due to lower rentals they have to pay. The owner of a commercial property questions the use of paying heavy premiums in auction when the Chandigarh Administration cannot even safeguard their basis interests. No action has been forthcoming against the shopkeepers having shops in houses despite protests from residents. A harassed resident says sometimes it is the loud music from the music shops which bothers on other occasion it is the noise and din created by the auto mechanics. Even passing through the road in front of these commercially used houses has become difficult. In the evening vehicles of customers are parked on the road thus resulting in traffic bottlenecks. Owners have opened unauthorised entries from the road to make their properties further commercially viable. |
CTU employees strike work, commuters
harassed Chandigarh, October 10 No CTU bus was allowed to move out of the Inter-State Bus Terminus in Sector 17 and in Sector 43. The staff raising slogans in support of their demands laid siege of the two terminuses and parked buses in zig-zag manner. The strike started at 10 a.m. Due to the strike, rickshaw-pullers and three-wheeler drivers fleeced public. CTU workers while observing the strike demanded bonus for the last four years. Due to the strike, about 417 CTU buses came to a halt and thousands of commuters have to face problem to reach their destination. About more than 1,600 drivers, conductors and technical and clerical staff participated in the strike. The three federations of the UT Administration Employees supported the strike. The Chandigarh the UT Subordinate Services Federation, Federation of the UT Employees and Workers and the Federation of INTUC and various unions of the municipal corporation like ITI Qualified Union, Sewerage Union and Union of Public health also participated. A rally was organised at the ISBT, Sector 17. Meanwhile, a meeting of all leaders of the organisation was held. It was decided to observe a four hour strike on October 30 from 10 am to 2 pm in case the Chandigarh Administration failed to grant four years pending bonus before Divali and accepted other demands. |
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‘Insurance sector wide open’ Chandigarh, October 10 He said the entrepreneurial opportunities in the insurance sector could be exploited by the corporate agencies, surveyors, risk managers, third party administrators, insurance agents, brokers, etc. Mr Sonig said the insurance companies should give special attention to rural areas and small entrepreneurs where there was not much information about the regulations and importance of insurance policies. Mr Sonig informed that the IRDA was set up in view of developing industrial sector and to regulate various insurance schemes in the country. He further said that in the next three to five years earnings through the insurance policies were expected to reach Rs 15,000 crore from the existing Rs 8,000 crore per annum. Earlier, welcoming the delegates, Mr S Krishnamurthy, Principal, TTTI, said the entrepreneurship in emerging areas like IT, remote sensing technology, multi-media, e - commerce and geographical information system was becoming the need of the hour. He stressed upon the need to integrate the engineering and technology knowledge with other professional streams like managements, insurance, education etc. He also informed about the MoU which the TTTI had signed with the UGCE-IIET, Mani Majra, for launching of advanced certificate course in Insurance Business Management. Prof B S Rathore, co-ordinator of the seminar, informed about the seminar details. The seminar has been divided into four technical sessions — entrepreneurial opportunities in insurance sector, entrepreneurship in IT and allied areas, opportunities in bio technology, environmental protection and allied areas and research and innovation in entrepreneurship. The seminar is being co-sponsored by the UGCE-IIET, Mani Majra, NABARD, HDFC Standard Life Insurance and Max New York Life Insurance. |
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Steps to check BJP infighting Chandigarh, October 10 ‘’The frontal organisations and cells of the party will exist but with deletion and addition of names, certain people may be called as special invitees in the all-powerful 12-member adhoc committee,’’ the BJP national secretary and UT in charge, Mr Om Prakash Kohli, told Chandigarh Tribune here today. Mr Kohli was in the city to oversee preparations being made by the ad-hoc committee for the Swarnjayanti celebrations of the unit being kicked off with a workers’ conference on October 28. Mr Kohli held a meeting of the adhoc committee and councillors to remind them about the necessity to forget the past bickerings past between two factions of the party and unitedly concentrate on winning the Corporation elections. The BJP national secretary said, ‘’We will use the structure of frontal organisations and cells with additions and deletions from the list of present office-bearers.’’ He was replying to a question whether the dissolution of the old body of the office-bearers meant same fate of frontal organisations and cells. Mr Kohli said those who performed with sincerity would be retained or included and those who remained inactive may be dropped and these matters would be decided on a case-to-case basis. The party secretary’s announcement seems aimed at keeping hope alive in all aspirants to work for the party in the expectation of accommodation at some level. Mr Kohli had, during his last visit, indicated the same strategy with regard to re-nomination of councillors, saying they would be considered on a case-to-case basis. With the change of guard, one faction of the party which has won the post of convener, might have been expecting to replace those loyal to last dispensation with their camp followers. Mr Kohli has also kept two factions of BJP’s alliance partner, the SAD, on tenterhooks, saying if its claims of dealing exclusively with them continued, the SAD high command would be asked to deal with the matter. The BJP secretary seemed to have left the matter of dealing with Akali groups to the high command. The two Akali factions are backed by one group each of the BJP in the local unit. On the claim of the SAD to be given 10 seats immediately, Mr Kohli said, ‘’The BJP leadership has not yet applied its mind to the claim.’’
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Vote on no-trust motion sought Chandigarh, October 10 The delegation, comprising six directors of the BJP today, met Subdivisional Magistrate, Mr Gyanesh
Bharti, to seek the official vote and an inquiry into the alleged corruption by the Chairman. Mr Gupta informed that Mr Bharati had sought a report from the superintendent of the committee on the issue. Mr Gupta said that the official vote should be with the majority in the nine-member board of directors and he himself in 1996 got the official vote to bring a no-confidence motion. He charged that auction of cycle and scooter stands of the committee was also made fraudulently. Mr Gupta said due to alleged corruption, the April to September fee of last year had come down by around Rs 12 lakh during the corresponding period this year. He demanded that the meeting of the committee should be called immediately to discuss these issues. |
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Karamchari dal members hold
rally Chandigarh, October 10 The leaders of union alleged that the Akali-BJP government was not considering their demands. They said that the Punjab government had included their demands in their election manifesto but have not done anything so far. They claimed that the government have failed to protect the rights of pensioners. While addressing the rally, the leader of the union, Mr Hari Singh Tohra, said there was resentment among the government employees as the government had failed to fulfil their promises. The general secretary of the dal demanded a bonus before Divali for employees. |
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Seed-less guavas weighing
half kg each! Chandigarh, October 10 About five feet high this tree bears cylindrical fruits, unlike Indian guavas which are round in shape. Guavas from this tree weigh between 500 gm to 750 gm. And yet these guavas are not fully ripe, their weight will increase as their size grows and they ripen. These guavas are unusually sweet in taste and juicy. The tree is hardly two year old. Mr Sarabjit Singh says he gets it pruned regularly so that it does not become unwieldy. He says on the advice of a gardener he uses cow dung and fertiliser as manure. The taste of guava is more like ‘sita phal’. Mr Sarabjit Singh says that he brought a grafted guava from Malaysia where his two sister are settled. |
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Fee for entry to Kala Gram Chandigarh, October 10 The sources said, ‘’ the ticket was part of a fund mobilisation drive to cover maintenance expenses. Artisans from various parts of the country have been provided site free of cost for the present. Those visiting the Baithak restaurant of the Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism corporation also have to buy the ticket to gain entry to the Kala Gram complex.” Citco sources said, ‘’We had taken up with the North Zone Cultural Centre authorities that those visiting the Baithak restaurant should not be asked to buy entry ticket, if they were only coming to the restaurant.’’ |
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17 motorists challaned SAS Nagar, October 10 |
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Durga Puja from October 22 Chandigarh, October 10 A press note issued by Mr P.K. Ray, president of the Kalibari Committee, said jatra, drama, variety show and painting competition would be held on all days of the celebrations. |
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‘Implement demand
agreement’ Chandigarh, October 10 |
Godown looted Panchkula, October 10 Mr Dinesh Singla, a partner in the godown, said that the thieves took away almost every tap in the godown and the office, lids of the manholes, the cupboards, besides ransacking the office. In addition, the thieves also broke the
sanitaryware. |
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Held for running illegal
ahata SAS Nagar, October 10 The raids were conducted after the police got information that people drink at public places in connivance with the shopkeepers.
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Bid to steal petrol Chandigarh, October 10 The youth after entering the parking area at around 5 a.m. went inside the complex but alert residents foiled his attempt, forcing him to flee from the site. A police party which arrived on being informed by the president of the HIG (Lower) Group Agency, Dr K.S. Chaudhary, took into possession the motor cycle and a plastic can left behind by the unidentified youth.
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Sweety Bajaj
booked Chandigarh, October 10 A case under Section 506 of the IPC has been registered on the complaint of Mr Gaurav Sharma, a correspondent of a vernacular daily. It is alleged that the accused abused and threatened Sharma with dire consequences near the District Courts after he was brought there to be presented before a judicial magistrate. |
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Maruti car stolen Chandigarh, October 10 A Maruti car ( DL- 2CA-0727) was stolen from the parking in front of Passport Office in Sector 34 , while the battery of a Kinetic Honda scooter was stolen from Sector 37- D market last evening. In both the cases, police has registered FIRs under Section 379 of the IPC. Servant accused of theft: Mr J.K. Verma has accused his servant, Sheela, of having stolen gold jewellery worth thousands of rupees from his Sector 22 residence, while he was out of station since September 23. A case under Section 381 of the IPC has been registered. Burglary: In a case of burglary, unknown miscreant(s) broke open the lock of Mr B.D. Singh’s first floor residence in Sector 21-C, when he was out of station. The burglary was noticed by Mr Rajanpal Singh but the estimate of property stolen is not yet known. A case under Section 454 of the IPC has been registered. Two arrested:
Satish Kumar was arrested after three bottles of Gulab marka country made liquor were recovered from him. A case under Sections 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act has been registered. Harpratap Singh was arrested under various sections of the Police Act from Sector 37 for creating nuisance at a public place under the influence of liquor. Two held: Des Raj and Raju were arrested from Mauli Jagran for apprehension of the breach of peace. They have been booked under Sections 107 and 151 of the Cr PC.
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Chandigarh, October 10
