 |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Danger looms
Day Three
Chandigarh, June 12 Two days after the tragic death of two persons in the collapse of a concrete shed in the market, a committee of experts today found that many other structures in the market are unsafe and require immediate evacuation. Notices have been issued to a number of booth owners who had raised construction on the roof, according to an official. Based on the report of the committee, orders have been issued to get two more concrete structures - also being used by marginal arhtiyas for trading of vegetable and fruits - vacated from the traders. The two structures, built around 1957, are located at a short distance from the site of the mishap. To the utter shock of a team of Chandigarh Tribune, the two dilapidated structures, which now have been declared “unsafe”, have been housing around 300 paledars (labourers who lift sacks of vegetable and fruit). In
the late nineties, UT officials had allowed the arhtiyas to get their work force adjusted on the rooftops of the structures. Living in inhuman conditions in makeshift tin sheds on the rooftops of the two sheds, the workers are exposed to danger. The concrete on the ceiling has started falling and iron rods stand exposed. The area surrounding the structures is insanitary. Complaints of electric shocks due to loose electric wires are rampant “It has not happened in one day. No one listened for years,” said an arhtiya, Deepak. Now, the paledars are being asked to vacate the rooftops. “We are an integral part of the mandi. The administration should allot us dwelling units near the mandi, otherwise we will be rendered homeless,” said Subash. Problems are aplenty at the mandi. Poor sanitation and encroachments are galore. B.K. Sood, a trader in the mandi, said problem of rodents making holes under the
buildings need to be tackled by effective pest control.
|
|
The all-powerful trader lobby to blame?
Chandigarh, June 12 It has been established that the burgeoning number of traders, big and marginal, and its pressure on the inadequate infrastructure added to the calamity in which two lives were lost. With little space left, rehri and pheriwalas squat on roads and the space meant for vehicular and pedestrian movement. Over the years, encroachment drives initiated by different deputy commissioners to clear the public
place has met with stiff resistance by the traders. Within no time encroachments are back with a vengeance as officers of the Chandigarh administration watch helplessly. During the tenure of successive DCs - Chattar Singh, Ram
Shekher, Arun Kumar and R.K. Rao - drives were launched, but with little success. After being pushed to the corner for administrative negligence, senior officials admit that political masters play the spoilsport whenever a drive to clean market gains momentum. The chairman of the Market Committee that manages the affairs of the mandi often has affiliations with political parties. Complaints of the staff of the market committee being hand in glove with political parties are also there.
|
|
|
He survived, but lost his legs
Chandigarh, June 12 In fact, for the philanthropist, who donated fruits to the PGI gurdwara, life came a full circle as the premier medical institute saved his life today during an operation. However, the agony of living with life-long disability will continue to haunt him for the lifetime. PGI sources said the priority was to save the patient's life. His limbs had to be amputated as there was no other alternative. He had been saved by the blessings of the needy, whom he was always ready to help in cash and kind, one of his relatives said. And for members of the Subzi Mandi Arhtiya Association, who were present at the PGI in substantial number, it was a moment of relief that their member had been saved. “We are with the family in the time of this crisis and will extend every possible support,” Digvijay Kapoor, association president, said.
|
|
Core group to handle calamities
Chandigarh, June 12 Sources said a crucial meeting in this regard would be chaired by the adviser to the UT administrator on June 14. Prominent wings of the administration which would be associated with the core group include
the municipal corporation, health and the police. A comprehensive plan for calamities is one of the subjects which will figure at the meeting. Besides regular training of officials, the administration also plans to follow it up with regular monitoring. “The UT already has a disaster management committee; only its functioning needs to be reviewed and slight alterations will be made to make it better. We managed such a big mishap within four hours, which shows the functional ability of our work force. Certain aspects definitely need to be improved,” an official said.
|
|
Roof Collapse
Chandigarh, June 12 Tonnes of debris of the collapsed structure may mean nothing to those who used to run their business at the site, but for the “penniless” in the area, it certainly has opened a new source of livelihood. Ever since the structure is being demolished and removed from the site, scores of children can be seen searching for leftover vegetables, which have so far survived the vagaries of the weather. “We are sorting out the better one for selling in the market and the leftover will be consumed in our home,” said
Arun. Meanwhile, life is limping back to normalcy for those whose business had been affected due to the roof collapse. A senior official said traders had been temporarily relocated to an alternative site. Once a tin shed was made at the affected site, the traders would be shifted back.
|
|
|
Shiamak pupils set stage ablaze
Panchkula, June 12 The evening was filled with energetic grooves, animated moves and an eager bunch of around 500 participants, from tiny tots to adults, who weaved their magic onstage. However, it was a special evening for a group of handicapped, visually challenged, deaf and dumb children of Asha School, who gave a scintillating performance
on sequences, each one different for its costumes, wiggles, props and music. The songs were also picked up from a varied setting. So while kids went crazy gyrating on “Pan Banaras” and “Aaj ki raat...” the elder, more mature lot of performers took on the challenge of dancing on latest number “Sajna ji vaari” from Honeymoon Travels. The energised dancers jived away on charged beats, commanding the difficult prop of flags with elegance and style. The affair of striking presentations went further with the advanced batch presenting a sequence on Punjabi number “Ishq”. The earthy and natural presentation on “Salame-e-Ishq”, by little ones was particularly interesting.
|
|
Take e-waste threat seriously: experts
The programme was jointly organised by HRD foundation, New Delhi and Punjab Pollution Control Board. The experts expressed the urgent need to reduce and recycle e-waste apart from formulating steps for safe disposal. Delivering the keynote address, Dr R.S Hamsagar, consultant to World Health Organisation, laid stress on educating children regarding segregation of household waste into biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste in order to reduce garbage load on municipal bodies. Cautioning about the ill affects of lead acid batteries, Dr Hamsagar stressed that used batteries must be handed over to authorised recycling agencies to reduce the threat to environment. Inaugurating the training programme, M.P Singh, secretary, Department of Science, Technology and Environment, reaffirmed the commitment of Punjab government to provide clean and healthy environment to the people of the state. PPCB Chairman, Yogesh Goel said adequate steps are being taken by the PPCB to assure compliance to hazardous waste management rules.
|
|
Bills: Power dept trips, leaves consumers fuming
Chandigarh, June 12 It is common sight to see consumers in disagreement with the staff of e-sampark centres at different places in the city. Joginder Kaur, a senior citizen, said she received a bill for Rs 1,136. “When I added the different figures individually, as shown in the bill, it amounted to only Rs 1,066.” She said: “When I approached the e-sampark centre of Sector 10, I was told that the centre could not do anything and that the necessary amendments could be made only by the electricity department. I had to return empty-handed.” Jaspal Singh, a schoolteacher, also had the same complaint. He said: “I went to a nearby electricity office yesterday and was told that a clarification could be issued only by the head office. When I persisted with my argument, I was asked to come today and now I have been told that I will be required to pay the amount shown against the total.” The electricity department has accepted the mistake in its bills. “The total shown on the bills is correct. As regards the error, the figure which equals the 'fixed charges' has been deleted from the bill details. We are rightly charging the amount shown against the total. The error will be communicated in next month's bill,” a senior official said. Navjyot Kaur, a housewife, said the department should at least issue a statement accepting the mistake.
|
Sector 38 roads in disrepair
Chandigarh, June 12 Most roads in the Sector have not been recarpeted for the past many years and have been subjected to official apathy. The road connecting Sector 38 to 39 and the main road in the Sector has numerous potholes. These potholes soon become puddles, which turn into perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. Besides, the state of the road makes it more prone to accidents. Residents allege that authorities act in a biased manner when it comes to recarpeting roads. They say roads in Sectors where VIPs stayed are re-laid even before these start developing cracks, but those in Sector 38 remain unattended to in spite of all the hue and cry residents raise. Rahul Kumar, a Sector resident, says they have approached the authorities a number of times but the requests seems to have fallen on deaf ears. The road connecting the city to Punjab, adjoining Sector 38, is also in bad shape. The inner road that joins the Sector to the main road has blind spots due to tall hedges on both sides. This makes it highly prone to accidents, with an average of three accidents reported every week. Residents also want the traffic police to put up barricades on the road connecting the Sector to Sector 39, as youngsters often drive their cars at high speed, posing a threat to residents, especially children. The chief engineer of the municipal corporation had, in an interview to the TNS, stated that all roads constructed five years ago would be recarpeted on priority, but so far nothing had been done in this regard.
|
|
Residents rue supply of dirty water
Mohali, June 12 Residents said the problem started yesterday and since then they had not been able to use water for their daily chores. They were apprehensive that the quality of water being supplied was bound to lead to diseases if used for drinking purposes. The residents had collected samples of the water being supplied in the area. Dr J.S. Lamba suspected that severage water must have got mixed up with water supply due to some leakage in the underground pipes and as such the water must have got contaminated. He said going by the colour of water being supplied in the area it not only contained mud particles but there was more than that. However, officials of the public health department claimed that a sluice valve in the area was not opened for the past two to three years. Now, when it was opened the water supply got affected to due excess silt in the pipeline.
|
|
Capt behind dera row: Bitta
Mohali, June 12 The allegation has been made by Bitta in a letter written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on June 10. He alleged that the dera row took place because the former Chief Minister had been encouraging the dera to flourish during his tenure. Bitta alleged that Paramjit Singh Sarna, president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, was indulging in activities which could revive terrorism in Panjab. He alleged that both Capt Amarinder Singh and Sarna were playing with the sentiments of people.
|
|
BJP workers told to enrol members
Chandigarh, June 12 Allegations were also levelled against senior party workers at a meeting of party workers held today. State and district office-bearers, mandal presidents, present and former councillors attended the meeting. It was alleged that the party membership had gone down and senior members had been leaving the party. According to sources, senior leaders expressed displeasure over the way party high command dealt with certain issues. Leaders alleged that membership copies had yet to be assigned. Verma asked mandal presidents to enroll new members.
|
|
MC chief charged with misuse of powers
Mohali, June 12 The notice was received by the president
yesterday in which it was stated that why the authorities concerned
should not take action against him for allegedly misusing powers. The
president has been asked to give a reply within 21 days. It has been
pointed out that the council chief had transferred three employees of
the civic body even when he had no powers to do so. Two clerks, Suresh
Kumar and Ashok Kumar, and one peon were transferred. Moreover, the
president kept postponing the opening of tenders for sanitation work for
which he was not authorised. However, Rana said he had not misused his
powers. He had transferred the employees from one seat to another within
the council and he had the power to do so. He had postponed the tenders
to bring about some change in the terms of the agreement to introduce
more competition among contractors.
|
|
|
Jagbans takes over as AG (audit)
Chandigarh, June 12 He will have the audit jurisdiction over all government offices, autonomous bodies, public sector undertakings of the state and all central government offices and central autonomous bodies situated in the state.
|
|
|
Assault Case
Mohali, June 12 In their application, under sections 12 and 13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, the Global Human Rights Council and the Human Rights Protection Council demanded a thorough probe into the “false” FIR against Punia and other residents. The application will come up for hearing before the commission on June 14. The police had booked Punia on the charges of assaulting another sector resident Vaneet Inder Bajwa. This was despite the fact that Punia sustained multiple injuries after he was allegedly assaulted by Bajwa. Meanwhile, Jasjeet Singh Bunny, in charge of the SAD in Kharar constituency, demanded a fair probe into the incident.
|
|
Club members honoured
Chandigarh, June 12 Addressing the gathering, association president Shingara Singh Bhullar called for unity among the fraternity. He said it would help journalists assert their right to the freedom of expression. The general secretary of the society Ajit Sailani honoured all new members of the association by giving away mementos. The office-bearers are: president - Anil Bhardwaj ; general secretary - M.P. Kaushik; senior vice-president - Lakhwant Singh; vice-president - Sandeep Rao; vice-president - Amardip Saini; joint secretary - Veena Rajput; joint secretary - Sukhwinder Singh; organising secretary - Harbans Singh Bagri; and cashier - Jaswinder Singh Jassi.
|
|
Youth feared drowned
Mohali, June 12 Ramandeep Singh left for Hemkunt Sahib along with 15 friends on June 10 on two-wheelers. The group reached Hardwar yesterday where four youths went for a dip in the Ganga. A strong current swept them away. Three of them were saved but the whereabouts of Ramandeep were not known.
— OC
|
|
Update official websites
The boost introduction of information technology has made the gathering and passing on of information very easy. The world has become a small place now. Sadly, there is still lack of awareness regarding the availability of necessary information. Many email addresses, like that of the DC Panchkula, are defunct. The Mansa Devi Mandir has an email address, but not an internet connection. It is necessary that such sites be updated periodically. Even newspapers and its correspondents should have at least one official email address so that readers have better participation. The system of auto-generation of acknowledgements is very common these days. The same should immediately be introduced in all government and newspaper offices as well.
R.K. Garg
Readers are invited to write to us. Send your mail, in not more than 200 words, at
news@tribuneindia.com or, write in, at: Letters, Chandigarh Tribune, Sector 29, Chandigarh – 160 030
|
Kharar man held for snatching
Chandigarh, June 12 The police has recovered a knife and a stolen Honda Activa scooter from the accused. In-charge of the crime branch inspector Satbir Singh said following a tip-off a team led by sub-inspector Paramjit Kaur Sekhon arrested the accused from the road separating Sectors 37 and 38 last evening. The accused has been identified as 20-year-old Manoj Kumar, alias Sahil. He was riding a Honda Activa scooter (PB 65 B 6134), which he had stolen from Phase V, Mohali, on May 25. Besides, a knife and a gold chain were recovered form him. He said during interrogation the accused admitted to robbing Gurparkash of Sector 41-D of gold chain on Sunday night near Badheri chowk. Sources in the crime branch said Manoj told the police that he had carried out 19 incidents of snatching in various parts of the city during the past two week. However, cases had not been registered in some of the incidents. He was produced before a local court today and was remanded in two-day police custody.
|
|
Cyclist crushed to death
Chandigarh, June 12 The police said the victim had been identified as 48-year-old Muzahidin, a resident of Bapu Dham Colony in Sector 26. He was on his way back home when the incident took place. The bus hit the cycle from the rear following which Muzahidin fell on the road. His head was crushed under the wheels of the bus. The police said the victim was taken to the PGI, where doctors declared him brought dead. The bus driver, Gurchet Singh, has been arrested on a charge of causing death due to rash and negligent driving.
|
|
Two Sec 22 shops burgled
Chandigarh, June 12 The police said Prem Kumar of shop Nos. 44 and 45 lodged a complaint with the police alleging that thieves burgled the two shops after gaining access through ventilators. They stole Rs 8,000 in cash from a bakery shop, and Rs 10,000 in cash from his shop, besides taking away a bottle of whisky. A case has been registered at the police station, Sector 17.
Vehicles stolen
Hardeep Singh of Sector 22 C reported to the police that his Mahindra Scorpio (PB 09 7205) was stolen from his residence last night. In another incident, Ranbir Yadav of Sector 56 lodged a complaint with the police alleging that his scooter (CH 01 Z 3282) was stolen from Sector 22 on Saturday. Similarly, Lal Chand of Dhanas reported to the police that his scooter (CH 01 T 3429) was stolen from his residence on Sunday night. Three cases of theft have been registered.
Theft
Baldev Raj of Vikas Nagar, Mauli Jagran, reported to the police that Rs 1,700 in cash and a mobile phone were stolen from his residence on Sunday night. A case of theft has been registered.
Injured
A motorcyclist, Narinder Singh of Army Flats, Sector 29, was hurt after he was hit by a Jeep (HR 03 7778) at Sector 29-30 trafficlights on Monday. He was admitted to the PGI. The police arrested the jeep driver, Krishan Kumar of Haryana Panchayat Bhavan, Sector 28, on the charge of causing injuries due to rash and negligent driving.
|
|
Pirated CDs seized
Mohali, June 12
|
|
Boy killed in accident
Raipur Rani, June 12 The trailer was carrying “bajri”. The boy died on the spot.
|
Bottled water costlier
Chandigarh, June 12 The prices of all brands of drinking water have gone up by Rs 2 - 3 per litre. The Catch bottled water is the most expensive at Rs 15 a bottle, while a majority of brands are now available at Rs 12 a bottle. Sources in the bottled water trade informed TNS that the demand for bottled water has gone up by almost 100 per cent in the past ten days. As compared to a daily sale of about 1,800 - 2,000 litres of bottled water till a month ago, the sale of bottled water in the tricity has gone up to over 3,600 litres a day. The maximum temperature recorded today was 43.8 degrees and the minimum temperature was 30.4 °C, ensuring that most of the people remained indoors. In fact, all through the month of June, the maximum daily temperature has remained over 40 °C. Coupled with the sweltering heat is the fact that there are not very many water kiosks in the tricity. Even water coolers installed by private parties in market places are rarely cleaned, though they provide cold drinking water. With the health and diet-conscious residents swearing by the benefits of having water over aerated drinks, the sales of bottled water is at an all-time high. Sandeep Kumar, a distributor for Bisleri water, informed that in Panchkula itself, the sale of bottled water had gone up from 600 litres a day to 1,000 - 1,200 litres a day. His views are supported by Parveen Bansal of New Underhill Supermarket in Sector 11, who says that as compared to one case of water that he was selling last month, the sale had gone up to four cases of water a day.
|
|
|||||
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Chandigarh, June 12
