& V I C I N I T Y
Thursday, March 4, 1999
|
C H A N D I G A R H & V I C I N I T Y |
|
Thursday, March 4, 1999 |
| weather n
spotlight today's calendar |
 |
|
|
100
houses demolished No
takers for UGC grants |
 |
 Rail project runs into rough weather CHANDIGARH, March 3 — The Chandigarh-Ludhiana rail link has run into rough weather.
|
|
Vegetable
market awaits completion Encroachments
outside tehsil office
Plan
to recruit 273 teachers cleared Save-the-habitat
march held Fast
by teachers’ leaders today More
CTU buses demanded |
||||||||||||||||||
 |
100 Kajheri
houses demolished CHANDIGARH, March 3 — About 100 unauthorised houses in Kajheri village were demolished in a day-long operation launched by the Chandigarh Administration. Policemen present in large numbers sealed all entry points to the village and traffic on roads leading to the village was diverted. All demolished houses had come up within last year and were located at a stone’s throw from the upcoming second bus stand in Sector 43, across the road. The plots — mostly measuring between 240 and 500 square yards — on which the houses were built had been sold by a property dealer and the colony was named as Anandpur Complex. The land was specified for agricultural use and no house could be built on it as per the Punjab New Capital (Periphery) Control Act, 1952. Most of the demolished houses were nearing completion while some had been completed. The Tribune had highlighted the problem in these columns a few days ago. A team of the Chandigarh Administration headed by Subdivisional Magistrate (SDM) South, Mr Ashish Kundra, reached the spot in the morning. Five bulldozers were pressed into service while scores of policemen were called in to control the law and order situation. As soon as the bulldozers arrived, a mob started pelting stones at the machines and cops. The police resorted to a mild lathi charge to disperse the crowd. Five persons complained to have received minor injuries. The police detained six persons under Sections 7 and 51 of the Criminal Procedure Code to prevent any untoward incident. The Gram Vikas Samiti and the Joint Action Committee (JAC) issued a statement condemning the action of the administration. The samiti said that the Periphery Act had become obsolete and it was like a tool in the hands of the politicians to help their favourites. The local unit of the Samata Party also criticised the demolition. It said the owners should have been stopped when the construction was in progress. The local unit of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) has also criticised the action. It has convened a meeting tomorrow to decide upon the future course of action. The Action Committee for Development of Villages, Chandigarh, in a statement issued here today said that prior information about demolitions should have been given to the owners. The committee said a cut-off date saying that houses build after a certain date are to be demolished should be announced . The local unit of the Lok
Shakti also joined in the protest. |
Kiran may
assume charge on March 8 CHANDIGARH, March 3 —
The newly appointed Inspector-General of Police for
Chandigarh, Ms Kiran Bedi, is expected to take charge on
March 8. The present incumbent Mr R.P. Singh will be
handing over charge to her the same day, according to
sources. |
Dowry death
case: cops in dock CHANDIGARH, March 3 — Soon after facing flak over missing files of murder cases, Chandigarh Police officers have been accused of recommending the cancellation of the first information report (FIR) in a dowry death case.
Some officials in the Home Department of the Chandigarh Administration smelt a rat. Within one month of her marriage, Sonia, a 23-year-old woman, had died under mysterious circumstances in her Dadu Majra home on June 17, 1997. It was then established that she had set herself on fire. Her husband Bablu, his brother Kala and sister Rani were booked for abetting the crime after Sonia’s mother, Santosh, alleged that her daughter was being harassed for dowry. The police recommended the cancellation of the FIR as it was not considered a strong enough case. As per the laws, the woman’s dying declaration should have been recorded by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM). Also the case should have been investigated by an officer of the rank of a DSP. The police overlooked it. The law further says that if a woman is subjected to cruelty by her in-laws for demanding dowry or property then Section 498—A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has to be enforced. This was also overlooked by the police. The police had booked the woman’s husband and in-laws under Section 304-B of the IPC. This section is enforced only when a woman dies of burns or bodily injuries within seven years of her marriage. Section 304-B of the IPC says “ ... and such husband or relative shall be deemed to have caused her death “. The Deputy Home Secretary, Mr Gurmel Singh, in a letter to the Chandigarh Police has asked why proceedings were initiated under Section 174 of the IPC instead of Section 176 of the Cr PC. Under this Section, an SDM records the dying declaration of the victim. The second question asked in the letter is why Section 498—A of the IPC has not been enforced. The third is why the cancellation of the FIR was recommended. The case came to light
when Sub- Inspector Jagir Singh, incharge of the Maloya
police post, recommended the cancellation of the FIR a
few months ago. This was forwarded to the senior officers
and finally to the Home Department.
|
Rail project
runs into rough weather CHANDIGARH, March 3 — The Chandigarh-Ludhiana rail link has run into rough weather. With the Chandigarh Administration demanding nearly Rs 100 crore for 140 acres of land already earmarked for the project, the Northern Railway is caught in a piquant situation. Against a token budgetary provision of Rs 1 crore during the current financial year and just Rs 10 crore during the next financial year (1999-2000) against the estimated project cost of Rs 248.40 crore, the Northern Railway finds its hands tied at its back before starting the work. Northern Railway officials, according to sources, were shellshocked when the Administration quoted Rs 2.42 crore an acre for 26 acre of land already earmarked for siding and new godowns. It comes to Rs 5,000 per square yard. For the remaining 114 acre for laying the new track, the Administration has quoted a price of Rs 30 lakh an acre. The cost of the land for track alone works out to be Rs 34.20 crore, while the cost of 26 acre for siding and godowns comes to Rs 62.92 crore. Thus the Northern Railway has been asked to pay Rs 97.12 crore for the land alone. The Administration recently acquired land at Hallomajra at Rs 16.50 lakh an acre. The Northern Railway officials believed to have approached the Punjab Chief Minister to intervene and persuade the Administrator of Chandigarh to rationalise the rates for the land needed for the project. Sources in the Administration point out that the Chief Minister has already written a letter to the Administrator, Lieut-Gen B.K.N. Chhibber (retd), to request him to reconsider the rates already notified as the project of linking Chandigarh with Ludhiana was of national importance. Further, the Chandigarh-Morinda rail link to be completed in the first phase, would also provide a direct connection between the union territory and Anandpur Sahib, the venue of historic tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa. The local MP, Mr Satya Pal Jain, was hopeful until the beginning of last month that either the Prime Minister or the Railway Minister would come here sometime in February to lay the foundation stone of the project which had been languishing for more than two decades. But the proposed formal ceremony has failed to take place till now and there is no indication of such a function taking place in immediate future. Further, experts point out that with a meagre budgetary provision of Rs 10 crore, work on the project would take a long time to complete. Even if the Administration revises the land price, the Northern Railway will not be able to take possession of the land it needs in Chandigarh alone. The rest of the land to be
acquired in Punjab is mostly private agricultural land
for which the acquisition proceedings are still at the
preliminary stage. |
Encroachments
outside tehsil office DERA BASSI, March, 3 — Since the upgradation of the town as a subdivision in October last year, there have been encroachments galore outside the tehsil office here. It is learnt that soon after the notification of upgradation of the town to subdivisional was issued, the area virtually turned a haven for encroachers with the authorities looking the other way. Vendors, including typists, stamp vendors and advocates, have started making temporary structures with the help of angle-iron structures. Besides, certain encroachers have constructed wooden “khokhas” in the courtyard of the tehsil with a view to cementing their claims for the allotment of permanent chambers in the new subdivisional building which is likely to come up at the place of the present building. Some encroachers have even constructed pucca structures. Many are using “kundi” connections. According to sources, over 30 vendors are operating from here. This reportedly exceeds the number of licences isssued by the Deputy Commissioner of Patiala . Earlier, there were only about 10 “ khokhas” in the premises but now the number has gone over 30. The sources said over 10 advocates had occupied the space by placing their name plates in the tehsil premises. They said a number of stamp vendors had got licences on the names of their kins but were practising themselves. Interestingly, the authorities are not doing anything to remove the encroachments despite the fact that matter had been brought to their notice many a time. When contacted, Mr Sher
Singh Sidhu, SDM, said the structures on the right side
of the present building, would be demolished. The old
wooden khokhas, which have come up within the past two
months would, however, remain as they are. No new
structure of any kind would be allowed to come up, he
added. |
Dimple gets
roll of honour CHANDIGARH, March 3 — Nearly 350 students were honoured at the 17th annual prize distribution function of the Government College for Girls, Sector 42, here today. The roll of honour went to Dimple Rani for standing first in Sanskrit honours in Panjab University. While 233 students were awarded certificates for academic achievements in the December examinations, 34 got the college colour for various activities. The members of the college council were also honoured on the occasion. Momentos and merit certificates were given to students for excelling in sports and the youth festival. The chief guest, Mrs Anuradha Gupta, Home and Education Secretary, was impressed by achievements of students in co-curricular activities but was disappointed with those on the academic side and said the college could do with better university results. Earlier, the function
started with a ‘vandana’ following which Mrs
Rupinder Wasu read out the annual college report in which
she highlighted the achievements of the students. |
Vegetable
market awaits completion PANCHKULA, March 3— “Arhtias” trading in vegetables and fruits at the Vegetable and Grain market in Sector 20 here are unhappy with the Haryana State Agriculture Marketing Board for not providing the required facilities . Even after one year of the inauguration of the market by the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, development works are still in progress. Roads in a major portion of the market have been provided, though the chambers to source the storm water are still under construction. Lack of basic amenities notwithstanding, at least seven commission agents have raised temporary structures on platforms provided to load and unload vegetables and fruits. They have written to the board to allow them to construct basements. Officials say allowing basements was a policy decision and, if and when taken, would have its implications at vegetable and grain markets in other parts of Haryana. Commission agents complain that after about three months of being handed over the possession of their respective sites, which they purchased at high rates in an open auction held in 1997, the required facilities conducive to attract business had yet to be provided at the market. The market is yet to get a water and a sewerage connection. A water tank is used to supply potable water to the people visiting it. Though toilets have been provided in different pockets, they remain locked. The water supply line in the market lies exposed at a number of places. A section of the boundary wall adjoining Kundi village, which has been left incomplete for development purposes, has become a thoroughfare for stray cattle. Cattle often gobble up stocks of fruits and vegetables. Another grudge of commission agents is that even after two months of a notification making the market as a principal yard and the Kalka market — earlier a principal yard —as a subyard and another separate notification fixing the headquarters of the market committee at Panchkula, the staff concerned of the board had yet to conduct their daily functioning from the official premises provided at the market. The dual carriageway leading to the market from the busy Ambala — Shimla national highway is yet to be completed. Work on one of the carriageway has been left midway. No street-lighting has been provided on the road. An extension counter of a bank has also been demanded by the “arthias”. Officials claiming that
most of the basic amenities had been provided at the
market say that to boost the business at the market, the
board had written to the State Food and Supplies
Department to declare the grain market as a procurement
centre. The board plans to start the grain market by
April. |
No takers
for UGC grants CHANDIGARH, March 3 —It seems no teacher at the undergraduate level in Panjab University is keen either to participate in a seminar or organise any for which the University Grants Commission provides them grants. The fact that only one teacher from a college in Hoshiarpur district applied for permission to participate in a seminar from among more than 105 affiliated colleges is definitely revealing. It is also a known fact that only two teachers had applied for financial aid for major and minor research projects. At a meeting of a joint secretary of the UGC and Dr Deepak Manmohan Singh, Dean, College Development Council, it was stressed that more teachers should come forward for their knowledge advancement schemes. The number went up subsequently. Information in respect of both schemes has been forwarded by the Dean to principals of all eligible colleges.The last date for receiving the proposals is March 14. The UGC guidelines for organisation of seminars and conferences says that outcome of such activities should contribute to knowledge development, promoting quality of teaching, research and outreach strategies. For international conferences, before announcing the actual date , the college may first obtain clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs well in advance. The participants may be provided free board and lodging by the host institution.The daily expenditure on foreign participants should not exceed Rs 700 per day per head. The organising college may limit its expenditure for organising the seminars to Rs 50,000. The college may organise state and national-level conference, not more than two in a year, so as to enable others also to share the resources equally. The UGC contribution in the case of a state-level conference should be limited to Rs 65,000 and that for a national-level conference to Rs 75,000. Any international conference should be organised once in a year by a college with prior clearance of the Ministry of External Affairs. The UGC contribution will be within the overall limit of Rs 1.50 lakh. Dr S.P.Dhawan, a senior teacher in Government College for Men, Sector 11, said there was little will left in college teachers for academic excellence. The seminars also provided no personal incentives. Prof Dhawan also hinted at “bureaucratic delays” in clearing permissions for participation. Mrs Uma Joshi, a lecturer
in MCM DAV College, said apart from general lack of
interest, very few people were actually aware about the
available opportunities. She said lack of incentives
could be another deterrent. |
Plan to
recruit 273 teachers cleared CHANDIGARH, March 3 — The Chandigarh Administration has cleared the proposal of the UT Education Department to create 311 new posts to meet the shortage of staff in the newly opened government schools and the upgraded ones, it is learnt. The proposal was approved by the Administrator, Lt-Gen B.K.N. Chhibber (retd) here today. Following this, 135 posts of TGT teacher, 130 of JBT teacher, six of nursery teacher, two of headmaster, besides 30 posts of class IV employee, two of clerk and six of “ayas” will be created. It is pertinent to mention that no new posts of teacher have been created since 1991 even though the requirment is mentioned in the Annual Plan year after year. In the absence of the required approval from the Government of India, the department pressed upon its proposal to meet its immediate requirement. The UT Education Secretary, Mrs Anuradha Gupta, when contacted, said that a proposal for the creation of new posts was sent keeping in view the priority being accorded to the universalisation of elementary education by the Government of India. “In order to fulfil our commitment of providing everyone access to school education, teacher is the bare minimum we have to provide in our schools,” she said. Mrs Gupta said that in the past few years the number of students enrolled in government schools had gone up and schools upgraded to accommodate the increasing numbers but in the absence of teachers the students and the infrastructure were lying unattended. Since most of these new primary classes and upgradation had been done in the rural areas and colonies, the non-creation of additional posts only led to poor academic performance and under-utilisation of the fresh infrastructure, including buildings. Emphasising on the requirement of new regular posts, she pointed out that in some of the schools, the teacher-student ratio was as high as 1:80 and in a majority of them it was 1:60 as against the normal stipulated norm of 1:40. The situation had become so alarming that if even these bare minimum posts were not created we would have had no option but to turn away the children from schools. The recruitment of additional teachers was a must to reduce the teacher-student ratio, thereby improving the quality of education. According to Mr D.S. Mangat, DPI (Schools and Colleges), in the past two years alone new primary classes had been added in six schools, four new primary and model primary schools had come up and five primary schools had been upgraded. He revealed that no additional posts were created on the basis of additional enrolment during the same period and the proposal was either surrendered or utilised elsewhere. He pointed out that
teachers recruited on contract basis were not prepared to
go and work in rural and colony schools. The reason was
not far to seek, the meagre amount paid to them was not
enough to meet their expenses on commuting. Hence, the
system of recruting teachers on contract could work for a
limited time against a leave vacancy or a part-time post. |
Save-the-habitat
march held CHANDIGARH, March 3—About 150 students of Government High School, Sector 7, participated in a march organised to create public awareness on “save the habitat’’ here today. The march, to mark World Habitat Day, began from and concluded on the school premises after going through the streets of Sector 8. The students of Classes VI, VII and IX carrying banners and placards with various messages displayed on them were led by Mrs Jaswinder Kaur and Mrs Karuna Kansra, in charge of the Environment Society of the school. The president of the Environment Society, Mr S.K. Sharma, was the chief guest. He advised the children not to allow burning of fallen leaves in their localities and explained the techniques of vermiculture which should be practised by the environment club of every school. He announced a grant of Rs 5,000 to the school under the NEAC. The principal, Mrs Urmil
Dogra, advised the students to educate their neighbours
against throwing garbage in the open. She launched a CAPE
club comprising teachers and children and planted 15
saplings as part of the spring tree plantation campaign. |
Dharna held
outside PGI police post CHANDIGARH, March 3 — Employees of a contractor, who has the contract to clean the emergency area of the PGI, today staged a dharna outside the police post on the PGI campus. The employees led by a local Congress leader, were themselves not clear about what they were demanding. The tension had begun when the new contractor took charge on March 1. Some employees of the previous contractor demanded that they be retained by the new person also. When news of the tension reached the police post located on the PGI campus , a constable was despatched to see what was wrong. However, when he asked the two parties to come to the police station and not disturb the patients, the Congress leader reportedly took the contractor’s employees with him to sit in dharna outside the police post, saying they wanted the suspension of the cop. The SHO of the area arrived on the spot and defused the tension. Later in the evening the
PGI authorities clarified that the employees of the
institute had nothing to do with the incident.
|
Thousands
attend ISKCON function CHANDIGARH, March 3 — A function was organised here yesterday by the local unit of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) to mark the birth anniversary of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Thousands of devotees attended the function, according to the President of the unit, Thakur Bhakti Vinod Dasa Prabhu. After “mangal aarti” in the morning, a nagar kirtan procession was taken out in Sector 21. It was followed by “sringaar aarti”, guru puja, bhajan and kirtan. A path of Chaitanya Charitamrit was also organised. A play based on the life
of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was presented by devotees in the
evening. |
Wildlife
Board reconstituted CHANDIGARH, March 3 — The Chandigarh Administration has reconstituted the Wildlife Advisory Board under the chairmanship of the Adviser to the Administrator, Mr Jagdish Sagar.The Chief Wildlife Warden will be the member-secretary of this 14-member Board. The other members of the
board are Secretary of Forests and Environment;
Representative of Wildlife Institute of India; Senior
Superintendent of Police; Director of Wildlife
Preservation of Government of India; Deputy Conservator
of Forests (Central), Scientist ‘SE’ of
Environment department; Chief Wildlife Wardens of Punjab
and Haryana or their nominees, Sarpanches of Kaimbwala
and Khuda Ali Sher villages and Subdivisional Soil
Conservation Officers-I and II. |
Exhibition
on health opens today CHANDIGARH, March 3 — A four-day project on health education-cum-holistic health and spiritual exhibition, being organised jointly by the Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya and the medical wing of the Rajyoga Education and Research Foundation will open at Rajyoga Bhavan, Sector 33, tomorrow. The highlight of the project is a pavilion set up to depict how a person gets hooked to drugs and other intoxicants. Causes of drug abuse, hazards of consuming tobacco, alcohol and drugs, how to identify a drug addict, essential steps for prevention of drug addiction and establishing a drug-free society are some of the main subjects to be featured in the pavilion. According to Dr Lekh Ram Sharma, the Rajyoga pavilion will exhibit the importance of positive thinking, relaxation, mental discipline and spiritual health in a rational way. Scientific researches done to understand the physiological effects of Rajyoga and its usefulness in de-addiction and stress management will also be presented. Medical experts from various fields, including Dr Manorma Kalia, a gynaecologist from Hoshiarpur, Dr R.P. Galhotra, Zonal Coordinator of the medical wing from Hisar, Dr Lekh Ram Sharma from Barnala and Dr Phool Jaiswal, a gynaecologist from Ambala, will address the problems of the visitors. This is a new method of developing health awareness. Its main objectives are to promote healthy living and depict the effective ways of a stress-free living. These subjects will be depicted with pictures, paintings and models. A number of books on these
subjects will be available in the exhibition. |
Kalagram
fair: a good platform for craftsmen CHANDIGARH, March 3 — With everything from cotton saris to glass bangles, wooden furniture to hand-made laces to even candles and ayurvedic medicines for acidity available at the Kalagram Craft Fair, various craftsmen from different states seemed to be enjoying their “selling spree” in this city of sales and fairs. The fair has been organised by the North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala, at the Leisure Valley, Sector 10, and will remain open to the public till March 7. “This has been a great experience so far. Even in places like Delhi, I did not get such results. The people of Chandigarh do not haggle much, where rates are concerned. In fact I finished my whole stock on Sunday and had to ask for more”, said Choti Devi Chitara, sitting at a stall selling camel leather “jootis”, all between the range of Rs 130 to Rs 230. Added Mr Parvinder, at the wooden furniture stall of Hoshiarpur, “I have already sold furniture worth Rs 25,000, and had to ask for more supply. We are being well looked after, with free food and even TA/DA facilities. Such fairs not only benefit craftsmen like us but also provide things at a much cheaper rate than what the showrooms sell”. There is an added attraction of various folk dances every evening at the venue, to allure the Chandigarh crowd. Most craftsmen, however, said that it was during the three-day Festival of Gardens that they had registered maximum sale proceeds. “It was during the festival that our sales were very good. Now the response is just average, but participation in such melas is much better than depending on just showrooms, who are our buyers only for a period of about three months in a year,” said Mukhtar Khan from Madhya Pradesh, selling Chanderi cotton saris. With various modern-day items like friendship bands and cling-on-stuffed toys also in the fair, it was around Algu Prasad of Gorakhpur on the potter’s wheel that a crowd could be seen. “This mela has been an opportunity for me to sell my stock that had been lying with me for the past five-six months. Lots of people come to me and do get items made on request, but the best part of being in this city is that people do not bargain much. I’ve already sold pots and statues worth Rs 15,000”, he boasted, while being helped by his 12-year-old son Panney Lal, a state-award winner in pottery. A young crowd had also gathered around the candlestall at the fair. “With items ranging from Rs 5 to Rs 100 only, the sales of our stall have been pretty good:” said Mrs Bhupinder, who operates from Industrial Area, Mohali, and makes candles primarily for export purposes. With the Chandigarh crowd, that is generally seen out shopping mostly on Saturdays and Sundays, there were some stalls that did express their unhappiness at their sales. “Our sales have been much below our expectations”, said Mr Christopher Gnanadas, who has come all the way from Kanyakumari, to sell hand-made pillow lace, a speciality of the area. His wares range between Rs 25 to Rs 2,000, with a single handkerchief priced at Rs 25. “The idea of
participating in such fairs is always welcome. But it is
only smaller items that sell, and if the public is not
aware about your product at all it can prove to be a
disadvantage”, said Haragopal Shah, from West
Bengal, who was seen carving out various show-piece items
out of a “sholapeet”, a white thermacol-like
material found under-water. |
HUDA
auction PANCHKULA, March 3 — The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) will hold a one-day auction of commercial sites in different Sectors of the urban estate on March 8. According to the
information available, the sites to be put for auction
include booths with and without basement, SCOs, SCOF,
restaurants and iron and steel store. The sites are
located in Sectors 2,4,5,6,8.9,10,11, 12, 12-A and 15. |
Fast by
teachers’ leaders today CHANDIGARH, March 3 —The president and the general secretary of the All-India Federation of University Teachers Associations, Dr P.P.Arya and Dr Satya P. Gautam, respectively, will sit on a 48-hour fast tomorrow to press for the implementation of an agreement reached between the HRD Minister and representatives of the teachers in September 1998. Similar strikes will be organised in universities at Patiala, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Hisar and Shimla. It may be recalled that university teachers were still being made to wait for revision of their pay scales when nearly all other sections of the employees had got new grades. A press note of the AIFUTA
said: "If the issue of higher education remained
marginal on the nation's agenda, the day was not far when
universities and colleges would be starved to an untimely
death due to the proposed freezing of grants." |
More CTU
buses demanded CHANDIGARH, March 3 — The 504 MIG Flats Sector 61 Residents Welfare Association, while demanding the introduction of more CTU buses, has alleged that commuters from the sector to the Bus Stand in Sector 17 were being charged more. According to a pressnote here today, while Rs 5 were being charged from the bus stand to any sector in the union territory, residents of the sector were being charged Rs 7 per trip. Similarly, the student community had to shell out over Rs 300 per month for the monthly pass as against Rs 125 for three months for students living in the other sectors of the city. The press note alleged that various representations to the authorities concerned had failed to improve the things. It demanded that the fare should be charged at the rate of Rs 5 per trip and monthly passes should be issued at the rates applicable to the students residing in Chandigarh. Meanwhile, the association
has demanded that the chamber and testing of the water at
the newly-sunk tubewell should be completed early so that
the residents did not face any shortage of water like
last year. |
CHANDIGARH, March 3—With the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) looking the other way, a number of water pressure gauges in the city have been lying defective for a long time. A survey by The Tribune showed that a number of gauges, installed with a view to measuring pressure of the underground water lines, had been unoperational, sometimes for months together. Among the sectors where the gauges were found to be defective were Sectors 16, 17,18 and 44. Corporation sources said though there was no account of the exact number of defective pressure gauges, yet their number was substantial with the result that the public health wing of the civic body had difficulty in measuring the exact water line pressure. This apparently affected the water supply management by the wing, particularly when there was shortage of water in the summer. Besides, replacing defective pressure gauges would cost the civic body a hefty amount as each pressure gauge reportedly cost over Rs 500. The idea of installing the gauges at a few feet from the ground -level seemed to be unadvisable from the very beginning. When the residents did not even spare the streetlights, the plight of the pressure gauges could be imagined. The sources added that the
civic body could not spare additional staff for
protecting the gauges from “sabotage” by the
anti-social elements. The residents should themselves
keep a watch and safeguard the pressure gauges as it was
the public property, the sources added. |
CHANDIGARH, March 3 — An unidentified man in his twenties was found dead in Sector 21 while in a separate case a woman, also in her twenties, died at the PGI after she consumed some poisonous substance. The man, said to be aged between 20 and 25 years, was found dead on Tuesday afternoon in Sector 21. His clothes had colours of holi on them, police sources said. The body has been sent for a post mortem in the General Hospital, Sector 16. The identity of the deceased could not be established till late in the night. Meanwhile, the woman, Reeta, aged about 22 years, died at the PGI today. She had consumed some poisonous substance yesterday. A resident of Sector 24, she consumed the substance at a shop owned by her father in Badheri village. In a separate incident, Mam Chand of Phase I, Bapu Dham, consumed some poisonous substance. Stabbed: A resident of Sector 16 was allegedly stabbed in his stomach by a resident of Sector 9, who was accompanied by five or six more persons. Mr Yadwinder Puri alleged that Adarsh Pal Singh had attacked him. There is some property dispute between Mr Puri and his distant relatives, according to police sources. A case of assault has been registered. Burn injuries: Two women have been admitted to the PGI with burn injuries. A teenager, Hem Lata, of Dadu Majra colony, received 90 per cent burn injuries after her clothes caught fire in her home yesterday morning. In a separate incident, Ms Lalita, of Mauli Jagran, received burn injuries at her home. Separate cases have been registered. Attacked: Three persons living in Mauli Jagran have been attacked by a group of persons, including two women, of the same place. Suresh Kumar, Dinesh Kumar and Rama Shanker were allegedly attacked by Baldev, Rattan, Mohan, Raju, Tony, Dolly and Vimla. The police has nabbed Vimla. In a separate incident, Lallan Singh of Ram Darbar, was injured following a scuffle at his home, sources said today. Road mishaps: Four persons, including a young girl, have been injured in separate road accidents in the city since yesterday. Suchika of Sector 19 was injured when her Kinetic Honda was hit by a car in Sector 15. Mr Bishan Singh of Sector 20 was riding his moped when he was hit by a vehicle in Sector 26. The vehicle sped off. A person hailing from Ludhiana, Sudhir Jain, was injured when his car collided with a truck (CH-01-N -0905) near the roundabout at Sectors 32, 33, 45 and 46. The injured was admitted to the GMCH, Sector 32. An unidentified person was injured after being hit by a vehicle near Sector 39 this morning, according to sources. In yet another accident the car owned by Mr Iqbal Singh of Sector 44 was damaged when a truck (HP—07-1229) driven by Chander Singh collided with it. The truck driver was arrested. Cheated: A Sector 42-based woman has alleged that she was cheated by Nanak Singh in the purchase of a flat in a housing society. The woman, Mrs Shakti Kohi of the SBI colony, Sector 42 alleged that she had bought a flat in the name of Nanak Singh. The flat was in the Haryana Teachers and Enterprises Employees Welfare Housing Society. Later Nanak Singh got the
flat cancelled in connivance with some office-bearers of
the society, the woman has alleged. |
CHANDIGARH, March, 3 — After remaining ‘dead cheap’ for more than a fortnight, the price of cauliflower has started witnessing upward trend during past two days. A survey of the local market revealed that a kg of cauliflower, which had been priced between 50 paisa and Re1 a kg just two days back, was available today in different city markets for Rs 4. The roadside vendors were however, selling the vegetable for Rs 3 a kg. The wholesale price of it has also increased during this period. If 5 kg of cauliflower was priced between Rs 5 and Rs 10 last week, the same quantity was available now between Rs 15 and Rs 20 depending upon its quality. According to traders, the rise in the price was due to shrinking arrivals from the nearby areas. “Actually, the glut was due to a sudden bloom of the crop owing to a sudden rise in temperature”, said a trader, who predicted that the price of the commodity would further go up. Similarly, the price of cabbage has also increased from Rs 2 to Rs 4 a kg during this period. The same was the case with capsicum as it also witnessed a sharp hike during the past two days. A kg of the commodity, which was priced between Rs 16 to Rs 24 last week, was available for Rs 30 in the Sector 20 market today. The traders attributed the hike to a slight dip in arrivals from Howrah and Calcutta areas due to Holi celebrations. The price of the pahari variety of peas has also gone up during this period. A kg of peas of the said variety, which were priced between Rs 8 and Rs 10 two days back, were available today between Rs 12 and Rs 14. The rise in price was also said to be due to a temporary fall in the arrivals from Kulu and other areas of Himachal Pradesh. There was, however, no change in the price of the local variety of peas, as these were still available between Rs 5 and Rs 7 a kg in different markets. The carrot has also become costly during this period. As compared to Rs 3 and Rs 4 a kg, the vegetable was available in the market today between Rs 6 and Rs 8 a kg. Similarly, onions, priced at Rs 5 a kg two days back, were available today between Rs 6 and Rs 7 in Sectors 46 and 20. The prices of other
commonly used vegetables are as following — Brinjal
- Rs 8 a kg, sugarbeat - Rs 3, ghia - Rs 16, cucumber -
Rs 16, beans - Rs 16-20, bittergourd Rs -40, ladyfinger -
Rs 48, radish - Rs 2, tomato Rs 6, garlic - Rs 32, ginger
- Rs 30 and lemon - Rs 40. |
Consumer
mela from March 13 CHANDIGARH, March 3 —A four day consumer mela will be organised by the Consumers Forum, Chandigarh, at Nehru Park from March 13 till March 16, a press note of the forum said here today. As in the past awareness counters by health, weight and measures, public distribution system, LPG, traffic police, telephone department and various other consumer related agencies will be a major part of the four day celebrations. An open forum will be
opened on evenings of all four days pertaining to
telephones, utility services, PDS and LPG. There will be
an on-the-spot redressal of complaints in whatever cases
was possible. |
Tercentenary
celebrations CHANDIGARH, March 3 —To commemorate the tercentenary of the birth of the Khalsa, the Sector 8 Gurdwara Patshahi Dasween will organise a series of programmes on every Sunday from March 7 to April 14. The programmes, according to Mr Fateh Singh Chugh, president of the management committee of the gurdwara, will include kirtan, discourses and “katha” by eminent scholars and preachers. Besides, competitions will
be organised for students of local schools and colleges. |
 |
 |
| Nation
| Punjab | Haryana | Himachal Pradesh | Jammu & Kashmir | | Editorial | | Business | Sport | | Mailbag | Spotlight | World | 50 years of Independence | Weather | | Search | Subscribe | Archive | Suggestion | Home | E-mail | |
