Complex faces problems
By A Correspondent

Chandigarh, Nov 11 — “The place is worth living due to serene environment here, and the location, which is at the foothills of the Shivaliks. The inside of flats is also nicely planned in most of the categories due to ultra-modern architecture, but what bothers us is the unhygienic conditions prevailing outside and the indifferent attitude of the authorities concerned,” says Ms Smriti Kataria, one of the residents of the Modern Housing Complex, Mani Majra.

The colony has a population of more than 15,000 . Many persons have shifted here after retirement. The approach road at the entrance of the complex from the Mani Majra side and the main road side from the petrol pump side causes a traffic hazard. The huge six-foot-wall on both sides of the road blocks the view of vehicle drivers, especially the four-wheelers and two-wheelers. No one has shown interest in making the road wider or creating roundabouts, quipped Ms Sudesh Sikka, a housewife. There are no speed-breakers or road berms. Sewerage holes remain uncovered at many places. There is no post office inside the complex and residents have to travel 3 km to the motor market, Mani Majra, post office, for the purpose.

The multi-storeyed flats, built more than six years ago by the Chandigarh Housing Board, have been divided into four categories, comprising 2280 flats apart from nearly 700 independent duplex houses. In the morning and evening there is great rush at the railway crossing near Mani Majra. Why can’t the administration make a subway which will be cost-effective compared to a flyover?” asked Mr M.R. Singla, a retired chief manager of a bank.

Mr Vivek Kamal, a businessman, said chain snatching incidents and other offences were on the rise. Missing tubelights in the garages lane have aggravated the situation as it is risky to walk in the dark.

Morning hours witness a large number of school buses on the two main roads inside the complex. There is absence of a bus shelter for children.The electricity billing counter, opened last year, remains closed most of the time as people have to go to the electricity department in Mani Majra. The main park has not been developed and the health centre is also not complete. The complex seems to have become a victim of indifferent attitude of the Municipal Corporation, the CHB and the Engineering Department.

Quarrying poses serious threat
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Nov 11 — Large-scale quarrying in Nadha Nadi (Patiala ki Rao) close to Nadha village, near here, has posed a serious threat to agricultural land falling along its meandering course. The illegal quarrying has also resulted in washing away of spurs set up by the Irrigation Department to protect the agricultural land.

Alleging involvement of certain influential persons in the activity, residents of the village said that the mining was being done in violation of a Supreme Court ruling regarding restrictions on sand quarrying in forest area.

Moreover, the State Forest Department, through a notification in November 1987, had prohibited quarrying in the area, which falls under the Shamlat land of the village.

Mr Jeet, a resident of Nadha village, said that in the past few years several acres of agricultural land had been washed away when the nadi changed its course due to the quarrying. Several complaints to the Forest Department and the police authorities had failed to check the activity.

The problem had earlier been highlighted in these columns in August last. The forest officials had then lodged a a complaint with the district police after one of its Block Forest Officer, Mr Bhadhur Singh, was allegedly manhandled by persons engaged in quarrying activity. Mr Jeet has also moved the Punjab Human Rights Commission for being victimised for highlighting the illegal activity.