Chandigarh, May 7
Buying property has become cheaper in Chandigarh.The decision of the Chandigarh Administration to reduce stamp duty from 6% to 5% on the sale deeds of immovable property has come as an icing on the cake for investors and end-users in the current recessionary phase.

The initiative, aimed at discouraging concealment of market value of property, is expected to bring more revenue to the administration, besides reviving the real estate market.

Simply put, the decision would mean that the buyers would have to pay less for registration of property. For instance, the registration of property worth Rs 1 crore would cost Rs 1 lakh less to the investor.

Earlier, the buyers had to pay 6% of the collector rate (official rate for transaction) for the registry of property. This higher rate compelled thousands of buyers to devise means to evade stamp duty and go in for transactions through dubious means, including general power of attorney (GPA) and will.

Chandigarh, May 7
The local police today arrested a travel agent on allegations of duping 16 persons from Punjab and Haryana of Rs 1 lakh on the pretext of sending them to Gulf countries on work permit.

Sources in the economic offences Wing (EOW) of the police said Navin Kumar of Navin Enterprises in Sector 34 was arrested on a complaint by Sukhbir Singh of Sector 49.

It was alleged that Navin Kumar had asked him and other persons in Punjab and Haryana to look for those aspiring to go to the Gulf. He had promised Rs 5,000 as commission for each aspirant brought to him.

Sukhbir reportedly brought 55 persons to Navin and 16 were selected. Navin took Rs 1 lakh each from them and sent them to Mumbai, directing them to meet one Mazid Ansari there.

Sukhbir told the police that all 16 persons failed to find Ansari there. They returned after a few days.

He took them to Navin and after failing to get a satisfactory response, the matter was reported to the police.

The police said the matter was being investigated.

Chandigarh, May 7
A 19-year-old youth of Sector 40 was killed when his motorcycle collided head-on with a four-wheeler near Balachaur this morning. The deceased has been identified as Prateek Sharma, a radio jockey on My FM.

The elder son of Punjab National Bank employee Rajender Sharma, Prateek had left his home on Sunday on his Pulsar bike to Kasauli. According to Rajinder Sharma, there Prateek met a friend from Shimla.

“We received a call from Prateek last evening that he was going to Shimla to meet his friends. Today we got another call from Balachaur about the fatal accident.

We are not aware how he reached Balachaur”, added the grieving father.

Prateek was scheduled to go to Australia for studies in July. Prateek was find cycle expeditions and had got a cycle for the purpose recently.

He anchored ‘Dhol Vajda’ aired by My FM every Sunday. — TNS

Chandigarh, May 7
The much-delayed plan to carry out wet-dredging at the Sukhna Lake to increase its capacity will be a reality soon. One of the two technical experts deputed by the union ministry of environment has given the go-ahead to it in his appraisal report.

The report of the second expert on the feasibility of the plan is expected any time this month.

The report of the second expert is expected any time this month. Well-placed sources in the administration said wet-dredging could start this winter if everything fell into place. The experts were to give their opinion on the feasibility of the wet-dredging plan. The technique is used to de-silt ports.

The wet-dredging plan will add depth to the lake that once faced the problem of excess silt from its catchment area, the lower Shivaliks, in the 1980s. So much so that it had almost dried up when the administration started “Shramdaan”.

This was stopped when the interest of the people waned and also planned forest management in the catchment area reduced the inflow of silt. However, old deposits have to be removed, said director of environment Ishwar Singh.

The plan involves removing 8 ft of silt in two phases. This means, the lake will have a depth of 18 ft. The administration had invited Vishakhapatnam-based national ship design and research corporation (NSDRC) a few years ago to work out a plan, which was okayed after much deliberations.

According to Ishwar Singh, of the Rs 73.73 crore plan, Rs 55 crore would be used to remove the silt through wet-dredging and Rs 19 crore used on a dam at the confluence of the Kansal and Nepli choes (seasonal rivulets).

As per the plan of the corporation, it will float a small floating platform on the surface of the lake with a crane mounted atop.

However, not everyone is convinced. Dr G S Dhillon, former chief engineer, said the administration, in order to reduce the silt flow, had “over-treated” the catchment area.

Chandigarh, May 7
The general court martial (GCM) trying a colonel for alleged misappropriation of ammunition in the Kargil sector today disallowed the defence plea challenging the jurisdiction of the court.

After taking into account proceedings over the past few days, the court came to the conclusion that no new material had come up before the court in this regard.

The court had challenged the jurisdiction of the court on the ground that statutory provisions of Army Rules were not complied with during hearing of charges by the brigade commander.

The defence had contended that the prime prosecution witness in the case, Col Anil Nautiyal had himself stated before the court that he had not made any statement before the brigade commander at the hearing of charge, which he should have done had provisions been complied with.

The court also began with the deposition of a new witness, Lt Col Vipul Singal, who was on the staff of 192 Mountain Brigade’s operations branch when the accused’s battalion, 4/8 Gorkha Rifles, was handing over charge to 5 Sikh Light Infantry.

Chandigarh, May 7
The Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority (APEDA) has managed to get equivalence for its National Programme for Organic Products (NPOP),from the USA, the European Union and Switzerland.This means that Indian certification on exports of organic products from the country will be recognised in these countries.

Talking to TNS here today, K.S Money, chairman, APEDA, said the European Union (EU) had recognised “our certification for organic foods, and thus we have been allowed market access.

The conformity assessment by NPOP has also been recognised by the US Department of Agriculture and by the Swiss government.”

Earlier,the certification was done only by agencies in these countries, which was an expensive preposition, he said. By achieving equivalence in certification, the quantum of exports in organic products to these countries would increase 
manifold.

India is a major exporter of organic tea, organic rice (basmati rice) and organic honey to these countries, besides 30 other countries, and equivalence in certification will boost exports as cost of export will decrease.

Money also said the Ministry of Agriculture was now trying to get the standards in place so as to boost agri-exports in all categories.

The APEDA chairman said India had signed a protocol for basmati exports to China, and following the completion of procedural formalities, basmati exports to the neighbouring country could begin soon.“This year, we have been able to get market access for Indian meat and meat products in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

We are now trying to resume exports of meat and meat products to the UAE.Besides, APEDA is also working to develop a protocol for export of basmati to Mexico,and pomegranate to the USA and the EU,” he said.

He said that with the increase in agri-exports, APEDA was now working to develop supply chain integration. “We will be launching an education and awareness campaign for the agri exporters, teaching them best post-harvest technologies and best cultural practices to use pesticides - when to use and how much to use,” he said.

He also informed TNS that an inter-departmental committee of various ministries had recommended simplification in procedure for export of perishable commodities.

“The committee has recommended that a single export document be introduced for exporters, which will be electronically filed,” he said.

He added that APEDA had also prepared a document on GAP (Good Agricultural Practices), which would have to be implemented by all agri- exporters and ensure a quality standardisation. 

Dera Bassi, May 7
Three employees of Nector Life Sciences Chemicals Ltd, situated on the Dera Bassi-Barwala road, sustained burn injuries in a major fire here this morning.

While one of the employees O.P. Singh is admitted to a private hospital in serious condition, the two other employees are stated to be out of the danger in the fire, which gutted a portion of the factory premises. The cause of the fire could not be known immediately.

At least a dozen fire engines from Dera Bassi, Dappar, Mohali, Ambala and Chandigarh were pressed into service to put out the blaze.

In fact, the fire engines struggled for several hours before it could be extinguished.

According to O.P. Singh, three employees were working inside the factory when the fire broke out around 4.15 am.

Extensive damage to the main mixture plant was reported in the fire.

Nobody from the factory management could be contacted and the exact loss was being worked out.

Chandigarh, May 7
City mayor Harjinder Kaur, along with municipal commissioner P.S. Aujla, today formally inaugurated a multi-colour water feature constructed in the green belt of Sector 29 here.

It was constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 19.36 lakh. Councillors, residents and officers of the MC attended the inauguration ceremony.

According to an official spokesman for the MC, the green belt became entitled for construction of a water feature after its declaration as a special garden by the UT administration in consonance with the policy laid down for providing water features in green belts.

The water body has been constructed in RCC with a water depth of 2 ft during operation of fountains. It has a bowl type structure in the centre, which houses a central nozzle having a dozen smaller nozzles. The central nozzle is surrounded by a circular ring of fountain, containing 52 nozzles.

The overflowing water falling from the circular circumference of the bowls forms a circular sheet of water. Four geyser type fountains have been erected on raised inverted bowl shape platforms in the four corners on the floor of the water body.

Besides, 114 lights in blue, red, green and yellow colours have been fixed under and around the various water features, which provide a multi-coloured affect to whole the structure. 

Mohali, May 7
Fortis Hospital today celebrated the international nurse’s week here.

To mark the celebrations, Mohali deputy commissioner H.I.S. Grewal lit the ceremonial lamp. This was followed by a cultural programme. The week will culminate in a valedictory function on May 12.

Grewal said caring compassion were the hallmarks of good nursing. He complimented the hospital’s nursing faculty for high-quality of service and extreme devotion to their noble profession.

The international nursing fraternity celebrates the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, who founded the nursing occupation, and saw the profession as more than a job.

Sister Ajitha, nursing superintendent, Fortis, elaborated on the global theme for the international nurses’week this year as “positive practice environments: Quality workplaces=Quality patient care”.

It was essential to maintain quality in a healthcare facility, because only if quality was a priority patients would get good services, she said, urging her coleagues to continue with dedication and perseverance they had come to known for.

The vote of thanks was proposed by Dr Ashok Chordiya, medical director, who said that the day was celebrated to draw our attention to a profession that taught only to give selflessly and earingly.

He said nurses were an integral part of a hospital, needless to say a hospital revolves around them Fortis had a strength of more than 400 nurses, he added.

Chandigarh, May 7
A resident of Yamuna Nagar has been staying at the Rotary serai since March this year waiting for his treatment to begin at the PGI, even after Rs 50,000 was deposited at the hospital on March 24 for the expenses which to be incurred. Authorities at the PGI, however, cite the shortage of staff as the cause for the delay.

Gurmit Singh was hit by a truck on June 16 last year, resulting in multiple fractures in his leg. He spent Rs 25,000 on treatment at the PGI and returned home. In October, Gurmit’s leg started hurting again and diagnosis at the PGI found the treated bone to be dislocated again.

Gurmit, who has four children to take care of, said he was working as a helper in the X-ray section of a private nursing home at Yamuna Nagar when the accident took place. As his employer did not bother to help him, Gurmit had to spend all the money from his own pocket.

“With no money in hand, I applied to the Haryana government for help, following which a cheque of Rs 50,000 was issued to the PGI, Chandigarh, under the State Illness Assistance Fund by the Director Health Services, Haryana, on March 21,” informed Gurmit. Since then we have been meeting authorities concerned at the PGI, but to no avail, said Gurmit.

Additional medical superintendent Dr Raj Bahadur, when contacted, blamed the lapse on the shortage of staff. An acute shortage of staff at the concerned branch was delaying the procurement of medicines and equipment from the market and additional staff had been sought to improve the situation, he added. 

Chandigarh, May 7
It is like one extended family for people from Orissa staying in the city who have created their own little world here by celebrating festivals and organising regular get togethers. Though there is no record as to when the first Oriya family migrated to Chandigarh, at present there are about 10,000 people from Orissa residing in the tricity. The Utkal Sanskrutik Sangh, established in the early 80s, is a registered body of people from Orissa settled in the tricity. A number of people from Orissa migrated to the city after its inception and started meeting informally. They felt the need for a common meeting place. In 1983 they were allotted a piece of land in Sector 31 where Lord Jagannath Temple came into existence after five years. “Gradually, this became our meeting point and a centre for cultural exchange as well,” informed Prof Digambar Behera, president of the sangh. Apart from a worshipping place, there is a cultural centre as well behind the temple where children, not only from the community but also from other communities, learn Odissi.

The classical dance, that traces its origin to the 2nd century BC, was nurtured in the famous shrines situated at Puri, Konark and Bhubaneshwar. It was performed as a daily ritual by the Maharis (temple dancers) before the images of God.

The community celebrates Utkal Dibas or Orissa Day on April 1(Utkal was the name given to Orissa before 1936. After that it became a new state with Orissa as its name). Members of the community also get together for prayers on the occasions of Ganesh puja and Saraswati puja. The Lord Jagannath rath yatra is held in July every year. Besides these, Kartikeya Purnima is considered one of the most auspicious days and is marked by special pujas, cultural programmes and community feast. Also it is believed that this day signifies the return of the businessmen of the state after a month-long trip to Java and Sumatra.

Women folk of the community get together and offer prayers to Goddess Laxmi in the temple every Thursday. The last Thursday of the month is celebrated in a big way wherein ‘Mandapith’, a sweet preparation of rice powder and paste mixed with jaggery, is distributed among the devotees.

Oriyas settled here are an educated lot and are placed well in their respective fields. While most of them are eminent doctors, teachers, defence personnel and professors, a majority of them are in the Indian Administrative Services (both Haryana and Punjab cadres).

Traditional attire of the community’s women folk is a saree and their cuisine includes rice and fish curries cooked in a different way.

After many years now, the members of the community have adapted to the ways of the city retaining the flavour of their culture and traditions. Many of them have even married Punjabis.

INDIGENOUS production of defence equipment continues to remain a pipedream in India, thanks to the perpetuation of failures by our Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). When the user and the DRDO differ on the war worthiness of an equipment, it is the user whose opinion should be accepted as final because he has to fight the war.

Recently, the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the DRDO have vastly differed on the effectiveness of Akash missile. The former has said that in its present status, Project Akash cannot meet the IAF’s operational requirements. Take the example of our main battle tank (MBT) Arjun. This project was launched in 1974 with the promise that its production would start by 1984. It has yet to cross the trials’ stage. The Army has made it clear during the recent exercise “Ashwamedh” that it will not accept the MBT Arjun until the tank demonstrates its performance parameters in a battle environment. The tale of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) is almost similar. The long delay in its production has resulted in the depletion of squadron strength of the IAF. The result of all this is that we continue to import aircraft, tanks and other equipment at a heavy cost.

City children are a neglected lot as far as space for playing is concerned. There are approximately 1500 parks in the city but children are not allowed to play there. Green brigade of the city shoos them away forcing them to play on roads. As a result they fall prey to accidents. It is a serious issue which calls for immediate attention of the administration. Although the administration makes tall claims of undertaking development works in the city, it pays no attention towards children's needs. The administration should develop more and more space for children where they can play safely without putting their lives in danger.

Jaspreet Chhatwal
Zirakpur

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Chandigarh, May 7
The local police arrested a CTU driver with 5-kg poppy husk near the Zirakpur barrier yesterday afternoon.

The police said a checkpoint had been set up near the barrier following a tip-off.

A CTU bus (CH 01 G1 5900) plying on the Chandigarh-Agra route was pulled over, after which the contraband was seized from the bus driver, Harbhajan Singh of Sector 41.

A case under Section 15 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act has been registered.

Chandigarh, May 7
A 40-year resident of Kishangarh, who says a UT police head constable (HC) sexually exploited her for over a year, is moving from pillar to post to get justice.

She met the head constable when she had gone to file a complaint against a man who had deserted her after living with her for over five years. The cop forced her into sexual intimacy, promising her help in the case.

Her meeting with the UT inspector-general of police (IGP) in January this year and other senior police officers has borne no fruit.The DNA report is yet to come though the samples were given months ago, alleged the victim.

The victim, a domestic help, alleged that head constable, who was posted at the Mani Majra police station as munshi in July last year had forced her into a sexual relationship promising her help in a case.

A divorcee and a mother of two, the victim told TNS that she met the accused when she had gone to file a complaint against a man who deserted her after living with her for over five years. The accused cop, a father of two college-going sons, lured her into established a relationship with him.

In April last year, he too, deserted her and she approached his senior officials. She alleged that some officials persuaded her to withdraw the complaint on the assurance that the head constable would “take care of her”, but this did not happen.When she again met the IGP in January, an inquiry was marked. The accused promised to “keep her”, but again backtracked.

Inquiry officer inspector Vedpal Malik said the deputy superintendent of police (DSP) of the crime branch had submitted his report on the matter last year. It said the head constable and the woman did have a relationship.

He said the DNA sample was sent about a month ago and the report was awaited.

Chandigarh, May 7
Anish Kumar of Sector 50 reported to the police that Gurinder Singh Cheema of Sector 16 and Bimaljit Kaur of Sector 15 had taken Rs 11 lakh from him to sell his share in a house in Sector 16.

The deal was struck in August last year. After paying the money, the complainant realised that the house was not registered in the name of Gurinder Singh.

In yet another case, the police arrested a Srinagar resident along with his two sons for duping a city resident of Rs 7.50 lakh on the pretext of getting his son admitted to a medical college in Delhi.

A team led by sub-inspector Sukhbir Rana arrested Mohammad Sadiqee Wani of Sekhdaffar village, 30 km from Sri Nagar, along with his two sons-Muzaffar Wani and Dillal Wani-from their village on May 4. The fourth accused, also a son of Wani, Ajaj Sadqee Wani, was at large.

Inspector Satbir Singh said a case was registered in January this year on a complaint by Bashir Ahmed Gogree, a resident of Bapu Dham Colony.