‘VIP’ violators headache for traffic cops

Rajiv Bhatia

Challans issued in June

* 64 persons for not wearing headgears
* 42 challans for wrong parking
* 26 challans for overloading vehicles

Zirakpur, July 1
Policemen have become helpless, as the motorists with a ‘VIP link’ do not follow traffic rules. In Zirakpur, the traffic police’s campaign of challaning violators has failed despite the 222 challans issued in a month. The traffic violation continues to go unabated in the region.

According to sources, the challans include wrong entry, helmet-less rides, triple ridding, leaving vehicles in the “no parking” zones, driving without wearing seat belts, drunken driven and driving without documents.

“There is no denying the fact that violation of traffic rules is rampant in the town. Driving without helmets tops the chart of traffic rules violations along with wrong parking. However, we are continuously trying to check the violations by laying check points and deploying policemen at various points”, a senior police official said.

Giving details of the challans from June 3 to June 29, sources in the traffic police said about 222 persons were challaned for not wearing headgears, 42 challans were issued for wrong parking and 26 challans were issued for overloading vehicles. Other miscellaneous violations included not using of seat-belts, triple riding, using pressure horns, blue beacon and using ‘press’ stickers without permission. Use of pressure horn, black filming, besides drunken driving and driving without documents also led to issuance of challans, the sources added.

A cop on the condition of anonymity said even before they could issue a challan, the erring driver would ring up their ‘top links’ and try to pressurise them.

DSP (Traffic) GS Mann stated that no violator would be spared regardless of his status or link. He said the traffic police would establish more checkpoints to curb the menace of rash and negligent driving.

Cake walk

Rajiv Bhatia

Residents of Zirakpur now don't have to go Chandigarh for savouring soup or even dim sums. This satellite city is now offering on platter delicious dishes like corn cake, tom yum soup and dim sum.

Hotel Shagun-Zirakpur is proud to present its newly renovated restaurant Vyanjan-a fine multi-cuisine dining restaurant and bar centrally located on Zirakpur-Kalka highway.

Vyanjan means a condiment or a seasoned article in Sankrit.

"Traditional and the unique style of preparing those dishes using a variety of natural ingredients, colours, taste, textures smells is Vyanjan's specialty," says Pradeep Aggarwal, managing director of the newly opened restaurant.

Pradeep Aggarwal, who had done a hotel management course from Chandigarh, says, "Our aim is to provide different kind food that would attract customers." Besides the traditional Indian food, the menu also includes Thai curries, tandoori kebabs, Oriental and Chinese food," Aggarwal added.

He adds, "In appetizer, a special corn cake and dim sum is in main menu. From soups bowl, Tom Yum soup which has been made with Chinese cabbage, broccoli, poches, mushroom, lemon grass and lemon leaves, high ginger is really a fiery. "We are offering verities of dishes like Tiranga kofta, diwani handi and Lackhnavi murg biryani to customers," he adds.

He sums, for non-vegetarians chicken Taipai, murg akbari and Hyderabaddi dam ki biryani are other yummy dishes which remind you flavour of different countries.

Polythene bags to be banned in Chhatbir Zoo

Rajiv Bhatia

Zirakpur (Chhatbir), July 12
Chhatbir Zoo authorities today launched a cleanliness drive at the zoo and decided to conduct such a drive on every Monday. The zoo authorities are also planning to check and ban the use of polythene bags by visitors. The drive was conducted under the guidance of newly appointed Field Director Churchil Kumar.

Giving the information about the drive, he said, the department had decided to conduct cleanliness drive on every Monday as the zoo was closed for general public on that day. It will be easier for the employees to carry out the drive in a proper manner, he said. Around four to five tractor-trolleys of garbage were removed today.

Kumar stated that he had given instructions to the zoo employees to take precautionary measures, so that all animals remained healthy during the monsoon season. He said he had also given instructions to the doctors to start de-worming the animals. “We have also decided to set up drinking water purifier for animals, which be installed shortly”, he added.

Now, water becoming scarce in Zirakpur

Rajiv Bhatia

Zirakpur, July 12
The water supply in Zirakpur is being affected due to long power cuts as only 10 out of 31 tubewells have generators while others run on power supply.

Residents claimed that when the power supply was disrupted, the water supply, too, was affected. The residents were forced to call private tankers to meet their needs. They demanded that the council should install generators on other tubewells as well.

They stated that most of the tubewells were not working properly as the water level had gone down. They said the MC had planned to setup eight new generators for the tubewells but nothing had been done so far.

They also alleged that tubewell operators were working on the orders of councillors and politicians. Last month, a high drama was witnessed when the key of a tubewell room was taken away by the councillor’s husband and residents of another ward had protested outside her house.

SDO, water supply, Mahesh Chawla, stated that 31 tubewells had been installed in 15 wards.

Colonies where generators have been installed are Preet Colony, Bishanpura, Balaji Enclave, Dusherra ground, Preet Colony stadium side, Kalgidhar Enclave, Govind Vihar, Saini Vihar Phase 2 and 3; AKS colony, Lohgarh, and Dhakoli near the hospital.

Kamal Khurana, a resident of Baltana, said since a single tubewell was supplying water to four to five residential colonies, the water pressure was very low.

MC president NK Sharma stated that the council had been planning to install generators on the tubewells where need be. “We have also planned to install new tubewells in the town to solve water crisis”, he claimed. However, GAMADA will also install 10 tubewells in the town soon, he added.

Zirakpur MC to spend Rs 40 lakh on drainage system

Rajiv Bhatia

Zirakpur, July 9
The Zirakpur Municipal Council has planned to spend Rs 40 lakh on the drainage system to remove waterlogging problem in Baltana, Zirakpur and the surrounding areas. The proposal has been mooted after the waterlogging problem faced by residential colonies in the recent rains. The project will be completed in three months.

MC president Narinder Kumar Sharma along with other councillors chaired the meeting. He said the council has set up a plan to construct an open drain between Vikas Nagar to link road on the Zirakpur-Kalka National Highway; similarly another open drain would be constructed between Wadhawa Nagar and Panchkula road.

However, the council authorities have blamed Panchkula residents for water logging in residential colonies near to Panchkula. They alleged that during the recent rains the seasonal choe at Panchkula was choked, as a result, the water overflowed and entered the residential colonies at Bharat Enclave, Vikas Nagar and Wadhawa Nagar. Taking the matter seriously, they have asked GAMADA officials to discuss this issue with Panchkula authorities.

He said many residential colonies are in the low-lying area, which is leading to water logging problem.

“We have decided to spend Rs 40 lakh on the drainage system to remove waterlogging, the project will be completed in three months,” he said. He said a request has been sent to GMADA to take up this issue. During the recent rains many residential colonies had faced flood-like situation after water entered their houses.

Service roads to decongest highway

Rajiv Bhatia

Zirakpur, July 14
To solve the ever-increasing problem of traffic congestion on the busy Chandigarh-Ambala highway at Zirakpur, the PWD department of central works division has decided to construct service roads on either side of the stretch between the UT barrier and the starting point of the flyover.

Besides, the PWD officials have also planned to lay down proper drainage lines along the highway.

According to officials of the PWD, this project would be completed in six months at an estimated budget of Rs 4 crore. The department has already floated the tenders that would be open on July 23.

A flyover had been constructed on the Chandigarh-Ambala highway more than a year back to facilitate safer and faster road journey for the commuters.

XEN PWD (Central Work Division, Ropar) Karnail Singh stated that the project has been approved by the Central government. The paper work has been completed and the department concerned has been asked to submit their cost estimates. The department has already written to the forest department for removing the trees on either side of the highway.

“We have also deposited the money to the electricity department to shift the power lines and polls, wherever they come in the track of the service roads,” Karnail Singh added.

He said the drainage work would also begin along with other work. The drainage lines from the UT barrier to the flyover would be connected to Sukna choe drains.

Karnail Singh stated that the encroachments along the highways would be removed soon. After the completion of the project, the roads would be re-carpeted again and all illegal medians on the stretch would be closed down with iron grills. He said the problem of sales tax barrier where trucks were parked along the highway would be partially solved after the completion of the service roads.

“Tenders for the project have been floated and the work on service roads and drainage lines would be started in the first week of August,” he added.

Sales tax barrier problem

Commuters on the Chandigarh-Zirakpur highway face traffic jam and bottlenecks at the sales tax barrier, especially during the office hours in morning and evening. They demanded that the sales tax barrier should be shifted immediately to some other open place

Zirakpur to have slaughterhouse

Rajiv Bhatia

Zirakpur, June 17
The Zirakpur Municipal Council is planning to set up a slaughterhouse at Gazipur village to maintain hygiene in shops selling meat.The issue of setting up a slaughterhouse is likely to be discussed in MC meeting, scheduled to be held on Friday. The proposal has been mooted after the Zirakpur MC realised that meat was being sold without verification from veterinarians. Moreover, the animals were being slaughtered in shops leading to mess and the possibility of spread of an infection.

MC sources said they had been receiving complaints from area residents regarding animals being slaughtered in almost all meat shops. They rued that the animals were not being slaughtered scientifically leading to unhygienic conditions.

Sources said the MC had identified a two-acre land at Gazipur village. A detailed report has been prepared and sent for approval. The total cost of the slaughterhouse would be finalised after the approval. It is expected to be ready by the year-end, sources added.

Sources said as the council does not have the technical expertise, a consultant will be appointed to work out the specifications and the tender document.

Ankit Sharma, a resident of Zirakpur said, “It is a serious matter as the waste meat products are not properly disposed of. The sellers slaughter the animals in their shops and dispose of the remnants into the surrounding drains.”

When contacted, MC president Narinder Kumar Sharma said: “The issue of setting up a slaughterhouse will be discussed in coming MC meeting and the site would be finalised after the councillors’ approval,” he added.

Dumping ground

After an objection by the pollution control board on the dumping ground site, the MC has planned to identify a suitable site on the outskirts of the town. An MC official said that in terms and condition, the dumping ground should be set up at a distance of 2 km from the town

Sewerage treatment plant

The Punjab Pollution Control Board has asked the MC to set up a sewerage treatment plant till March 2011. MC officials said the case regarding the land for the plant was in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The pollution control board had asked to finalise another land to set up the plant till March 2011. The board has said that if the MC fails to meet the deadline it would have to pay Rs 2 lakh bank guarantee for an extension

Admn fails to remove trucks, rehris parked on highway

Rajiv Bhatia



Zirakpur, June 11
It seems that the local administration is waiting for a major tragedy to happen on the national highway as trucks and other vehicles parked along the Chandigarh-Ambala highway and Zirakpur-Kalka highway throughout the day are posing a serious threat to the lives of thousands of commuters.

Residents complained that trucks carrying goods from far-flung areas towards various godowns of multinational companies remained parked along the highway, hampering flow of traffic on the highway and many times leading to serious mishaps on this stretch.

Residents rue that the traffic police had failed to remove the trucks from the highway. They had submitted their complaints many times, but no concrete action has been taken so far.

A survey of the area revealed that trucks are normally parked on both sides of the highway everyday. Even traffic movement at the entrance of Zirakpur has been affected as trucks are parked in a haphazard manner on the highway. Adding in the woes, fruit and vegetable vendors also park their rehris on the roadside on the highway.

“Everyday we have traffic jams on this stretch as these trucks blocked a huge part of the road. It is quite frustrating, especially during summers,” said Shikha Sharma, a student of a private college.

DSP (traffic) Darshan Singh Mann said he would ask the Zirakpur traffic in charge, Devinder Singh, to remove and challan the trucks that were parked on the highway.

Youth dies as scooter hits truck

Vishal Batta (22), a resident of Baltana, died after the two-wheeler he was riding hit a stationary truck on the Landran road. The police stated that Batta was returning from a private college at Landran, where he had gone to enquire about the admission process. The police has registered a case against the truck driver on the complaint of the deceased’s father

Damaged road puts residents to inconvenience

Rajiv Bhatia

Zirakpur, June 9
The apathetic attitude of the MC authorities towards the maintenance of roads has put thousands of commuters to inconvenience.


Those commuting on the Pabhat road are a harried lot, as the road is full of potholes.

Residents claim that they have asked the MC officials to re-carpet the road, but nothing needful has been done so far. They alleged that councillors-cum-property dealers unheeded their pleas and re-carpeted the road in front of their offices.

Residents rued that the road was in need of immediate repairs, but the authorities concerned seemed least concerned.

A survey of the area revealed that the road is narrow and full of potholes.

It is a busy stretch, as it connects the area to Mohali Phase XI and other villages.

“Water-logging during rainy season poses a threat to several lives,” said Narinder Singh, a resident of Pabhat village.

One of the shopkeepers said, “Water-logging affects our work badly. We have taken up the matter with the MC officials a number of times, but to no avail.”

Narinder Kumar Sharma, president, municipal council, Zirakpur, said the road would be repaired soon. Tenders have been floated for the same, he added.

Life derailed at Zirakpur

Rajiv Bhatia

Zirakpur, June 8
Incessant rain has derailed normal life of residents of Zirakpur and made the conditions miserable as large numbers of commuters were trapped in a traffic jam on the Zirakpur-Kalka highway and the Zirakpur-Patiala highway this morning. Two vehicles overturned near Dhillon factory chowk on the Chandigarh-Ambala highway here this morning.

Commuters were stranded for more than an hour at the Zirakpur-Kalka highway, as two trucks broke down near the railway crossing. The tires of the truck got stuck in a caved-in part of the road, blocking traffic for a long time.

A commuter, who was trapped in the jam, said there was no traffic cop present on the spot to tackle with the situation. Later, the Baltana police in-charge reached at the spot and got the trucks removed with cranes.

According to information, rainwater entered houses and shops in various areas. Goods worth lakhs of rupees were destroyed at a gift shop in Baltana by rainwater.

Zirakpur sans fire station

Rajiv Bhatia

Zirakpur, April 28
It seems that authorities concerned have somehow ignored one of the very basic requirement of Zirakpur, which is considered a gateway to Punjab and is one of the most rapidly developing and expanding town in the whole Mohali district. Amidst a series of various plans and new projects one of the nearly two-year-old proposed project of establishing a fire station in Zirakpur is still struggling to see the light of day.

In the wake of the fact that Zirakpur has seen an overwhelming mushrooming of real estate business, multi-storied residential complexes, multiplexes, malls and marriage palaces and good increase in the population in the past few years, an independent and well-equipped fire station becomes a basic need, but surprisingly the authorities are least concerned about the safety of common man.

Sources in the MC revealed that in 2008, the Municipal Council had approved a resolution to set up a fire station in the town at a house meeting and sent the proposal for approval to the Local Bodies Department. But, this project is only on paper and nothing has been done hitherto. Sources said the council had decided to spend Rs 40 lakh for the fire station. The council had planned to buy one fire tender, two small fire engines and other fire safety equipments.

In case of blazing inferno, the fire tenders from Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula and Dera Bassi are summoned. In case of any emergency under such circumstances, firemen will certainly fail to reach the spot within the specified response time. However, since a long time Zirakpur residents have been demanding a fire station for the town. Nidhi Rana, a resident of Zirakpur says, “With the increase in residential colonies and multiplexes in the subdivision, the fire-fighting facilities are a necessity for the town”.

MC official claimed that the resolution for setting up a fire station in Zirakpur had been moved for the government approval two years back but did not get any reply. He said the fire station would be set up in the town shortly.

GMADA to instal 10 tubewells in Zirakpur

Water Woes
Parched residents have reason to cheer
GMADA to instal 10 tubewells in Zirakpur
Rajiv Bhatia

Zirakpur, April 22
Come June and residents at Zirakpur will experience a new summer, as the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) is all set to instal 10 new tubewells in different parts of the town to meet the increasing drinking water demand.

Zirakpur MC has also planned to setup eight new generators for the tubewells.

According to sources, the MC had requested GMADA to instal the tubewells, following which the latter approached the state government. After getting approval from the Punjab Chief Minister, tubewells would be instaled by GMADA at their own expense, the sources added.

The officials said 34 tubewells had been instaled here in 15 wards. The demand of water supply had been on the rise here, therefore to meet the demand the council approached GAMADA to instal the tubewells.

Ten new tubewells will be instaled at Baltana village, Shivalik Vihar, Dashmesh Colony, Pabhat, Anand Vihar, Krishna Enclave (Dhakoli), Highland Cooperative Society, Swami Enclave, Dhakoli, Preet Colony, Zirakpur, and in front of the Tribune Colony, Baltana.

The site for tubewells would be finalised after the visit by SDO water supply (GAMADA), SDO water supply and sewerage board (Zirakpur), along with Municipal Councillors concerned.

The officials also said the estimated cost of the project was Rs 3 crore and each tubewell would be 1,200 ft deep. A private company was to be appointed to setup the tubewells, for which tender would be called soon, they added.

Meanwhile power cuts seem to be the major concern of the MC officials. The council thus decided to instal the generators on eight tubewells and it would be passed at the next MC meeting.

Chairman of the district planning board and Zirakpur MC president NK Sharma said the decision was taken by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to provide relief to the residents during the summer season. He added that 10 new tubewells would be instaled by GMADA by two months. However, the MC would instal eight generators for the tubewells.

Meanwhile, irked over acute water shortage at Sham Vihar, Baltana from the past four days, women of the area today locked the tubewell room and raised slogan against the public health department for not taking proper action. They alleged that they had submitted their complaint several times, but all in vain. Also, residents of Vikas Nagar were also facing water crisis. They alleged that some residents had connected direct motors with water pipes. They had asked the department to take action, but they turned blind eye to the issue.

Zirakpur-Lalru a ‘killer stretch’ 27 lives lost in 3 months

Rajiv Bhatia

Zirakpur, April 18
Increasing number of road accidents on the Zirakpur- Lalru stretch and adjoining roads in the periphery, on this side of the City Beautiful, contradict tall claims by the Mohali police about an improved situation in road mishaps. Official figures reveal 27 deaths on the Zirakpur- Lalru stretch during the past three months. There have been more than 55 accidents during the corresponding period.

The Chandigarh-Ambala national highway has become a major cause of worry for the local administration. As even after the four-laning of this highway, there has been no respite from the increasing number of accidents on this stretch. According to official records, a sum of about Rs 298 crore was spent by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) on the four-laning of this 35-km long highway.

At several points village link roads open to the highway, which are accident prone. It is here that fast-moving traffic collides with vehicles coming from the link roads. Till now the NHAI has not provided any slow carriageway along the highway.

Police sources claim that everyday at least one or two accidents occur on the roads, especially on the Zirakpur-Patiala highway where minor accidents are routine affair. In Zirakpur, 22 accidents were reported in the last three months in which 10 persons were killed, including 8 men and 2 women.

Last year, 61 accidents were reported where 26 persons died, including 20 men, five women and one child. In 2008, around 48 accidents occurred in which 27 persons were killed and 21 were injured. In 2007, the police registered 45 accident cases in which 26 persons killed and 19 were injured. In 2006, the Zirakpur police registered 89 road accidents.

In Dera Bassi police station, 10 accidents were reported in the past three months, in which six persons were killed, including five men and one woman. Last year, 53 mishaps were reported in which 35 persons lost their lives. A total of 37 accident cases were reported in 2008, in which 22 persons were killed, including 21 men and one child.

As per the information provided by the Lalru police station, in the past three months 23 accidents had occurred in which 11 persons were killed while 12 were injured. Last year, 50 accidents were reported in which 30 persons were killed, including 28 men and two women. Around 104 persons were injured in road accidents.

Accident-prone areas

Police post at entrance of Zirakpur, near sales tax barrier; takeoff point of the Zirakpur flyover; a farmhouse at Singhpura, link road to Chatt village; Bhankarpur bridge; takeoff point of Dera Bassi flyover; and Chhat village bus stand on the Zirakpur-Patiala highway

Snatching cases at Zirakpur on the rise

Rajiv Bhatia

Zirakpur, April 11
In the wake of sudden surge observed in the snatching cases, especially amongst the women, residents of Zirakpur are perturbed over the issue from the past few weeks. More than five snatching incidents have been reported in the past two days. However, no case has been registered by the local police. The proximity of Zirakpur town with Chandigarh and Haryana makes it convenient for the snatchers to run away in the neighbouring places in no time.

A majority of snatching incidents have taken place during afternoon and late evening hours when it is difficult to identify snatchers. Snatchers grab the victims from the back and snatch their chains, earrings and other ornaments and escape from the scene within seconds. They target women who pass through deserted areas.

In a recent incident, two bikers snatched a gold chain of three tolas from Elha Devi, a resident of Hem Vihar, Phase I. According to Elha Devi, the incident occurred around 3 pm on Friday when she was standing outside her house where two youths on their red-coloured motorcycle parked their bike near her.

In no time one of the youths attacked her and snatched her gold chain. Acting swiftly, Elha Devi caught the shirt of the youth, but the accused assaulted her and managed to flee from the spot.

She said that though one of the youths was wearing a helmet, she saw the face of another youth. “I will never forget his face and will recognise him if I see him anywhere in the area,” she added.

A similar incident occurred on Friday when two youths riding a motorcycle targeted another woman, Preetam Kaur in Nagla village. Sources revealed that two incidents of snatching occurred yesterday at Preet Colony, where the motorcycle-borne youths snatched a gold chain and an earring set within one hour. Last week two youths were nabbed by the local residents near a private school at Baltana when they were trying to snatch a chain of the schoolteacher, sources added.

According to police sources, most of the youths involved in the incidents of chain or purse snatching are drug addicts. They adopt different types of modus operandi -- either a youth snatches the purse or a chain in lonely places, or engages the victim in a conversation and commit the crime. However, SSP, Mohali, GS Bhullar claimed there was a downfall in crime activities at Zirakpur. Recently, the local police nabbed the snatchers and other anti-social elements who were involved in various criminal activities.

Illegal banners, hoardings dot Zirakpur

Rajiv Bhatia

Zirakpur, April 4
Though it enjoys the privilege of being a neighbour to the City Beautiful, Zirakpur has not much to boast of. The defacement is taking a toll and the Zirakpur Municipal Council has failed to take any action against the defacement of public property by violators who have hung banners and hoardings at various parts of the city.

The problem has acquired an alarming proportion in the
town and one can easily spot banners in every nook and corner of the area.

The main violators are politicians, communication companies, religious organisations, educational institutions, private tuitions, boutiques, beauty saloons and event organisations.

Banners are also seen even for the functions to be held in Chandigarh and Panchkula.

Zirakpur MC official said in the absence of any strict laws to check the defacement of public property, the violators were defacing the town with hoardings and posters. He said no one had taken any permission for pasting posters and banners.

He added while conducting the drives, the council had faced problem of staff crunch. However, he said the council had issued notices to violators and collected the compounding fee.

A visit to several other areas, including Dhakoli, Zirakpur-Patiala Highway, Pabhat area, Baltana and Lohgarh shows that besides banners, the electricity poles and streetlights have been defaced with the posters. Not only private buildings, even high voltage electricity towers have not been spared by advertisers and politicians.

Residents seek local administration’s help to initiate action against the violators.

Mallika Khanna, a resident of Zirakpur, said the electricity poles and intersections were covered with the banners advertised by different educational institutes, giving an untidy look to it. He said the MC should take strict action against the violators.

“The entire town has been defaced with banners of politicians,” said Ram Niwas, a resident of Pabhat.

A sales executive of telecommunication on condition of anonymity said there was no need of permission from any official at Zirakpur to paste posters or any other promotional materials.

Zirakpur MC president Narinder Kumar Sharma claimed that the banners and posters would be removed by tomorrow. He said MC had plans to give the contract to private contractor for advertisement in the town. The tender for the contractor would be called shortly, he added.

Filing of IT returns Zirakpur residents demand transit office

Rajiv Bhatia

Zirakpur, April 3
Keeping in view the difficulties involved in filing of income tax return, the residents here demanded to the authorities concerned to open transit office at Zirakpur so that tax payees can deposit their returns.

Earlier the income tax payees used to deposit their returns at Rajpura and it was shifted to Mohali last year.

At present, in Zirakpur there are over 36 developers and more than 100 property consultants with thousands of salaried persons besides hundreds of traders.

Residents say there is an urgent need of an income tax return office so that everyone can file their returns without any delay.

SC Dhall, a senior banker, said the number of income tax payees had been rising every day at Zirakpur and it was very difficult for them to deposit their returns at Mohali, which was very far away. He said the authorities concerned should think about this public issue. “We are facing inconvenience during the filing of income tax return file as the brokers are charging hefty amounts to file the return,” said Jagtar Singh, a property consultant.

Travelling distances to spread ideology, make money

Rajiv Bhatia

Zirakpur, March 18
He is not happy with the response to the articles he sells here but his passion for communist ideology drives him to serve the party at Joyti Basu Nagar in Zirakpur.

A Basha (67) of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, has set up a stall to sell key chains, posters, badges carrying pictures of communist leaders besides other things.

The 13th All-India Conference of India Trade Unions (CITU) started on March 17 and is scheduled to go on till March 21.

Besides him, vendors from Kerala, Delhi and various towns of Punjab have set up stalls to sell articles promoting the communist ideology.

They are offering handmade accessories like T-shirt, photos, caps, key chains, badges, emblems, stickers, posters carrying their photographs of communist veterans like Harkishan Singh Surjeet and Jyoti Basu.

Besides handmade accessories, book stalls selling translated versions of books written by Lenin and Marx at reasonable prices are a big draw at the conference.

Their aim is to highlight the activities of communist leaders like Vladimir Lenin, Karl Marx, Che Guevara.

Basha, who has been serving the party in his unique way since early 1960s, said: “I am not doing this business to earn money. My passion for the party has always prompted me to set up a stall in the conference held anywhere in the country.”

He said his family members also helped him in the business. It is his second to visit to Punjab but has not been rejoiced by the response here.

“In Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, these accessories are in great demand and youngsters prefer photos of Guevara and Lenin on accessories”, he added.

Another vendor said before selling the accessories to customers, they explained them the history behind the communist struggle.

Pritam Singh (59) who had come from Barnala said: “I started a book shop, ‘Lenin Kitab Ghar’, at Barnala when I was younger. I have more than 500 different books on Lenin and Marx in Punjabi and they are gradually becoming famous among the local youth.”

Left Word Books from Delhi and Punjab Book Store from Chandigarh are also showcasing books on communist leaders.

A bookseller said people had been coming from far-off places to the conference to give orders for the supply of books.

Summer is back, so are power cuts

Rajiv Bhatia

Zirakpur, March 21
With the onset of summer, residents of Zirakpur and surrounding areas have started facing power cuts ranging from 4 to 6 hours a day. With tubewells becoming non-operational due to power cuts, water supply to the area has been badly affected.

Sources in the MC said, “Of the 31 tubewells, only 10 have generators and the remaining ones run on electricity.”

Residents of various housing apartments, colonies and villages within the municipal limits have demanded that the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) should give prior information about the power cuts, so that they get time to arrange some alternative source of energy.

Sumita, a resident of Dhakoli, said power cuts of at least six hours were being imposed everyday.

“I find it difficult to help my son (for board exams) in his preparation for the annual examination,” she added.

It’s a harrowing time for shopkeepers too. Madan Mohan, a shopkeeper in Zirakpur, said, “With frequent outages, it has become difficult to run the business.”

Rajan Khurana, a resident of Baltana, said, “We are used to such power cuts in June and July, but cuts at this time of the year make no logic.”

“Why necessary steps are not being taken to ease the ongoing power crisis?” he asked.

Residents said they had asked the MC officials to install generators, but their repeated pleas were turned down.

With the surging power demand, the load on transformers had also increased, said a PSEB official.

“We are imposing power cuts as per the instructions of the controller,” he added.

Killer stretch: Authorities fail to act

Rajiv Bhatia

Zirakpur, March 25
At least 14 passengers, who were travelling in a mini-bus, sustained injuries on the killer stretch between Zirakpur and Lalru today. The bus collided with a multi-axle trailer near Dhillon factory light point.

The mishap has once again brought to the fore the failure the authorities concerned to make this stretch safer even as the number of road accidents here is increasing every day.

Even after more than one year of the four-lane of the Chandigarh-Ambala highway, no improvement has been seen in terms of rising number of accidents on this stretch.

According to police sources, more than 12 road mishaps have been reported in Zirakpur police station till March 20. Around 54 accidents occurred in Zirakpur last year in which 22 persons were killed, including 16 men, five women and one child. More than 70 persons were injured. In 2008, 36 accidents were reported out of which 21 persons died.

Sanjay Khurana, a resident of Panchkula says, “It is for the local administration to make the highway safer for the commuters.”

The residents have demanded that the administration should take steps in order to prevent mishaps in the accident prone areas.

They have also urged the local administration to check violations by truck and mini-bus drivers who drive the vehicles recklessly on the highway.