Were obstructing natural flow of Baltana choe in Mohali

Pipelines removed following High Court's intervention Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 29 Pipelines reportedly affecting the natural flow of Baltana choe in Mohali have been removed following the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s intervention. But a petition filed in public interest for directions to the State of Punjab and its functionaries to stop “unauthorised construction” in the area earmarked for the natural choe has failed to find favour with the High Court. The petition filed by the Sahara Welfare Society, was disposed of by a Division Bench after it was informed that “the alleged choe, if any, existed on private land”. The directions by the Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Jasbir Singh and Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain are significant as they have now paved a way for the resumption of construction activity in the area. Only on May 22, the Mohali Deputy Commissioner was directed to inspect the disputed site at Baltana village. He was also asked to ensure that no unauthorised or illegal construction was raised in the choe. Builders were also restrained from raising any construction. Pursuant to the High Court's directions, the Deputy Commissioner visited the spot and submitted a report on August 2. After going through the report the same day, the High Court asked the Deputy Commissioner “to get demarcation done of the natural nullah starting from the railway line up to Shagun Hotel”. He was also asked to remove unauthorised constructions that had come up on public land. “It should also be ensured that nobody is allowed to throw dirty water in the nullah, without permission and meeting the sitting norms laid down by the Punjab Pollution Control Board,” the High Court ordered. As the case came up for resumed hearing, the Deputy Commissioner filed an affidavit saying Dera Bassi tehsildar, who was directed to demarcate Baltana choe, found that it was not marked on the revenue map. Moreover, the land on which it flowed belonged to “private persons”. He also found that up to 95 per cent area was already constructed and demarcation was not possible under such conditions. The Deputy Commissioner also informed the Bench that he had directed the Dera Bassi Sub Divisional Magistrate and Patiala Executive Engineer (drainage) to remove RCC pipes from the Baltana choe as per the High Court's directions. In his report, a Sub Divisional Officer submitted that the entire length of RCC pipes laid near Aastha Royal Homes, Baltana, had been removed. The Bench concluded: “In view of the report of the revenue authorities, it is not feasible to proceed further in the matter because in the absence of demarcation of the area. In this view of the matter, the writ petition is disposed of”.

NK SHARMA APPOINTED SAD TREASURER

Chandigarh, Sept 1 The President Shiromani Akali Dal and Deputy Chief Minister Punjab Sukhbir Singh Badal today appointed SAD Joint Secretary NK Sharma as treasurer of the party. Disclosing this in a statement released from the party head office here today, the party Secretary and Spokesman Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema said that NK Sharma is MLA of Dera Bassi and presently serving as Chief Parliamentary Secretary Industry and Commerce. He said that Sharma is a dedicated leader of the party who had successfully accomplished every task given to him by the party President Sukhbir Singh Badal and now he has been promoted as treasurer of the party. The residents of the Zirakpur today congratulated NK Sharma for becoming treasurer of SAD. Jagtar Singh MC ward number 12 along with presidents of the ward 12 gave bouquet to Sharma at his office.

Zirakpur MC plans to convert residential colonies into sectors claims Sharma

Zirakpur, August 28

The Zirakpur Municipal Council has decided to convert the residential colonies of Zirakpur and surrounding areas in sectors on the Chandigarh pattern. The meeting was chaired by MC president Kulwinder Sohi here today. MLA Dera Bassi Narinder Kumar Sharma was also present. During the meeting, Sharma said that the council has decided to set up a market after distributing in plots at old Kalka road near water supply office in Zirakpur. the main market would give relief from the traffic jams and revenue would be spent in development works. Sharma said the proposal has been prepared to convert the residential colonies in sectors and a special team would survey the areas. The council has decided to install three new tubewells in the town to solve the drinking water problem in MS Enclave and Gurjeev Enclave, Sadashiv Enclave, Basant Enclave Phase-II, Sharma added.

Before Vidhan Sabha results:- Candidates seek divine intervention

Zirakpur, March 5 The impending election results have made the candidates in the fray superstitious. While some are turning to gods for divine intervention to ensure their victory, the others are banking on their lucky day for emerging as a winner in the poll. The candidates remained busy throughout day answering phone calls of their supporters and the other purported well-wishers. The main candidates in the fray from Dera Bassi Constituency are NK Sharma (SAD-BJP) and Deepinder Singh Dhillon (Independent). On Monday, the SAD candidate NK Sharma started his day with listening to the grievances of the area people and met the party workers where he discussed the strategy for next day. “Tuesday is lucky day for me and I will start the day after paying obeisance at Lohgarh temple.” He said that as such he had no plans to take out a procession after the victory but it will depend only on his supporters. He assured that he will win the seat with huge margin as he had done development works in the area. On the other hand, Deepinder Singh Dhillon, an Independent candidate had started his day with receiving phone calls from his supporters and well wishers who congratulated him in advance. Later, he attended a bhog ceremony and marriage functions of his supporters. In the evening, Dhillon met the party workers and agents where they planned for big day. “I will start my journey from Chandigarh and pay obeisance in Gurdwara at Bhankarpur in Dera Bassi,” he added. He says, “If I win, his priority will be development in the area.”

Things get going in Zirakpur

Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 27 Once having the dubious distinction of being Chandigarh’s poor cousin targeted by developers because of its proximity to the City Beautiful, Zirakpur is on the fast track of planned and systematic development. Encroachments have been removed from malls and housing colonies. This is not all. Penal action, too, has been initiated against various violators as per provisions of law. Information made available to a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court suggests that the Zirakpur municipal council has taken action against as many as 500 encroachers “and encroachments have been removed”. The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority, too, has identified nothing less than 30 cases of different types of violations, wherein penal action has been taken. The executive officer of the civic body has also informed the Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Jasbir Singh and Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain that sewage treatment plant would be completed by March 31, 2013. The Bench was also told that the work of laying of underground sewerage lines has been completed to the extent of 90 per cent and the remaining work would be completed by March 31, next year. The significant assertions came during the hearing of a suo motu case on the facilities available in Zirakpur. During the hearing of the case, director, Punjab local government, Ashok Kumar Gupta, was present in the court. In an affidavit, he informed the Bench that Zirakpur’s masterplan was made effective in 2009 and “thereafter within the municipal limits no unauthorised construction has cropped up”. Taking on record the assertions, the Bench closed the petition with observations: “In view of the orders passed by the court from time to time and the assurance given by the director, local government, Punjab, in his affidavits, placed on record on earlier dates and today, this writ petition is disposed of”.

HIGH SCHOOLS IN DERA BASSI TO BE UPGRADED CLAIMS SHARMA

HIGH SCHOOLS IN DERA BASSI TO BE UPGRADED

Zirakpur, August 27 The high schools of Dera Bassi and Zirakpur in Lohgarh would be upgraded soon. This was stated by MLA Dera Bassi NK Sharma while interacting with school development committee and members of associations who were fighting for up-gradation of schools. Talking to mediapersons, Chief Parliamentary Sectretary and MLA Dera Bassi NK Sharma stated that to upgrade both schools, a proposal has been sent to education department for approval. Sharma said he personally discussed the issue with Punjab education minister Sikander Singh Maluka who had given him positive response regarding the issue. He claimed that on the coming Teachers’ Day on September 5 and give a gift to children of the Dera Bassi district.

Police nabs carjacker after hot pursuit

Police nabs carjacker after hot pursuit Highway patrol vehicle damaged; two others at large Rajiv Bhatia Zirakpur, November 2 After a two-hour chase right out of any Bollywood action flick, the Zirakpur police nabbed a car thief, but not before getting its own vehicles damaged. Sources said the rashly driven vehicle rammed into a highway patrol vehicle several times before it was intercepted by the police at Banur. The vehicle taken by three carjackers eventually overturned, resulting in the arrest of one, while the other two fled the scene. The pursuit started from the Zirakpur-Kalka traffic lights when a stolen white colour Maruti car (CH03 H 8502), being pursued by the Chandigarh police, entered the Punjab territory around 2.30 am on Wednesday, an hour after the car owner, Amrik Singh, reported the theft to the police. The carjackers entered the Zirakpur territory where the chase was taken over by a local police unit. All attempts to intercept the speeding car failed even as the police vehicle nudged the car several times. The suspects took the Zirakpur-Patiala highway towards Banur even as both vehicles came in contact with each other several times till Banur. A police official said the highway patrol vehicle tried to take out the other vehicle by ramming into it time and again, which resulted in severe damaged to both vehicles. Later, the car overturned near Banur and the Zirakpur police informed the area police about the incident. The police said the car was stolen by three youths, including a minor, from Amrik Singh’s Ram Darbar Phase-II residence. Talking to The Tribune, Amrik Singh said his neighbour Harcharan Singh Bawa informed him about the theft of his car. Bawa had seen three youths push the car to a little distance before starting its engine after three attempts. Amrik Singh informed the police about the theft around 2.05 am. Zirakpur SHO Yogi Raj said they got a tip-off that a gang of car thieves was moving towards Zirakpur after stealing a car from Ram Darbar in Chandigarh. The police engaged the car in pursuit till Banur, where it arrested a minor youth. The two others escaped in the cover of darkness. The suspects have been identified as Ravi and Sonu, besides the minor, all residents of Ram Darbar. A case under Sections 379 and 457 of the IPC has been registered against them. A police official said the arrested suspect had sustained minor injuries was admitted to the Dera Bassi Civil Hospital from where he shifted to the GMCH-32, Chandigarh. He was later discharged after treatment. The accused was produced in a local court today and was remanded in judicial custody. The Banur police has also registered a case for hitting a police vehicle.

Punjab CPS NK Sharma arrives in Toronto to join PIFAA function

Zirakpur, July 28 Punjab Chief Parliamentary Secretary and SAD MLA from Derabassi (Mohali), NK Sharma visited Toronto to represent SAD-BJP govt in the Punjabi International Film Academy Awards (PIFAA). He was accorded a warm welcome by PIFAA organizers including Leader of NRI group Rajinder Saini, Tony Sodhi and Harpreet Sethi. Sharma got warm welcome from the audience. On this occasion, Sharma lauded Punjabi NRIs in Canada for taking this initiative of Punjabi Film Mela and giving an impetus to Punjabi culture and Punjabi language. He said that the Badal Govt. was fully committed for NRIs welfare and is making sincere efforts to mitigate their problems and grievances. He also exhorted NRIs make investment in Punjab.