Rajiv Bhatia
Dera Bassi, November 20
For smooth flow of traffic on the Dera Bassi-Ambala highway, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has decided to install traffic lights near the Dera Bassi bus stand. The traffic lights would be installed within in the next 15 days.
The other work related with the highway like foot overbridges, proper rainwater drainage system, two bus queue shelters with green belt, beautification below the Zirakpur flyover, widening of roads from both sides of the highway would be started early next year, an NHAI official said.
In August this year, the SDM, Dera Bassi, the DSP, the NHAI director, drainage department and MC officials had visited Zirkapur, Dera Bassi and Lalru areas.
They had discussed the problems that the residents faced while commuting on the Chandigarh-Ambala and the Zirakpur-Kalka highways.
During the visit, the local administration asked the NHAI officials to re-work on medians on the Dera Bassi-Ambala highway.
The administration had also asked the NHAI to maintain the drainage system along the highways especially near Bhankarpur village.
Officials said to solve the waterlogging problem on the highway, the department has also planned to extend the highway’s drains till Ghaggar river. Official sources said two steel foot overbridges in Dera Bassi and Bhankarpur would be constructed for pedestrians. The Zirakpur MC had also written to the NHAI officials for NOC to set up a green belt under the flyover. NHAI officials said they would meet the MC officials to discuss the matter in coming week.
The NHAI’s project director, Anil Dahia, said the minutes of the meeting were forwarded to the higher authorities for approval and traffic lights would be installed in 15 days.
He said after getting the approval, the work would be started on priority.
SDM, Dera Bassi, Punit Goyal said they will discuss the matter with NHAI officials to start the work as soon as possible.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Zirakpur MC building in a shambles
Rajiv Bhatia
Zirakpur, November 8
Though Zirakpur is developing at a fast pace, the district administration seems to have forgotten to upgrade its own municipal council building that is crying for a makeover.
The building of Zirakpur municipal council is in a shambles. A Grade I category municipal council building, which had been repaired a number of times during the past years, is presently in a very bad shape.
The residents complained that there were no proper sitting arrangements for visitors and the parking problem also prevailed. They also demanded the MC office should be at some open place with proper parking facility.
However, MC officials claimed that the civic body was planning to construct their new building for which the plans were in the pipeline.
According to information, the MC office is running in a community centre, which was inaugurated in 1995. The foundation stone at the MC office shows that the building was constructed when Zirakpur was a gram panchayat. Though Zirakpur nagar panchayat was upgraded to municipal council in 2007, nobody bothered to upgrade the MC office.
There are 19 rooms divided in cabins at the MC office where around 28 employees are working. There are no fire extinguishers, sand bucket or water hydrant system available in the office to control any untoward incident.
Some employees working in the office, on the condition of anonymity, said the roofs of some rooms leaked during rains and cracks had developed in the walls. The roof of their room could collapse any time, they added.
Sources in the civic body said as the population in Zirakpur was increasing by the day, public dealing had also increased. They revealed that the authorities had identified a barren land for the MC building and the site would be finalised after approval from the local administration.
After that, the matter would be put up at the coming MC meeting. Sources also said the processes to prepare the map for the new MC building had been started for which a private architect had been hired.
Naresh Sharma, a resident of Zirakpur, said the MC building was in bad condition and despite of repeated reminders the authorities concerned were not paying heed.
Sales tax barrier adds to traffic woes
Widening of Highway
Sales tax barrier adds to traffic woes
Rajiv Bhatia
Zirakpur, November 5
The multi-crore project of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to widen the Ambala-Zirakpur national highway is of no help to motorists plying on the road, all thanks to the Punjab Sales Tax authorities.
Considering the consequences, tax barrier has been shifted on the Zirakpur-Chandigarh highway near Chandigarh. Besides parking of goods’ trucks, which is hampering the flow of traffic, traffic jams are a usual affair here.
The blockage on the road also causes minor accidents. On October 31, as many as 40 students of DAV School, Malout district, Muktsar, had a narrow escape when their bus collided with an Indica at the sale tax barrier. Though there was no injury, the car was damaged from one side.
A survey of the area reveals long queues of trucks waiting to get their documents checked. In the absence of streetlights, chances of road mishaps have also increased during the night.
According to information, earlier, the sale tax barrier at Zirakpur-Ambala highway near Singhpura village was causing traffic due to shortage of parking space. The barrier has also led to the loss of many lives in road accidents. The concerned department had shifted the barrier to Zirakpur-Chandigarh. The department claimed that there was enough space for parking of vehicles, but the parking problem was not solved, as a result trucks along with other vehicles were parked on the roadside.
Anand Sharma, a resident of Ambala, said it was difficult to drive on this track during night, as there was no signboard indicating about the sale tax barrier.
The concerned department must install blinkers to indicate commuters about the sale tax barrier, he added.
“In absence of traffic police, truck drivers park their trucks as per their wish,” said Varun Sharma, a resident of Zirakpur.
Talking to The Tribune, truck drivers asserted that they were also facing parking problems, but they have no option except to park their trucks on the roadside.
DSP Dera Bassi JS Khaira said the sale tax barrier was causing problem in the smooth flow of traffic during VIP duty. He said it was a serious issue and sale tax barrier must be shifted to some open space. “We have also written to SSP Mohali,” he added.
SDM Dera Bassi Punit Goyal said they were getting several complaints. “We have forwarded the complaints to higher authorities,” he said.
Sales tax barrier adds to traffic woes
Rajiv Bhatia
Zirakpur, November 5
The multi-crore project of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to widen the Ambala-Zirakpur national highway is of no help to motorists plying on the road, all thanks to the Punjab Sales Tax authorities.
Considering the consequences, tax barrier has been shifted on the Zirakpur-Chandigarh highway near Chandigarh. Besides parking of goods’ trucks, which is hampering the flow of traffic, traffic jams are a usual affair here.
The blockage on the road also causes minor accidents. On October 31, as many as 40 students of DAV School, Malout district, Muktsar, had a narrow escape when their bus collided with an Indica at the sale tax barrier. Though there was no injury, the car was damaged from one side.
A survey of the area reveals long queues of trucks waiting to get their documents checked. In the absence of streetlights, chances of road mishaps have also increased during the night.
According to information, earlier, the sale tax barrier at Zirakpur-Ambala highway near Singhpura village was causing traffic due to shortage of parking space. The barrier has also led to the loss of many lives in road accidents. The concerned department had shifted the barrier to Zirakpur-Chandigarh. The department claimed that there was enough space for parking of vehicles, but the parking problem was not solved, as a result trucks along with other vehicles were parked on the roadside.
Anand Sharma, a resident of Ambala, said it was difficult to drive on this track during night, as there was no signboard indicating about the sale tax barrier.
The concerned department must install blinkers to indicate commuters about the sale tax barrier, he added.
“In absence of traffic police, truck drivers park their trucks as per their wish,” said Varun Sharma, a resident of Zirakpur.
Talking to The Tribune, truck drivers asserted that they were also facing parking problems, but they have no option except to park their trucks on the roadside.
DSP Dera Bassi JS Khaira said the sale tax barrier was causing problem in the smooth flow of traffic during VIP duty. He said it was a serious issue and sale tax barrier must be shifted to some open space. “We have also written to SSP Mohali,” he added.
SDM Dera Bassi Punit Goyal said they were getting several complaints. “We have forwarded the complaints to higher authorities,” he said.
Monday, October 12, 2009
MC infighting hits development
Rajiv Bhatia
Dera Bassi, October 10
Infighting among Dera Bassi municipal councillors is affecting development in the township.
Residents have alleged that ongoing differences between the councillors have put development on the backburner. After the council elections in 2008, the MC had focussed only on pending works and no big projects were being started, they claimed.
In Dera Bassi, there were of 13 wards, out of which SAD candidates had won from seven, BJP from two and Congress from one. The remaining three were won by independent candidates.
The tussle among them started before the bypoll for the Banur assembly seat in June, 2009. Eight councillors had submitted a no-confidence motion against MC president Manjit Kaur.
According to MC sources, a no-confidence motion could be passed only by the requisite majority of councillors. The opposing councillors could not muster the requisite majority and no meeting had been called to discuss this issue.
The councillors were divided into two groups. One group, which had eight councillors, were against the MC president, said to be close to the late Capt Kanwaljit Singh. Her group had five municipal councillors.
The opposing councillors had alleged that while submitting the motion they had lost faith in the style of working of the president.
She lacked knowledge of local problems, due to which development was affected, they added.
Unconfirmed reports stated that some personal issues were a part of this activity and they were getting the support of a senior Akali leader to remove the MC president. On the other hand, councillors supporting the MC president denied the allegations made by the eight councillors.
“The municipal councillors are not in a mood to undertake any development of the town and they are enjoying the facilities provided to them”, said a resident of Ward No 4.
Residents also stated that councillors did not care for the general public and had forgot the promises they made during the elections.
They seemed to forget that if the general public had voted them in, they also had the power to vote them out, the resident added.
Dera Bassi, October 10
Infighting among Dera Bassi municipal councillors is affecting development in the township.
Residents have alleged that ongoing differences between the councillors have put development on the backburner. After the council elections in 2008, the MC had focussed only on pending works and no big projects were being started, they claimed.
In Dera Bassi, there were of 13 wards, out of which SAD candidates had won from seven, BJP from two and Congress from one. The remaining three were won by independent candidates.
The tussle among them started before the bypoll for the Banur assembly seat in June, 2009. Eight councillors had submitted a no-confidence motion against MC president Manjit Kaur.
According to MC sources, a no-confidence motion could be passed only by the requisite majority of councillors. The opposing councillors could not muster the requisite majority and no meeting had been called to discuss this issue.
The councillors were divided into two groups. One group, which had eight councillors, were against the MC president, said to be close to the late Capt Kanwaljit Singh. Her group had five municipal councillors.
The opposing councillors had alleged that while submitting the motion they had lost faith in the style of working of the president.
She lacked knowledge of local problems, due to which development was affected, they added.
Unconfirmed reports stated that some personal issues were a part of this activity and they were getting the support of a senior Akali leader to remove the MC president. On the other hand, councillors supporting the MC president denied the allegations made by the eight councillors.
“The municipal councillors are not in a mood to undertake any development of the town and they are enjoying the facilities provided to them”, said a resident of Ward No 4.
Residents also stated that councillors did not care for the general public and had forgot the promises they made during the elections.
They seemed to forget that if the general public had voted them in, they also had the power to vote them out, the resident added.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Zirakpur MC changes five EOs in a year
Zirakpur MC changes five EOs in a year
Zirakpur, October 2
The municipal council of Zirakpur is apparently making a habit out of changing its executive officers.
Available information indicates the council has changed five executive officers in over one year. According to residents of the area, this “habit” of the MC is affecting the developmental works of the area. The residents claim that the officer is changed even before he can settle and carry out an activity.
According to MC sources, Shatrajit Sharma from Mandi Gobindgarh will be the new executive officer. Sources reveal that he is closely related to a senior Punjab minister.
While executive officer Sukhjinder Singh Sidhu has been transferred to Dera Bassi, this may affect the work that was started by him. In his eight months tenure, he has worked on many projects. A tree plantation drive in Zirakpur is one of his major achievements. He had planned to construct a library and health club for Zirakpur residents, but now it seems it will be a distant dream for the residents.
In February, Sidhu was appointed as Zirakpur MC executive officer after Vijay Gupta, who was appointed an EO in December last year.
After the last year’s MC elections, RK Mittal was appointed as the executive officer but he was transferred from the Zirakpur MC to the Kharar MC in October last year. Later, Girish Verma was appointed as the EO but was suspended within two months. Then there was VK Jain, who was appointed for a single day as an EO.
“This kind of transfers will affect the development work of the area as the new executive officer will have to start the work from a scratch,” says one of the MC officials.
Zirakpur, October 2
The municipal council of Zirakpur is apparently making a habit out of changing its executive officers.
Available information indicates the council has changed five executive officers in over one year. According to residents of the area, this “habit” of the MC is affecting the developmental works of the area. The residents claim that the officer is changed even before he can settle and carry out an activity.
According to MC sources, Shatrajit Sharma from Mandi Gobindgarh will be the new executive officer. Sources reveal that he is closely related to a senior Punjab minister.
While executive officer Sukhjinder Singh Sidhu has been transferred to Dera Bassi, this may affect the work that was started by him. In his eight months tenure, he has worked on many projects. A tree plantation drive in Zirakpur is one of his major achievements. He had planned to construct a library and health club for Zirakpur residents, but now it seems it will be a distant dream for the residents.
In February, Sidhu was appointed as Zirakpur MC executive officer after Vijay Gupta, who was appointed an EO in December last year.
After the last year’s MC elections, RK Mittal was appointed as the executive officer but he was transferred from the Zirakpur MC to the Kharar MC in October last year. Later, Girish Verma was appointed as the EO but was suspended within two months. Then there was VK Jain, who was appointed for a single day as an EO.
“This kind of transfers will affect the development work of the area as the new executive officer will have to start the work from a scratch,” says one of the MC officials.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Fire sub-station, library at Zirakpur soon
Fire sub-station, library at Zirakpur soon
Rajiv Bhatia
Zirakpur, September 25
The Zirakpur Municipal Council will set up a library, a senior citizen hall, a health club and a fire sub-station in Zirakpur to give better facilities to residents of the area.
According to MC sources, the long-pending demands of a library and a senior citizen hall by residents will be fulfilled shortly. The site for the library will be finalised soon where a three-storey building will be constructed. The ground floor will be given to fire sub-station, first floor to library and second floor to health club. A fire tender from Dera Bassi will be placed at the building.
MC officials stated that the authorities had seen some vacant land for the library and the site would be final after discussion with the local administration. After that, the matter would be put up at the coming MC meeting.
The authorities were also planning to construct a senior citizen hall where they would hold their social gatherings and monthly meetings. The MC team had visited Lohgarh village to identify the site. The MC has also sanctioned Rs 5 lakh for senior citizen hall, sources said.
Rajiv Bhatia
Zirakpur, September 25
The Zirakpur Municipal Council will set up a library, a senior citizen hall, a health club and a fire sub-station in Zirakpur to give better facilities to residents of the area.
According to MC sources, the long-pending demands of a library and a senior citizen hall by residents will be fulfilled shortly. The site for the library will be finalised soon where a three-storey building will be constructed. The ground floor will be given to fire sub-station, first floor to library and second floor to health club. A fire tender from Dera Bassi will be placed at the building.
MC officials stated that the authorities had seen some vacant land for the library and the site would be final after discussion with the local administration. After that, the matter would be put up at the coming MC meeting.
The authorities were also planning to construct a senior citizen hall where they would hold their social gatherings and monthly meetings. The MC team had visited Lohgarh village to identify the site. The MC has also sanctioned Rs 5 lakh for senior citizen hall, sources said.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Zirakpur MC to launch website
Zirakpur MC to launch website
Zirakpur, August 30
The Zirakpur Municipal Council is going to launch its website. The website will provide information about council’s working, details of MC records, various new projects and general public information.
The details of all wards, municipal councillors with their contact numbers will also be available on the website.
Sources in the MC said a proposal in this regard would be tabled in the coming MC-meeting after seeking approval of the higher authorities. The website address being considered was www.mczirakpur.com. The sources said the website would help NRIs who were living aboard and having properties in Zirakpur, they would get information about their properties. They would be able to check the status of their lands in Zirakpur through data provided by the MC on the site.
Information about new housing projects, commercial projects, hotels and multiplexes in Zirakpur would also be available.
To have the public interface, the MC officials were contemplating to extend to the residents the facility to submit their complaints regarding roads, public health, sanitation and any other problem through various hyperlinks, sources added.
Zirakpur executive officer Sukhjinder Singh Sidhu said: “We are planning to launch the website to make people friendly with the MC.”
Zirakpur, August 30
The Zirakpur Municipal Council is going to launch its website. The website will provide information about council’s working, details of MC records, various new projects and general public information.
The details of all wards, municipal councillors with their contact numbers will also be available on the website.
Sources in the MC said a proposal in this regard would be tabled in the coming MC-meeting after seeking approval of the higher authorities. The website address being considered was www.mczirakpur.com. The sources said the website would help NRIs who were living aboard and having properties in Zirakpur, they would get information about their properties. They would be able to check the status of their lands in Zirakpur through data provided by the MC on the site.
Information about new housing projects, commercial projects, hotels and multiplexes in Zirakpur would also be available.
To have the public interface, the MC officials were contemplating to extend to the residents the facility to submit their complaints regarding roads, public health, sanitation and any other problem through various hyperlinks, sources added.
Zirakpur executive officer Sukhjinder Singh Sidhu said: “We are planning to launch the website to make people friendly with the MC.”
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