Sunday, May 29, 2016

Punjab upset with traffic adviser Navdeep Asija, to replace him

The Punjab government on Friday told the Punjab and Haryana high court its intent to drop state traffic adviser Navdeep Asija, whose series of reports have put the SAD-BJP government in the dock.
State advocate general Ashok Aggarwal told the high court bench of justice Surya Kant and justice Ajay Tewari that Asija's appointment was not done under the rules for public appointments. Hence, state would advertise the post afresh.
During the hearing, Aggarwal said Asija thought that he was a "tribunal in himself" and would not report to anybody. "Such terms and conditions are not acceptable to me.," Aggarwal told high court bench during the hearing of traffic-related issues of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh.
Asija, who has been assisting the high court on traffic-related issues for over four years now, was appointed traffic adviser by the state government in September 2015. The high court had made suggestion in this regard in 2014. Asija's reports had been embarrassing the government in the court as well as in public.
The big-ticket project of the Samrala-Ladowal elevated road was stayed by high court in April this year on Asija's report. On Friday, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had to field senior advocate of Supreme Court Gopal Subramaniam and Aggarwal represented the state to defend the project.
It was also on Asija's report of that high court had ordered that the SAS Nagar administration should not spend more on foot overbridges as they were not constructed in keeping in view road traffic engineering. The foot overbridges were cleared in a meeting chaired by chief minister Parkash Singh Badal. In another embarrassment to state government, Asija had alleged lapses in award of contract for bus shelters in Ludhiana.
"How do you make your appointments in advocate general office? We are aware of it. He is here for a public cause and has been doing so for years. We have not stopped anybody (from assisting court in public interest matters). Let your experts also come here," the high court bench observed clarifying that Asija's name was suggested by the court as he was assisting court in traffic-related issues for four-five years.
Later, the court said that the state should not make a big issue out of it and could amend terms of engagement with Asija, if desired so as it was state that had employed him.

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

CM clears site plan for Nature-cum-Monument at village sitogunno in Fazilka district

  • UNIQUE PROJECT A REAL TRIBUTE TO NATURE LOVER AMRITA DEVI AND BISHNOI COMMUNITY
  • 363 JAND TREES TO BE PLANTED IN NAME OF EACH BISHNOI WHO SACRIFICED HIS LIFE FOR THIS NOBLE CAUSE
  • 363 ft. TALL MINARET TO ALSO BE INSTALLED IN THE NATURE PARK
Chandigarh, May 24: The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today approved the site plan of the nature park-cum-monument to come up over an area of five acres in village Sitogunno (Abohar) in district Fazilka in the fond memory of legendary nature lover Amrita Devi Bishnoi and 363 other residents from Bishnoi community.

Presiding over a meeting to develop the nature park-cum-monument, the Chief Minister asked the Financial Commissioner (Forests) to complete the entire project within four months. The Chief Minister also decided to plant 363 Jand trees also known as Khejri (Prosopis Cineraria) in the upcoming nature park with the inscription of their names on each tree to eulogize the supreme sacrifice of Bishnoi community for saving trees. He also gave a nod to install 363 ft. tall minaret (minar) in memory of these passionate lovers of nature.

It may be recalled that the nature lover Amrita Devi Bishnoi sacrificed her life along with her three daughters' viz. Asu, Ratni and Bhagu in the year 1730 to save green tress being felled by the Maharaja of Jodhpur at a place known as Khejarli in Marwar, Rajasthan, where all the 363 persons laid down their lives in order to protect trees.

The Chief Minister also directed the Technical Advisor Lt. Gen. (retd.) BS Dhaliwal, to visit the site along with the officials of Departments of Architecture and Forests, to chalk out the modalities for execution of this prestigious project within the stipulated time frame.

Briefing the Chief Minister about the project, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests said that the village panchayats of Sitogunno would soon transfer the requisite land for this purpose to the Forest Department to initiate the project forthwith. He also informed Mr. Badal that the department had already obtained the list of the members of bishnoi community, who sacrificed their lives for this noble cause so as to enable us to inscribe their names on the plates to be fixed along with the planting of jand saplings.

Prominent amongst others who attended the meeting included Financial Commissioner Forests Mr. Viswajeet Khanna, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Mr. Kuldeep Kumar, Joint Additional Principal Secretary to CM Mr. Kumar Amit, Technical Advisor to Punjab Government Lt. Gen (retd.) BS Dhaliwal and Senior Architect (East) Mrs. Abha J Sharma.

Monday, May 23, 2016

400 trees axed for raising PUDA colony in Fazilka

Praful Chander Nagpal
Fazilka, May 22



At least 400 trees planted during the British era in the eco-sensitive zone of Fazilka town adjoining extinct Badha Lake have been axed for constructing the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) colony.

The cutting of trees and the construction of the colony is in progress, even though the National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently ordered that not a single tree would be axed in the state without its permission.

The state government had transferred 5.5 acres in favour of PUDA under the optimum utilisation of vacant government land scheme in 2011 at meagre amount of Rs 2 crore.

The PUDA decided to raise a colony and allotted 56 freehold residential plots. Residents of Fazilka opposed the proposal tooth and nail. They also launched the Chipko movement (embrace the trees campaign) to save the rare varieties of trees planted more than a century ago during the British regime. The trees were providing a natural shelter to the Fazilka wildlife and also home to national bird peacock.

Following the eco-fragile zone, Vans Pat Agnew, the first British Officer stationed in the area selected this place for setting up surveillance station of East India Company in 1844 and built a bungalow on the banks of the horseshoe lake of Badha on the outskirts of Fazilka town due to beautiful flora and fauna. The bungalow still exists and is currently the official residence of the Deputy Commissioner, Fazilka.

The residents alleged that the impact on the ecology of the town had not been redressed while carving out the colony.

"Fazilka already has less than 1 percent area under forestation and cutting of old trees has further worsened the situation. The PUDA should plant new saplings in Fazilka to compensate for the loss," said Navdeep Asija, General Secretary of a leading NGO, Graduates Welfare Association, Fazilka.

On May 19, the NGT had asked the government to produce original records pertaining to permission for felling trees, particularly in Nawanshahr and Jalandhar districts. It directed that a senior officer be present on the next date of hearing on July 8 and an affidavit be filed by the Principal Secretary of the department concerned.

Monday, May 16, 2016

E-rickshaws okayed for city as fleet - Chandigarh E-Rickshaw

Deepak Yadav
Chandigarh: Times of India, Page 1 16th May 2016

The State Transport Authority (STA) has finally prepared the e-rickshaw policy following a detailed study by Navdeep Asija -a national awardee of excellence, and founder of Dial-aCycle Rickshaw. The policy suggests that e-rickshaws should largely provide connectivity from within the sectors to the main roads. The policy -which is going to be submitted to senior UT officials for implementation -also speaks about a proper system for registration of vehicles and distribution of licences.
As connectivity from sectors to main roads is one of the key points in policy , the focus will be to avoid e-rickshaws in large numbers on main roads.Moreover, experts suggest handing out e-rickshaws as a fleet to entrepreneurs and companies, instead of individuals. Availability of proper recharging stations for e-rickshaws is also one of the crucial elements of the policy .

The policy also speaks of providing proper registration cards (RCs) and licences for these e-rickshaws. The e-rickshaws also need to be technically approved as per the guidelines of the central government. Then, there are issues related to their power capacity and certification. Once the policy is notified, the number of e-rickshaws introduced in the first phase will be decided.As introducing e-rickshaws is one of the prime projects to strengthen the city's transport system, the administration has been working on it for several months. Sources confirmed once the policy is notified, people will get better transport for shorter distances. Asija said: "Chandigarh is an ideal place to introduce e-rickshaws, but it should be introduced as a fleet, and not to individuals, keeping financial viability in mind.There is a need for multi-modal integration of transport, proper connectivity , and backup infrastructure. Some people have the wrong impression that e-rickshaws are a replacement for cycle rickshaws, but the fact is they will replace auto-rickshaws."




Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Untreated sewage flowing into drain causing havoc in Fazilka

Gaurav Sagar Bhaskar, Hindustan Times, Ferozepur
 |  Updated: May 11, 2016 14:42 IST

A drain conceptualised and constructed to tackle the problem of waterlogging in Muktsar, the home district of Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, is causing havoc with soil, groundwater, and health of inhabitants of the villages situated along the drain in Fazilka district.
"Untreated sewage water from areas of various municipal councils is being thrown into Abul Khurana and Asspal drains, whose water further flows into a drain, which carries water to Pakistan," said Boota Singh, who owns 50-acre land at Odian, one of the affected villages, situated along the drain.
Following the flow of untreated sewage flowing into the non-concrete drain, it has become a stinking zone for the adjoining areas during the past two years, he rued.
"Untreated water had not only polluted all the bore wells, but also hand pumps all along the drain. While the worst-affected villages include Mohar Jamsher, Mohar Kheewa, Mauzam, Kotha, Salemshah, Alamshah, Awa, Karnikhera, Kerian and Odian and many more up to Abohar, a subdivision of Fazilka district," said Pargat Singh of Kotha village, tiling 57 acre land.
"Water in hand pumps had turned green and stinky and various test reports of water have proved that it has not only polluted the soil of more than three dozen villages, resulting in drastic fall in the crop yields, but also adversely affected the health of villagers. It has also led to increase water-borne diseases. It is a clear-cut case of man-made disaster causing socio-economic crisis," he lamented.
"It's our basic right to have clean water, soil and air, but the same is being denied following apathetic attitude of the authorities. It's high time that no untreated waste is thrown into the drain and water does not remain stagnant due to faulty design or silt deposits," demanded Sulkhan Singh, another farmer.


Wednesday, May 4, 2016

यह इंजीनियर दिलों को जोड़ता है - Navdeep Asija

यह इंजीनियर दिलों को जोड़ता है

Dainik Jagran, Ferozpur Edition, Page 3

अमृत सचदेवा, फाजिल्का 1 May : कोई इंजीनियर मशीनें जोड़ता है तो कोई इमारतें बनाता है। लेकिन, फाजिल्का में एक ऐसा इंजीनियर है जो दिलों को जोड़ने का काम करता है। हम उस इंजीनियर की बात कर रहे हैं जो जन्मे और पले बढ़े तो फाजिल्का में हैं और अब चंडीगढ़ में रह अपनी काबलियत से पूरे पंजाब को लाभ पहुंचा रहे हैं। लेकिन, जब भी फाजिल्का के लोगों को एक साथ जोड़ने, उनमें एकता के बीज अंकुरित करने और सभी को एक मंच पर इकट्ठा करने की बात आती है तो यह इंजीनियर अपने सभी काम धंधे छोड़ फाजिल्का पहुंच जाते हैं। 1यह इंजीनियर हैं ग्रेजुएट्स वेलफेयर एसोसिएशन के महासचिव सिविल इंजीनियर नवदीप असीजा। वह पिछले 10 साल से लगातार फाजिल्का में विरासत मेले का आयोजन करते आ रहे हैं। अब यह विरासत मेला पूरे पंजाब में फाजिल्का की शान बन चुका है। क्योंकि आयोजन में लगातार आ रहे निखार के चलते पंजाब के पर्यटन विभाग ने इसे पंजाब के मुख्य विरासत मेलों की सूची में शामिल कर लिया है। 1इसलिए खास है मेला1इंजीनियर असीजा के अनुसार यह मेला उन्होंने लाहौर की विश्व प्रसिद्ध फूड स्ट्रीट की थीम पर शुरू किया था। लेकिन, इसका उससे अलग और ज्यादा अच्छा स्वरूप सामने आया है। मेले का उद्देश्य शहर को जोड़ना है। उन्हें खुशी तब होती है जब लोग कहते हैं कि अपना मेला कब है। कोई ये नहीं कहता कि आप का मेला कब है। इस मेले में वार्षिक तौर पर यहां की कला, खानपान व संस्कृति के रंगों को उभारा जाता है। विरासत मेले के 10 साल के सफर में असीजा का साथ निभाते आ रहे लोगों में समाजसेवी राकेश नागपाल, मनीष भठेजा, पंकज धमीजा, रवि खुराना, संदीप अबरोल, भूपिंदर सिंह, नितिन सेतिया, एडवोकेट उमेश कुक्कड़, मनोज नारंग आदि शामिल हैं।अमृत सचदेवा, फाजिल्का 1कोई इंजीनियर मशीनें जोड़ता है तो कोई इमारतें बनाता है। लेकिन, फाजिल्का में एक ऐसा इंजीनियर है जो दिलों को जोड़ने का काम करता है। हम उस इंजीनियर की बात कर रहे हैं जो जन्मे और पले बढ़े तो फाजिल्का में हैं और अब चंडीगढ़ में रह अपनी काबलियत से पूरे पंजाब को लाभ पहुंचा रहे हैं। लेकिन, जब भी फाजिल्का के लोगों को एक साथ जोड़ने, उनमें एकता के बीज अंकुरित करने और सभी को एक मंच पर इकट्ठा करने की बात आती है तो यह इंजीनियर अपने सभी काम धंधे छोड़ फाजिल्का पहुंच जाते हैं। 1यह इंजीनियर हैं ग्रेजुएट्स वेलफेयर एसोसिएशन के महासचिव सिविल इंजीनियर नवदीप असीजा। वह पिछले 10 साल से लगातार फाजिल्का में विरासत मेले का आयोजन करते आ रहे हैं। अब यह विरासत मेला पूरे पंजाब में फाजिल्का की शान बन चुका है। क्योंकि आयोजन में लगातार आ रहे निखार के चलते पंजाब के पर्यटन विभाग ने इसे पंजाब के मुख्य विरासत मेलों की सूची में शामिल कर लिया है। 1इसलिए खास है मेला1इंजीनियर असीजा के अनुसार यह मेला उन्होंने लाहौर की विश्व प्रसिद्ध फूड स्ट्रीट की थीम पर शुरू किया था। लेकिन, इसका उससे अलग और ज्यादा अच्छा स्वरूप सामने आया है। मेले का उद्देश्य शहर को जोड़ना है। उन्हें खुशी तब होती है जब लोग कहते हैं कि अपना मेला कब है। कोई ये नहीं कहता कि आप का मेला कब है। इस मेले में वार्षिक तौर पर यहां की कला, खानपान व संस्कृति के रंगों को उभारा जाता है। विरासत मेले के 10 साल के सफर में असीजा का साथ निभाते आ रहे लोगों में समाजसेवी राकेश नागपाल, मनीष भठेजा, पंकज धमीजा, रवि खुराना, संदीप अबरोल, भूपिंदर सिंह, नितिन सेतिया, एडवोकेट उमेश कुक्कड़, मनोज नारंग आदि शामिल हैं।