Victory March to mark the occasion of 43rd Vijay Diwas - 1971 Indo Pak War.

To mark a tribute to the martyrs of Indian Army who laid down their lives to safeguard ‪#‎Fazilka‬ for their supreme sacrifice in 1971 Indo-Pak war on the eve of 43rd Vijay Diwas celebration, join us for "Victory March" on 15th March 2014 starting from Sanjeev Cinema Chowk at 3:00PM sharp. All are requested to assemble at Sanjeev Cinema chowk.

March will end at Clock Tower 4:30PM sharp. Route is Sanjeev Cinema CHowk – Gowshall Road- Cycle Bazar- Shashtri Chowk- Sarafan Bazar- Clock Tower.

First time in this history families of our all brave soldiers who fought famous 'battle of Fazilka', brought honour to the nation and laid down their lives to safeguard Fazilka during Indo Pak war, are reaching Fazilka and are joining us on this 'Victory March' along with the brave soldiers of Indian Army.

Wife of Major Narayan Singh wife Urmila is also joining us.She was 22 when she lost her husband. Those who are not aware, famous battle of Fazilka or battle of beriwala was held between two Majors; Major Narayan Singh (Indian Army 4 Jat) and Major Shabbir Sharif (Pak Army and elder brother of present Pakistan Army Chief Raheel Sharif) 'man-to-man' combat. It was a very brave and courageous battle between the two. Major Narain Singh, who was commanding a company of Jat Regiment led his men and charged the objective to capture locality in the Fazilka Sector. In this action, Major Narain Singh displayed gallantry, leadership and determination of high order and awarded with Vir Chakra award.

Govt ignoring children with deformities

FAZILKA: In a clear case of ignorance and insensitivity of Punjab government, Teja Ruhela - a small village situated close to the Pakistan border - infamous for children being with deformities like cerebral palsy, visual and hearing impairment, among others does not have a single healthcare facility. This, too, after a staggering number of 36 children are suffering from this problem.

Ironically, the village - with a total population of 3,000 - falling under Fazilka assembly constituency is represented by Punjab health minister Surjit Kumar Jayani. The residents allege that no doctors visit their village and there is no dispensary or primary healthcare facility.

Presence of heavy metals like lead, cadmium, arsenic and uranium in groundwater is the likely reason behind large number of deformities among children.

"With 36 children in severe deformed category, Teja Ruhela has 12 children per 1,000 persons suffering from deformities whereas the international average is 3-4. No extensive survey has been carried to the know ratio of deformities," said Pritpal Singh, who is the president of Baba Farid centre of special children, which is working on deformities among children and its causes.

Meanwhile, health minister Jayani claimed that the problem had diminished after reverse osmosis (RO) plant was installed in the village around three years ago. However, activists differ.

"Though drinking water has improved to some extent after RO plant was installed, toxic effects of water are still there in the local environment due to which the problem of deformities is still grave in the village," said Pritpal.

He added: "It is a case of multi-toxicity as untreated water from Ludhiana and Jalandhar industries passes through a drain which proved disastrous for the area, apart from excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides. Only purification of drinking water is not enough, but effects of multi-toxicity need to be minimized, which is also proving harmful for animals and increasing infertility and impotency among young people."

Members of social outfits working in the area are also critical of the government's lackadaisical approach to tackle the issue.

Baljinder Singh, secretary Border Vikas Front & Shakti and general secretary Border Area Struggle Committee, said: "Governments never bothered to take care of the village where many children have deformities. No medical facility is available in the village and people have to travel long distance for treatment of such children."

Teja Ruhela sarpanch Des Singh is also critical of the state government. "We have taken up the issue of dealing with deformities among children with the previous and current government, but we're not getting the medical facilities as the village is situated close to the border. Further, there is no financial assistance for taking care of children suffering from deformities."

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Govt-ignoring-children-with-deformities/articleshow/45466611.cms

FAZILKA GEARS UP TO HONOUR 'SAVIOURS OF FAZILKA'

Fazilka, a sleepy border town in Punjab, is filled with excitement as this grateful town gears up to extend a befitting honour to the ‘Saviours of Fazilka’ – Soldier of Indian Army who made supreme sacrifice during Indo – Pak War of 1971 to save the town from falling into Pakistani hands. On the 43rd Anniversary of this historic event, one week long ‘Fazilka Vijay Diwas’, a tribute to the martyrs who laid down their lives to safeguard the town is being co-hosted by Chetak Corps/Amogh Division and the ‘Saheedon ki Samadhi’ trust, an honorary civilian body of prominent residents residents of Fazilka.

 Week long event will include multiple events organized by Indian Army and Citizen Forum of Fazilka to pay gratitude to martyrs and sensitise the youth about the symbiotic relationship between Army and Local Community in this border town. Presentations on Battle of Beriwala and Battlefield Tours are being organized by Army for college/school children to sensitise the young generation about sacrifices made by Indian Army.
 
On 15 Dec, a first of its kind event in India, a grand ‘Victory Parade’ through the heart of the town will be organized by Citizens and Army to mark the solidarity and close bond between the two and reaffirm the resolve that together they will safeguard the motherland from any misadventure by our adversary. Entire town is expected to converge at historic Clock Tower for this grand event. A Light and Sound Show is also being organized by Indian Army on 15 Dec to bring alive the battlefield of 1971 operations in Fazilka Sector. This will be open to all residents of Fazilka Town.
 
The grand culmination of ‘Fazilka Vijay Diwas’ events will take place at ‘Asafwala War Memorial’ which is a unique monument revered as a Temple and Shrine by local community. Events will include National Unity Marathon run with expected participation by more than 1,000 runners from across Punjab, Wreath Laying at War Memorial by Senior Army and State functionaries, cultural programme and Bhandara. Entire town will be witness to this ‘Saheedon ka Mela’ at War Memorial and pay homage to martyrs.
 
Event will be graced by large number of Veteran officers and Soldiers of Indian Army. Mrs Urmila Patyal, w/o Late Maj Narayan Singh of 4 JAT and Mrs Santosh Rana, w/o Maj K S Rana of 15 RAJPUT, who were martyred while saving Fazilka will be the guests of honour on the occasion.

The main function related to Fazilka Vijay Diwas will spread over one week as under:-
(a) Presentations in Schools on Battle of Beriwala. (10 - 14 Dec)
(b) Battle field tour for local youth (13 - 14 Dec)
(c) Victory Parade through Fazilka Town. - 15 Dec
(d) Light and Sound Show - 15 Dec
(e) Events at Asafwala War Memorial  - 16 Dec
     

(to incl Marathon run, Wreath Laying, Cultural Pgme and Bhandara)

http://www.security-risks.com/security-trends-south-asia/india-defence/fazilka-gears-up-to-honour-%E2%80%98saviours-of-fazilka-3980.html

Build public conveniences to display ads, MCG told

TNN | Dec 6, 2014, 04.07AM IST

GURGAON: The Punjab and Haryana high court has asked the MCG to consider building public conveniences across the city to display advertisements in a hearing on outdoor advertisements on Friday.

Advertisement agencies had sought adequate compensation from the MCG for pulling down their outdoor ads. The hearing was attended by the new MCG commissioner, Vikas Gupta. In the last hearing, the high court had asked the MCG to remove all unipole advertisements displayed along the Delhi-Gurgaon expressway and LED advertisements displayed on top of building No. 8 in Cyber City and a building wrap advertisement on a building at IFFCO Chowk as all of them were causing distraction to motorists.

According to sources, when the advertisement agencies sought adequate compensation from the MCG, the court asked the civic body to consider constructing public conveniences across the city on which these advertisements can be displayed.

"The high court has asked us to find out the spots where such public conveniences can be constructed at strategic locations so that these advertisement agencies whose ads have been pulled down since the last court hearing. We will draw up a plan in the coming days and submit the locations to the high court which will then approve these sites and we will construct these toilets," said an official.

A few months ago, the high court had appointed a traffic expert, Navdeep Asija, to give a report about the traffic hazard posed by the existing advertisement hoardings put up by the MCG. Subsequently, the expert informed the court that most of the ads were a distraction to drivers on the road and based on his report the high court ordered the MCG to remove those ads at once. Last week the enforcement team of the MCG removed these ads.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/Build-public-conveniences-to-display-ads-MCG-told/articleshow/45391457.cms

Little help to navigate around in Gurgaon: Report

Times of India, 23rd November 2013

CHANDIGARH: It is difficult to find your way around in Gurgaon with signboards either missing or giving confusing information, besides being installed at wrong places in violation of norms. This has been pointed out in a preliminary report of 'Gurgaon Outdoor Advertisement and Signage Study' conducted on directions of the Punjab and Haryana high court, which was submitted in the court on Friday.

"In general, Gurgaon has more advertisement panels than normal road information signages. For an unknown user, it is almost difficult to travel in Gurgaon due to non-availability of any driving aid in the form of signage," it reads.

"Placement of advertisement hoardings clearly violates the normal policy terms and can be serious road safety threat to road users. Most of the footpaths and sideways are encroached by wrongly placed signage and unauthorised hoardings, which is restricting free and safe movement of pedestrians," adds the report.

The survey was conducted by traffic researcher Navdeep Asija and Anvita Arora on the directions of the court. It has been pointed out that there is no local support from Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) or municipal corporation, Gurgaon (MCG). For instance, advertisement on red lights pose safety hazard and there are wide intersections with no information signs but advertisement boards. At many places, signboards have been placed in the middle of footpaths, obstructing passage.

Because of non-cooperation of local bodies, the exact count of missing signages could not be arrived at as the survey could not be matched with locations that have been identified for putting up of boards on paper, reads the report.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Little-help-to-navigate-around-in-Gurgaon-Report/articleshow/26230713.cms

Hoardings to be cleared along roads, expressways

Snehil Sinha, Hindustan Times  Gurgaon, December 03, 2014

The Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) has removed several hoardings and wall wraps from buildings near NH-8.

The drive, which started on Monday, comes after the Punjab and Haryana High Court on November 21 passed an order, directing that all advertisements and hoardings — excluding those put up at 77 sites approved by the court-appointed road safety expert — must be removed.

The order was passed to ensure road safety, especially along the expressway. Navdeep Asija, the road safety expert, has suggested removing more unipoles and wall wraps, displaying advertisements.

Wall wraps on buildings, including ABW Tower and Signature Tower, were pulled down on Monday.

"We have removed several hoardings, unipoles, wall wraps and billboards from buildings along the DelhiGurgaon expressway in our day-long operation. The drive will continue till we complete the exercise as directed by the High Court. We have to submit an action-taken report soon," said MCG's chief engineer RK Singla on Monday.

According to MCG officials, wall wraps on around five buildings along the highway and 10 unipoles, displaying advertisements, may be removed soon. The unipoles are located in new Gurgaon areas. Of these, five are located near the Huda City Centre Metro station.

A day after the HC passed this interim order, the MCG had pulled down 15 unipoles along NH-8.

"The Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon having accepted the sites identified is permitted to invite tenders subject, however, to the removal of all other illegal hoardings, signages and glow signs, etc," the court order stated.

According to a report submitted by Asija, only 77 of the proposed 200 sites in the city have been approved for advertisements.

The report suggests that advertisements put up on or around NH-8 should be removed immediately in view of the safety of commuters on the high-speed stretch.

"The placement of these advertisements creates obstruction and distracts drivers, especially on fast-moving stretches like highways. There are other strategic locations in the city too where these advertisements can be profitably placed, without overlooking road safety," said Asija

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/gurgaon/hoardings-to-be-cleared-along-roads-expressways/article1-1292758.aspx