& V I C I N I T Y
Sunday, December 13, 1998
|
C H A N D I G A R H & V I C I N I T Y |
|
Sunday, December 13, 1998 |
| weather n
spotlight today's calendar |
 |
|
|
PU leaves issues undecided Slums
not to be relocated
Registrar recommends CBI inquiry |
 |
 Women in kitchen prone to asthma CHANDIGARH, Dec 12 — Women working in kitchens not properly ventilated are at a risk of getting asthma because smoke emitting from cooking stoves is one of the causes for the disease, says Prof D. Behera of the PGI. M.L. Sondhi
for regional parliament |
|
Gupta
case : UT files reply UT
Election Commissioner coming tomorrow |
||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||
Retirement
age, pension revision CHANDIGARH, Dec 12 — The issue of extending the retirement age of the Panjab University employees and revision of pension could not be decided at a meeting of the PU Syndicate here tonight. The issue was raised by Syndics but the Vice- Chancellor, Prof M.M. Puri, said since Punjab Government was involved in the issue no decision could be taken without consulting the state government. The syndics had been demanding that the retirement age be extended to 62 years. Employees in Punjab still retire at 60 years of age. Some syndics had suggested that only one part — extension of retirement age — in the notification of pay scales of colleges and university teachers be implemented. This was opposed by others, who said the entire notification be implemented in toto. The VC assured that he would meet the Punjab Chief Minister soon to settle the issue. On a separate issue, the body, after much discussion, decided to give additional seats to the Dhanwantri Ayurvedic College, Sector 46. Prof Charanjit Chawla and Prof R.D. Anand suggested that the PU should contest the grant of additional seats to the college allowed by the Central Council of Indian Medicine, New Delhi. The two said the several shortcomings still prevailed in the college and demanded that a Special Leave Petition (SLP) be filed in the court. The VC agreed to the suggestion and assured the Syndicate that the matter would be contested. Besides this the Syndicate also approved 24 appointments of teacher and rejected the three appointments in the Hindi department. Out of the 24 , 10 appointments were to augment faculty at the University Business School (UBS). The non implementation of new rates for part-time teachers, ad hoc and temporary full-time teachers was discussed. Mr Ajaib Singh raised the issue that children of women employees of Panjab University were not entitled to medical re-imbursement while male employees were entitled to get the same. The issue of giving full pay scales to teachers at the Ankur School was also brought up. The VC assured that he would look into all these issues. A heated debate on whether UGC guidelines or court directives should be followed, ensued and finally it was decided that only in certain cases, these directives would be implemented. The Syndicate approved
confer degrees Doctor of Philosophy on nine candidates.
Those awarded Ph.Ds are: Mr Tarsem Singh, Ms Renu Garg,
Ms Jasmrit Kaur, Ms Alka Rani, Ms Shashi Bhushan Mahen,
Ms Ranjeet Kaur, Mr Ashok Kumar Nanda, Ms Meena
Laiphrakpam, Ms Asha Rana. |
Unauthorised
mandis in Mohali? SAS NAGAR, Dec 12 — Vegetable sellers in various ‘khokha’ markets here are agitated over the organising of unauthorised mandis of rehri owners by a political leader. The illegal mandis are organised weekly in various phases, as in the case of kisan mandis. It is reported that money is collected from the rehri owners for the purpose in the name of the politician. While rehri owners say they have the right to earn their livelihood, the vegetable sellers of ‘khokha’ markets in Phases IV, III B1, VII and X say their sales have been adversely affected as the rehri owners also throng the sites of kisan mandis. The vegetable sellers say in most cases they had been allotted the booth sites by the government and it would not be long before they would be compelled to ply rehris to survive. The affected sellers, who have also sent a representation to the local Municipal Council, have demanded an immediate ban on the unauthorised mandis. Consumers, however, are not averse to the presence of rehri owners near the sites of kisan mandis as they get a wider range of items. The prices fixed by the rehri owners, too, are often competitive. The civic body president, Mr Harinder Pal Singh Billa, said that at times rates of items in the kisan mandi were higher than those fixed by rehri owners who parked their rehris near the sites of these mandis. However, the problem of unauthorised mandis had been brought to the notice of the authorities concerned. Mr M.P. Arora, SDM, said only the organising of kisan mandis had been officially permitted. Some time ago a joint meeting of representatives of the Mandi Board, political parties, farmers and rehri owners was held in his office at which it was pointed out that no outsiders could be allowed to participate in the authorised kisan mandis. There was a proposal from a Mandi Board official since farmers did not have all items needed by consumers there could be a draw of lots to select rehri owners who could sell their vegetables in the kisan mandis. However, nothing further had happened. The Municipal Council
Executive Officer, Mr K.S. Brar, tossed the ball to PUDA
and said the illegal mandis were being organised on land
belonging to it. He said PUDA had been informed and it
was up to it to stop the misuse of the land. |
Slums not to
be relocated CHANDIGARH, Dec 12 — The Administration will improve civic amenities in the existing slum colonies and avoid relocating them in future, said the UT Administrator, Lieut-Gen B.K.N. Chhibber. He was addressing the concluding function of the national conference on sustainable urban housing organised at the Confedration of Indian Industry (CII) building in Sector 31 here today. General Chhibber said schemes of relocating slums had given rise to many malpractices. The Administration will improve the condition of existing slums and curtail their expansion. Efforts to provide regular electricity connections and other amenities have led to resistance from the slum dwellers. We are determined to enforce discipline amongst them to improve the standards. He said city planners must have projected their problems in a proper prospective during the conference. Though the civic services in the city were much above the average but satisfactory civic services were not available in the slum areas. There were many reasons for this — firstly the legality and permanence of these slums was always in question. Secondly, there was no public participation in the maintenance of civic amenities, the Administrator said. The issue of upgradation of squatter settlements in urban areas was also discussed during the conference. Five approaches, including squatter settlement upgradation scheme, people's active participation, agency built approach, redevelopment to ensure sustainability, shelter development on scattered plots were discussed. It was informed that the National Building Organisation estimate has put the housing shortage to be 7.57 million units in 1997. The new housing demand during 1997-2002 has been estimated to be 88 lakh units. Over 600 million people more would settle in the urban areas this decade throughout the world. By the dawn of the new millennium, the world will be dotted with 21 mega-cities having population greater than 10 million out of which 17 will be in the developing countries. India, today has six mega-cities (4 million or more) and 23 metropolitan cities which are expected to increase to 40 by 2001 AD. The Chairman-cum-Managing
Director of Housing and Urban Development Corporation
(HUDCO), Mr V. Suresh, gave a presentation in which he
gave recommendations for urban housing. He suggested that
a partnership between public sector, co-operative sector
and the private sector was important. |
Registrar
recommends CBI inquiry CHANDIGARH, Dec 12 — An inquiry by the CBI into the alleged irregularities committed by Chandigarh State Co- operative Bank Limited while clearing an unsecured loan of Rs 11 crore some months ago has been recommended by the Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Chandigarh. The file of the case has been sent to the Secretary, Cooperation, for the final orders. According to an inquiry conducted by the department, a prima facie case was made out as the then Managing Director had cleared the loan contrary to norms. The money had been given to an SAS Nagar-based concern against post-dated cheques only and not against property as collateral and security. A story on the irregularities and the alleged payoffs in the "deal" was carried by The Tribune on November 22. The loans of varying amounts spread over two months were cleared after the bank had been served with a show-cause notice by the department pointing out numerous irregularities in its functioning, including clearing the loan. Even the Board of Directors had been kept in the dark about the whole matter. Meanwhile, the CBI has submitted a challan in the court of the UT Sessions Judge in an earlier case and summonses have been issued to the eight accused in the case. They include Gurnam Singh, the then MD of the bank, Gurcharan Dass Kala, Gurdial Singh, Jagtar Singh and Avtar Singh Tara, the then Directors of the bank. The employees accused in the case are Malkit Singh, Avtar Singh and Amar Singh. The CBI had carried out raids on the houses of the accused in August, 1994, and subsequently a case under Section 13 (1) (d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act was registered against them. The accused had been charged with various irregularities pertaining to the disbursal of loans amounting to Rs 60 lakh to various persons for the purchase of milch cattle. It was alleged that they had even passed loans to city residents who could not have been given the loans as the keeping of cattle is a violation of the city bylaws. Moreover, some beneficiaries were even residing on the top floors of their houses. In some cases, the same
person had been given loans for the purchase of scores of
buffaloes without enquiries into the genuineness of the
loan applications . As per norms, only villagers or
persons who are in the dairy business can apply for the
loans. Some of the persons were not traceable at the
addresses given by them. |
M.L. Sondhi
for regional parliament CHANDIGARH, Dec 12— Mr M.L. Sondhi, an expert on international relations, while stressing on the need for close cooperation between India and Pakistan, suggested a regional parliament of South-Asian countries should be set up at Amritsar for promoting cooperation at various levels. He said eminent citizens from these countries could be members of the regional parliament. They could be accorded regional citizen status, he added. He said that India and Pakistan by ensuring security of each other could become an example for the rest of the world and become a force to reckon within a very short time. He said Punjab could play a vital role in normalising relations between India and Pakistan. He said there was a need to create new environment in this region. Mr Sondhi was here to deliver a lecture on the Punjab heritage organised by the International Sikh Centre at Guru Gobind Singh Bhavan. He said the Sikh Gurus had given various concepts which had enriched the heritage of this region. He said by making the worldviews of Sikh gurus part of the modern economics and fiscal systems most of the ills could be removed from society. Mr Sondhi said the misplaced welfarism was sinking the states as well as the country in a financial mess. He said neither Marxian economics nor Kensian economics could solve problems in the world. He said only those economic concepts could be successful which had a human being as their focus. Mr G.S. Grewal, former Advocate General, Punjab, who was the chief guest said those forces which were enhancing enemity between India and Pakistan should be identified and isolated. He said vested interests in business and trade in West Asia were behind creating trouble in India and Pakistan. He said it was a good development that all were feeling about the need of cooperation at various levels between India and Pakistan. But intellectuals should honestly play their role in promoting friendship between the two countries. Earlier, the chief of international Sikh Centre, Mr Jaswant Singh Mann, announced the setting up of the Punjab Heritage Trust for which Dr Mann Singh Nirankari has given Rs 5 lakh and the Indian Overseas foundation for greater dialogue among Punjabis around the globe. Ms Malwinder Kaur
presented a vote of thanks. |
Women in
kitchen prone to asthma CHANDIGARH, Dec 12 — Women working in kitchens not properly ventilated are at a risk of getting asthma and even lung cancer because smoke emitting from cooking stoves is one of the leading causes for the two diseases, says Prof D. Behera of the PGI. The Professor, who has conducted a study in rural and semi-urban areas in and around Chandigarh, said the carbon monoxide (CO) level in such women was the same as in a regular smoker. Smoke emitted during "tarkas" is most dangerous, he opined. Dr S. Lakshmi from the USA added that cold weather in the northern states of India did not allow polluting gases and smoke from kitchens to escape into the atmosphere. He said cold weather at night resulted in cold air in the upper atmosphere. This pushed down warm air carrying pollutants towards the earth. Smoke from the burning of cowdung cakes and rice was most dangerous. The doctors were talking to mediapersons on the second day of Chest India — 98, a conference on chest diseases, at the PGI today. About asthma, Dr Behera said the most dangerous smoke was emitted from the burning of cowdung cakes, followed by kerosene and LPG. In Chandigarh the prevalence of asthma was increasing as nearly 3 to 5 per cent of the people had asthma. About 10 per cent of them were children. Dr Lakshmi was of the opinion that proper ventilation would help and the use of cleaner burning fuels was the need of the hour. He also pointed out that parthenium (congress grass) was one of the major causes of asthma in the country as pollens from that plant were very harmful. His compatriot from the USA, Dr Leonard D. Hudson, had another startling fact to reveal. He said "droppings of cockroaches found commonly in homes is one of the main causes of asthma". Besides this, several allergens that can trigger off an attack of asthma are present in homes. About the cure of asthma, he said there was none so far. Dr Rajiv Dhand, formerly
of the PGI and now working in Chicago, was of the opinion
that inhalers were not being prescribed properly.
Inhalers had effective and immediate relief-giving
capabilities. In the long run, medicines are more
effective. About the famous and reportedly successful
"fish cure" carried out in Andhra Pradesh, Dr
Dhand said a thing like this would not be believed by any
physician. |
Jerath
refuses specimen signature CHANDIGARH, Dec 12 — Mr K.K. Jerath, Chief Engineer, (under suspension) of the Chandigarh Administration, today declined to give his specimen signature and handwriting to the Vigilance Department. The Vigilance Department had moved an application in the court of Additional Sessions Judge S.S. Lamba, praying for directing Jerath to give his signature and handwriting. The Judge made it clear that the court did not have any power to direct any person to give his specimen signature and handwriting. Therefore, it was the free will of a suspect to give or not to give to the prosecution his signature and handwriting. Jerath, who was produced in the court, prayed before the court that if he had the option, he would not give his signature to the Vigilance Department. The Judge ordered that the
application be filed in the record of the case.
|
Gupta case :
UT files reply CHANDIGARH, Dec 12 — The Chandigarh Administration today filed its reply to an application moved by Mr Ajay Jagga, president of the local unit of the Janata Party, in the court of Mr Tejwinder Singh, Sub Judge, praying for impleading the Union of India to the move of the Administration to withdraw case against Mr G.C. Gupta, Mayor of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation. The public prosecutor stated that the withdrawal of the case was the subjective satisfaction of the public prosecutor under Section 321, Cr P.C. He added there was no
element of theft of electricity attributed to Mr Gupta.
The applicant, if he so desired or deemed fit, could file
a petition in the competent court to express his views. |
Dharna by
DD, AIR staff CHANDIGARH, Dec 12 — Members of the Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti of the Association of Radio and Television Engineering Employees and the Akashvani and Doordarshan Technical Employees Association staged a dharna outside the AIR in Sector 34 in support of their demands. Main demands of the
agitators are implementation of pay scales and promotions
from helpers to assistant engineer as per the
recommendations of the Prasar Bharati Board.
|
UT Election
Commissioner coming tomorrow CHANDIGARH, Dec 12 — The UT Election Commissioner, Mr B Prasad, will arrive on December 14 for a three-day visit to the city in connection with the panchayat elections. He had earlier appointed Returning Officers(ROs) and Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) for the election of panches and sarpanches of the gram panchayats of Chandigarh. According to sources, he will meet senior officers of the administration and discuss matters relating to the poll. He is likely to announce a date for the elections. Elections are due to 17
panchayats of 18 villages. Makhan Majra and Raipur Kalan
villages have a common panchayat. |
AWWA starts
vehicle service station CHANDIGARH, Dec 12 — The Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA), Western Command, has added another venture to its area of activity by starting a vehicle service station near the station workshop at Chandimandir. The station was inaugurated by Mrs Kushum Kala, president of the association, today. After the inauguration she, accompanied by officers of the Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (EME), went round the complex. The service station will
provide maintenance, service and repair facilities for
private cars and scooters at reasonable rates. At present
the facility has been extended to serving personnel and
exservicemen only.
|
AIFUCTO
puts off rally CHANDIGARH, Dec 12 — The proposed rally against the Haryana Government on December 15 called by the All-India Federation of University and College Teachers Organisation (AIFUCTO) for teachers working in the universities and colleges of Haryana has been deferred. This was done on account
of the progress in talks on the grievances of the
teachers, Prof N.P. Manocha, Finance Secretary of the
Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union, said in a
press note, here today. He hoped the Haryana Government
would expeditiously resolve the issue. |
PANCHKULA, Dec 12 — A salesman, Sunder Rajan, who was working at a chemist shop in the Sector 7 market here was found dead in a vacant plot in the market last night. He was living in a colony near Nadha village here. The deceased in his early 20s was found dead by a chowkidar, who informed the police. A packet containing some grocery items were found near the body. The viscera of the victim has been sent for examination as the autopsy of the body, which was conducted at General Hospital here, had not revealed the exact cause of death. The police suspects that the deceased had consumed poison as some capsules were found from his possession. The owner of the shop, Mr Sunil Kumar, where the deceased had been working said he looked normal when he left the shop last night. CHANDIGARH Three injured: Three persons were injured in separate road accidents in the city during the past 24 hours. A cyclist was reportedly hit by a Tata Sumo (HR-03-B-8517) near Mani Majra. An unidentified rickshaw puller was hit by a Maruti car in Sector 35. A Sector 40 resident, Tilak Raj, was injured when his scooter skidded on the road separating Sectors 24 and 25. Car stolen: A
Maruti Zen (HR-06-C-6060) owned by Joginder Singh of
Panipat was stolen from Sector 19. |
 |
 |
| Nation
| Punjab | Haryana | Himachal Pradesh | Jammu & Kashmir | | Editorial | | Business | Sport | | Mailbag | Spotlight | World | 50 years of Independence | Weather | | Search | Subscribe | Archive | Suggestion | Home | E-mail | |
