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Tuesday, November 17, 1998
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C H A N D I G A R H & V I C I N I T Y |
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Tuesday, November 17, 1998 |
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 Thorn pricks can be fatal CHANDIGARH, Nov 16 — Serious fungal infections can occur from a particular variety of eucalyptus tree, thorns and other minor pricks,say microbiologists at the PGI. Notice to
UT on unsafe buildings |
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Seminar
highlights role of Press Youth
festival opens on religious note Students
advised to follow Nehru's example Punjab,
UT staff hold rally Airport
authority restrained Apprehension
over village surveys Ramgarhia
Sabha's welfare steps |
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Understanding consciousness CHANDIGARH, Nov 16 — Tremendous progress made in the understanding of biological molecules has made the scientists feel it is just a matter of time to understand the causation of consciousness, which is unique to man and higher animals, says Prof Raja Ramanna, an eminent scientist and former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. Delivering the Nehru memorial lecture at Panjab University here this evening, Professor Ramanna said the phenomenon of consciousness, however, still continued to elude human understanding from the point of view of science. "We are pretty certain that we are not computers. The basis of life seems to be very subjective in nature and implies that all we observe and measure singly or collectively are subjective in appreciation. This makes scientific analysis difficult and this is where the marriage between science and mathematics may begin to fail. "It is, of course, possible that we may get closer to the understanding of consciousness at some future date, but it is also possible that we may come across theorems that may state that, from a subjective study, it is never possible to arrive at objective conclusions. This very fact may increase the need for a greater scientific study of man itself. We will know more about the universe and other presently mysterious happenings in the cosmos but what we are observing and interpreting may be very different from reality as we know it. Reality is something we have defined for and by ourselves, but like the many mathematical theorems, we may have to remain undecided about the ultimate nature or just depend on models suggested by philosophy . If that is so, science will have some kind of its last chapter," Professor Ramanna said. He said the achievement of science could be summarised at its fundamental level by first recognising the Newton formulations of mechanics and his successors' work wherein the requisite mathematical methods for complex calculations was well established. "From the possibility of severe accuracy in classical physics to the restrictions of what is possible in dealing with matter at the atomic level gave rise to quantum mechanics where accuracy of an event can be expressed as a probability. The uncertainty in the measurement of pair physical parameter has become the foundation stone of the physics of the last 70 years, while there has been a great progress in understanding atomic phenomenon. Many assumptions worry the pure mathematicians. It is known that pure mathematical approach to science can be sterile, but approximate connections are justified in science by its agreement with experimental data," he added. Mr B.K. Nehru, President, the Tribune Trust, who presided over the lecture, said the shape of things, as we believed today, were far more nearer the truth than what they were 50 or 20 years ago. The concept of reality 50 years ago was or probably is wrong, he added. Mr Nehru said: "To
get to the truth, the most reliable method has been the
scientific method". |
US embargo
an overreaction, says Ramanna CHANDIGARH, Nov 16 —US embargo against Indian research laboratories has been an overreaction. However, India has nothing to fear for its economy as there are many other avenues of trade still open. Countries like the UK, France and even China have made no categorical remarks in this direction. These were the remarks made by Dr Raja Ramanna, an eminent scientist and a former Chairman of the Indian Atomic Commission, while talking to mediapersons here today. He was at Panjab University in connection with the Nehru Memorial Lecture. The "emotional overreaction" against India is not going to be of much help to the USA. It is not heartening to see that practically all laboratories, including the Defence Food Research, have earned the USA wrath. Atomic energy has been under embargo since 1974, he said. Dr Ramanna was, however, critical about the government's inadequate concern for research. "Research was at its peak during the times of Nehru and the downfall came after Indira Gandhi. I am also afraid of the consequences of commerce dictating research because primarily commerce has no inherent values. The world cannot go on without values", he said. The eminent scientist said, "I do not think Pokhran II was a mistake. In my view it should have been done a long time back. We do not need any more tests. Countries who did scores of blasts used inferior technology while we used the best". Dr Ramanna said atomic energy was the best method to produce power at a mass scale, particularly for the industries. India should look forward in this direction . India did not lag behind
as far as research was concerned when compared to the
leading countries. However, its bane was that much of it
was imitative, he said. He also expressed concern about
the growing disinterest in fundamental science. |
Thorn pricks can be fatal CHANDIGARH, Nov 16 — Serious fungal infections can occur from a particular variety of eucalyptus tree, thorns and other minor pricks. Seems to be a trivial matter, but is serious business, say microbiologists at the PGI. Experts at the PGI have — in path-breaking discoveries — found that serious and even fatal fungal infections have been occurring due to these problems in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. For the first time in these parts of the country, doctors have identified forms of infection which affect farmers in the tea-growing Kangra-Palampur belt of Himachal Pradesh. The infections cause multiple disfiguring ulcers just below the upper layer of the skin. Close to 30 per cent of the farmers in that region are facing a problem of multiple ulcers, informed Dr A. Chakrabarti of the Medical Microbiology Department, PGI. He was talking to The Tribune on the opening day of the six-day "International workshop on medical microbiology" at the institute. The problem of ulcers occurs due to pricks from thorns that implant the ulcer-causing fungi in the body of a person. These types of ulcers were earlier found only in Assam, Dr Chakrabarti explained. The PGI has been training doctors in that area to deal and recognise such problems and treat them. Discussing how a particular variety of eucalyptus tree caused serious fungal infections, Dr Chakrabarti explained that these trees were found in Ferozepore district of Punjab. It has been established for the first time in the country that a serious disease like meningitis could be caused through an infection from the tree. A total of 18 cases have been found so far, he explained. This type of meningitis has the same symptoms of bacterial meningitis. However, the usual drugs prescribed for the cure do not work. The available cure is very expensive. Though it has been found that the infections was from the tree, further studies are still going on. Meanwhile the president of the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology (ISHAM), Prof E.G.V. Evans, said the science of medical mycology was in a progressive stage. "Whatever infections we are seeing or documenting at the moment were just like the proverbial tip of an iceberg," he said. There was a need for more experts. Thus, ISHAM was conducting the workshop to train more people to build a network of mycologists, who could work across the country and identify newer forms of fungal infections. Dr L. Kaufmann from the
USA opined that bone marrow transplant and AIDS patients
ran the greatest risk of fungal infections. So far, there
was no prevention or a system to enhance the persons
immune system, he added.
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KG student star of Rotaract show PANCHKULA, Nov 16 — The three-day Rotaract School Fest '98 organised by the Rotaract Club of Panchkula concluded at Yavanika open air theatre here last evening, with a five-hour long enthralling cultural competition amongst school children. Students of 10 local schools vied with one another to win prizes in a variety of categories. The results: Group song — D.C. Model 1, Hansraj Public School 2; Group dance — Jainendra Public School 1, Blue Bird High School 2; Solo song — Dipti Sharma (Little Flower Convent) 1, Geetanjali (St Soldier) 2, Solo dance — Pranjal (D.C. Model) 1, Deepti Paul (Florence Convent) 2; Group skit — Little Flower Convent School 1 and St Soldier Divine 2. A fancy dress competition for children up to Class four was also held in which around 80 tiny-tots turned up in get-ups such as an onion, a money-plant, Lord Shiva, a penguin etc. According to Mr Pankaj Chandgothia, president of the club, the star of the evening was Pranjal Mohla, a KG student, who performed a solo dance number with the poise and gusto of a professional. The 1,000-strong audience demanded an encore and she had to repeat her number at least three times. Mr Chandgothia said St
Soldier Divine Public School emerged as the best school
in athletics while Satluj Public School was second. D.C.
Model School won the best school prize in the cultural
category. |
Tomato puree sales go up CHANDIGARH, Nov 16 — As the prices of tomatoes have gone through the roof during past one week, the demand for tomato puree packets has risen in city markets. During a survey conducted by the TNS today, it was found that consumers were going for tomato puree in a big way as a substitute for fresh tomatoes, the price of which has witnessed a two-fold hike during the past 15 days. As a result of this "new found love" of city residents for tomato puree, the sale of the commodity has gone up by five to 10 times. According to grocers in different markets, consumers were making a beeline to their shops for tomato puree packets."As the tomato prices have increased people have started going crazy for puree. If I was selling four to five packets a day last week the sale has gone up to 50 now," said Mr Ramesh Kohli, a Sector 18 shopkeeper. Similarly, another shopkeeper in Sector 20 said the sale of the commodity at his outlet was more than double than last week. Citing the low cost of puree as compared to fresh tomatoes as the major reason for a hike in its demand, he said housewives had started preferring it as a 200 gram packet of puree costing Rs 10 was as effective as 1 kg of fresh tomatoes available these days at Rs 40. Another stockist of the commodity said despite an increased demand there was no shortage of puree in the market. However, the onion paste
which had become a craze during height of "onion
crisis" was not available in the market due to a
sudden spurt in its demand. |
Seminar highlights role of Press PANCHKULA, Nov 16 — A seminar on the "Role of Press and administration in the contemporary context" organised by the Zila Patarkar Parishad to celebrate the National Press Day elicited divergent views from bureaucrats, mediapersons and members of the public at Mini-Secretariat here today. Mr Alok Mittal, Superintendent of Police, Panchkula, who was the chief guest, said mediapersons should practise constructive journalism. Investigative of journalism was on the decline on the country, he added. While admitting that certain officials desisted from giving information to the press, he said information was power and it was withheld due to its nuisance value. The role of the Press was to go deeper in to facts to give a true picture of an event. The District Revenue Officer, Mr Parladh Singh, who was representing the district administration at the seminar, opined that the administration and the Press should have a reciprocal approach. At times, wrong facts used to sensationalise a news story put the credibility of the administration at stake, he added. Dr S.S. Chadha, a member of the public, said correspondents should know the pulse of the public. The basic issues troubling the common man should be highlighted by the media. Mr M.L. Sharma of the Senior Citizens Council and Mr M.S. Cheema, said the Press was deviating from the cause of the common man. Others who spoke on the
occasion were Mr Surinder Dhiman, Mr S.D. Sharma, Mr K.P.
Singh, Mr P.P. Verma, Dr S.D. Sharda, Mr Vishnu Saxena,
Mr C.B. Goel, and Mr R.K. Malik. |
Youth festival opens on religious note CHANDIGARH, Nov 16 — The P.U. Zone `B' Youth Festival began on a religious note at the local DAV College with 'shabad' and 'bhajan' forming the first events of the morning session here today. The festival was inaugurated by Justice D.V. Sehgal, a former judge . This was followed by Indian classical vocal and group singing. The time keepers pointed out that two teams over-stepped their time limit. But the judges chose to turn a blind eye to this fact which resulted in one participant even walking away with the second position. Prof Yash Paul from the Department of Music, Panjab University was the guest of honour at the function. The quiz session comprised of seven rounds with four teams and drew a tremendous response from the students. The interest of the audience was kept alive with questions to them from time to time, a correct answer being rewarded with a sweet. The chief guest for this item was Prof S.C. Vaidya from the Panjab University Business School. The afternoon session comprised of competitions in instrumental music, orchestra, 'vaar' singing( songs of heroic deeds of prominent patriotic personages of Indian history), light vocal music and 'ghazal', 'geet' , folk songs. It was presided over by Prof Hari Jigyasu, a well-known music director. The otherwise smooth show ended all with hell breaking loose for ten minutes due to a power failure as otherwise well-behaved students went berserk. The two music rounds were judged by Dr (Ms) Pankaj Mala Sharma, Dr (Ms) Kala Shrikhande of the Department of Music from Panjab University and Kurukshetra University respectively and Mr Balbir Singh Kalsi from AIR Jalandhar. The winning teams will represent their zone in the inter-zonal Youth festival to be held at a later stage. — Geetanjali Gayatri
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Students advised to follow Nehru's
example CHANDIGARH, Nov 16 — A colourful function in connection with the Children's Day celebrations was organised at Sector 40 Government High School here today. On the occasion, the Deputy Director (Colleges), Punjab, Mr S.S. Gulati, who was the chief guest, advised the students to follow in the footsteps of Pt Jawaharlal Nehru, who gave great importance to discipline during his lifetime. The Headmaster, Mr Bahadur Singh, said the function had been specially organised to honour the students who had achieved distinction in different fields. On the occasion, various
competitions and a cultural programme were organised. The
results are as follows. Environment painting competition
— Sunil Kumar (first); Duster making competition
— Parveen (first); Best disciplined student of the
school — Sunil Kumar; Never late student of the
school-Sobat; Poem recitation — Gurinder Singh and
Rinki; and Best congo player — Ravi Kumar. |
Punjab, UT staff hold rally CHANDIGARH, Nov 16 — A demonstration by members of the Joint Action Committee, Punjab and UT Employees, to mobilise employees for the Adampur rally in support of their long-pending demands was held in Sector 17 here today. Before this, the employees gathered near the venue and raised slogans against the state government for backtracking on its promises. The employees were urged to reach Adampur on November 18, despite the orders of the state government to stop the protesters on the way and not to allow them to reach the venue of the rally. An appeal to call the bluff of the government claiming that the demands of the employees had been met with was made by various leaders. The issue of the skyrocketing prices and the inaction of the government to do something in the matter was also highlighted. The main demands of the protesters include implementing the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission, promotions after four, nine and 18 years of service, bonus on Central Government pattern, enhancement of HRA, CCA and medical allowance, besides regularisation of daily wagers. Further course of action,
if the government fails to heed to their demands, would
be announced at the Adampur rally. Leaders stressed the
fact that their agitation was as old as the rule of the
Akali government. |
Notice to UT on unsafe buildings CHANDIGARH, Nov 16 — The Judicial Magistrate, Mr K.C. Garg, today issued notice to the Chandigarh Administration, the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation and the Chief Fire Officer for December 3 on a public interest litigation filed by Mr Ajay Jaggar, President of the local unit of the Janata Party, seeking directions for sealing all fire unsafe buildings in the city. In his plaint, Mr Jagga urged the court that the Administration be directed to provide adequate safety measures in buildings, rehri markets and colonies. He also requested the court that the Administration be directed to remove all encroachments for keeping the passage free. Mr Jagga stated in the
plaint that buildings now coming up in the city should
not be given clearance until they were provided with
fire-fighting equipment. |
Airport authority restrained CHANDIGARH, Nov 16 — The Judicial Magistrate, Ms Paramvir Nizzar, today restrained the Airport Authority of India from terminating the agreements reached between it and Perfect Tour and Travels on September 1, 1997, and October 1, 1997, except as permissible under the law, till January 7, 1999. This order was issued by the Magistrate as the summons sent to the defendants were received back with the report that the addressee refused to accept them. Therefore, the Magistrate decided to proceed against them ex-parte. The plaintiff had moved an
application in the court of the Judicial Magistrate for
directing the respondents to honour their commitment
under the agreement for providing car parking services
and entry ticket at the Chandigarh Civil Airport. |
Apprehension over village surveys CHANDIGARH, Nov 16 — A deputation of the Pind Sudhar Committee today met the Finance Secretary (FS) and appraised him of their apprehension about a fresh survey to be conducted in Kajheri and Palsora villages to ascertain the population of Scheduled Castes. Led by Mr Bhupinder Singh Badheri, president of the committee the members said if a survey was to be conducted it should be carried out in all the villages. They also urged Dr G. Vajralingam that the model adopted during the 1991 for municipal corporation polls should be followed. The FS assured the
delegation that the 1991 model would be the benchmark for
the elections, including that of both villages. |
Ramgarhia Sabha's welfare steps CHANDIGARH, Nov 16 — The Ramgarhia Sabha of the city today promised to take "radical steps" to help the poorer sections of society. According to Mr Sat Pal Singh Matharu, an industrialist and General Secretary of the Sabha, education will be made cheaper through generous donations for all sections of the community. Health care will also have top priority. The President of the Sabha, Mr Ajit Singh Ranauta, endorsed the announcement of Mr Sat Pal Singh. The grassroot organisation
has been reorganised. Mr Tarsem Singh is the new Auditor.
Other office-bearers will be nominated later. The
presidential term of Mr Darshan Singh Kalsi saw many
welfare measures implemented. He has passed on the
blueprint of a community development scheme to his
successor, Mr Ranauta. |
CHANDIGARH, Nov 16 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed that the entire record of the Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board pertaining to the selection of gram sewaks be sealed. This order was handed down by a Division Bench consisting of Mr Justice GS Singhvi and Mr Justice Iqbal Singh on a writ petition filed by Mr Nirmal Singh, a resident of Gazikot village in Gurdaspur district. The board had selected 415 candidates for filling gram sewak posts. The judges also directed that a notice be issued in the Punjabi edition of Punjab Kesri informing the selected candidates that their selection had been challenged. The petitioner alleged that the entire selection stood vitiated since it had been made purely on political considerations. He further told the court that the reservation policy of the government had been ignored. The recruitment for low-level posts had been made only on the basis of interview. CBI directed to reply Mr Justice Swatantar Kumar directed the CBI counsel to reply to the doubts raised by Mrs Kamlesh Sharma, mother of Renuka, the Yamunanagar girl who was gang-raped and strangulated to death on August 26, 1995. It adjourned the case to November 18. Mrs Kamlesh Sharma had expressed dissatisfaction over the investigation conducted by the CBI into the murder of her daughter. Appearing before the judge, she alleged that although the CBI had taken into possession one bottle (obviously liquor) and a few glasses, the prosecution did not show the entry of these items in the investigation report. She also alleged that certain suspects who were involved in perpetrating the crime had not been questioned by the CBI. She suspected the hand of Ravi and Rajinder alias Raju, son and nephew of Mr Sher Singh, a former MLA of Yamunanagar, in the crime. Sunil Kumar Gupta, the prime suspect in this case is still at large. The CBI counsel's stand, on the other hand, was that the prosecution had taken blood samples of all suspects and sent them to Hyderabad for the DNA test. The DNA report received from Hyderabad confirmed that Sunil Kumar Gupta was involved in the crime. However, it did not confirm the involvement of other suspects. PCB engineers told to visit distillery A Division Bench of the High Court, comprising Mr Justice RS Mongia and Mr Justice SS Sudhalkar, today directed the engineers of the Central Pollution Control Board as well as from the Haryana Pollution Control Board to visit the factory site of Associated Distilleries Limited, Hisar, on December 5, where the engineer of the respondent-distillery as well as the Engineer technical consultant of the petitioner may be present to suggest ways and means as to how the discharge of the effluents from the distillery be brought within the parameters of law. The Bench further directed the Central Pollution Control Board to submit a report, in consultation with the Haryana board, suggesting ways and means to cut the discharge. The direction was given in the writ petition filed by Central Command Army Wives Welfare Association, Lucknow, seeking a direction to the Haryana Government and the Central Pollution Control Board to check effluents being discharged by the distillery, which is owned by the family of Mr Bhajan Lal, former Chief Minister of Haryana. The petitioner had alleged that the distillery discharging untreated effluent thereby polluting the environment and causing harm to the health of inhabitants. On directions of the Bench, the Central Pollution Control Board had taken samples of the effluents being discharged by the said distillery and submitted a report stating that the ‘samples taken on all the three days revealed that the quality of the treated effluent was unbelievably lower than the prescribed limit. The case has been
adjourned to December 21. |
CHANDIGARH, Nov 16 — In the unending series of burglaries in the rural areas of the Union Territory four shops in Dadumajra village were burgled last night. The method of opening and entering the shops was the same as in the earlier incidents — the shutter had been lifted from the middle and thieves entered through the opening. This morning shopkeepers in the village were aghast when they found the shutters of four shops open from the middle. All the shops were owned by Pawan Kumar. The loss was estimated at around Rs 50,000 . From one shop a sum of Rs 5000 and 400 packets of cigarettes were stolen. The police has registered a case under sections 457 and 480 of the IPC. The incident has sent shock waves among the rural shopkeepers. This was the fourth major burglary in the city within the past 20 days and the third incident in the past week. First some electronic shops in sector 47 were broken into. In the past one week burglars have broken into shops in Dhanas village, Raipur Khurd village and now in Dadumajra. In Raipur Khurd the burglars had broken into shops, but did not take away much. The SP city, Mr Baldev Singh said that 96 additional policemen have been posted on patrol duty in the villages. Besides this 32 points have been identified for additional police parties. Another six nakas have been set up by the Crime Branch Operations (CBO) wing of the police. Suicide bid: A newly married woman, Pinky, allegedly tried to commit suicide at her Colony Number 4 home last night. Her husband, Sehzad, who tried to save her, also received burn injuries. Both have been admitted to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) Sector 32. In another incident a rickshaw puller was allegedly burnt to death by his father- in-law and mother-in-law following an argument in Ram Darbar. The deceased, Sambhu Yadav succumbed to his injuries at the PGI this afternoon. While the police arrested Raja Ram and Shanti under sections 302 of the IPC. The incident occurred when the rickshaw puller went to Ram Darbar to fetch his wife Usha , who had been living with her parents. The couple’s only child was with Usha. Sambhu Yadav, after receiving 95 per cent burns was admitted to the PGI on Sunday evening, according to police sources. Car
thefts: An unidentified man was found in an
unconscious state near Dhillon Cinema. He was admitted to
the PGI. Meanwhile, in a separate incident a resident of
Palsora village, Razak, was nabbed while stealing the car
of Bhagat Ram. The police has also arrested another
car-thief Devinder Singh of Panchkula and recovered a car
from him. Another thief, Varinder Singh, was caught
stealing a car in Burail village. |
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