& V I C I N I T Y
Thursday, November 19, 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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Thursday, November 19, 1998 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Garbage heaps belie MC's claim Dhabas
serve meat near Jain temple Quota
for women on cards |
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 Providing engineering
support to the Army NOS
regional centre opens |
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Villages may get basic
amenities
Workshop
on receipts audit
In-laws
held for ‘burning’ woman Contractor's
bail plea rejected Medical
education talks on November 22 |
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Garbage heaps belie MC's claim Place: The open space facing the Attawa village market. Problem: Unhygienic conditions created by the accumulation of trash and cowdung along the road opposite the market. History: The problem has been continuing for the past several years. The issue has been raised a number of times in different newspapers, but the area has remained unclean, thus posing a serious health hazard to the residents of Sector 36, the shopkeepers and the passersby. Residents of the Sector 42 are also victims as the garbage and cowdung remains dumped along the stretch of road from Attawa to Dakshin Marg. Basically, the problem is an outcome of the presence of a large number of animals belonging to residents of the village. In the absence of a proper place for the disposal of garbage and cowdung, villagers dump it along the road. In addition to the insanitary conditions, what create problems for the passersby are heaps of sand and crushed stone and parking of a number of slow moving vehicles belonging to some shopkeepers. Besides leaving little space for pedestrians, the sand heaps and parked vehicles obstruct the movement of traffic on the main road. The situation becomes worse when tractor-trailers are parked by people for lifting sand or crushed stone. Official version: The Municipal Corporation authorities, however, deny that there is any garbage in the area, especially after the cleaning job has been assigned to a contractor. "There are no dumps of cowdung and garbage in the area now," said a senior MC official Response from public: Shopkeepers allege that in spite of a number of complaints to the authorities nothing has been done either to remove the garbage or provide a proper place to the village residents for dumping garbage or cowdung. They allege that safai karamcharis visit the area for a couple of days only and that too after a complaint is lodged with the corporation authorities by them. Residents of Sector 36
maintain that garbage has been dumped at the back of
their houses. They said in the absence of any check by
the authorities, heaps of garbage have also started
appearing on the road leading to the Defence Service
Officers Institute. They demand that bins should be
placed along the road to enable the villagers to dump
garbage. |
Dhabas serve meat near Jain
temple CHANDIGARH, Nov 18 — During the course of a "Parikarma" at the Sector 28 Bhagwan Mahavir Jain Swetamber temple, a Jain muni from South India suddenly was filled with repulsion as he discovers a small bone under his foot. Utterly disgusted, he terminates the ritual and leaves the temple in a huff. Similarly, a group of Jain sadhus from a western state, who as a part of their sojourn to the North had paid a visit to the beautiful temple but refused to stay there after complaining that they could not stay at a place where nauseating smell of meat emanate. Such incidents continue to happen every other day due to the location of some non-vegetarian dhabas in the rehri market situated along the boundary wall of the temple. In spite of a number of pleas by the management of the temple, dhabas have not been shifted from the place by the authorities. The Secretary of Shri Atma Nand Jain Sabha, Mr Sushil Jain said they had been taken up the matter with the Deputy Commissioner and other officers but nothing had been done to shift the dhabas from the vicinity of the temple. He said the location of dhabas were against the Jain religion norms specifying that there should not any impurities like non-vegetarian preparations within a distance of 150 feet from the temple. "Owing to the location of dhabas along the temple, it is not possible for us to perform religious ceremonies or to arrange the stay for Jain sadhus in the temple premises, he said. Expressing anguish over the presence of dhabas, temple priest Vishnu Pant said he could not offer prayers without closing the doors of the temple as strong stench of meat filled the "puja room" in the morning and evening. He abhorred bones thrown by birds who keep hovering around in search of food. He said in 1987 the dhabawallahs were allotted booths in Sector 27, but they refused to leave the place as it was a prime location. When contacted, the dhabawallahs said they were being "tormented" by the temple office-bearers who lodged "false" complaints against them even as they had licences issued by the Administration. Mr Babu Ram, a dhaba owner, denied that they had been allotted any booths by the Administration. "Had it been so we would have gladly shifted to the place," he said adding that they were ready to go to an alternative site if provided by the administration. The Deputy Commissioner Mr
R.K. Rao, gave an assurance that these dhabas would be
shifted within 15 days. |
Providing engineering support to the
Army CHANDIGARH, Nov 18 — The Corps of Engineers celebrated its 218 anniversary at the Defence Services Officers Institute, Chandimandir, today. A party was hosted on the occasion which was attended by a large number of senior serving and retired officers. The Corps has three major branches — Combat Engineers, Military Engineers Service and Border Roads Organisations — besides two other organisations, the Survey of India and the Research and Development Establishment(Engineers). The Corps also prides itself in being the parent arm for the Regiment of Artillery, the Corps of Signals and the Air Force. The Corps has carved a niche for itself in the Army by its well balanced activities, be it the battlefield, in counter insurgency operations or in peace time areas. On this occasion, a message from Lt-Gen A.N. Sinha, Engineer in Chief and senior Colonel of the Corps, was read out wishing all ranks and their families all the best. The most versatile Corps in the Army, the combat engineers have proved themselves in all field engineering tasks in war and peace. Last year, the engineers constructed the longest bailey suspension bridge at Wangtu in Himachal Pradesh restoring traffic on the Hindustan- Tibet road easing the difficulty of the people of Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti districts. The MES is the largest construction agency in the country and was founded in 1851 to provide rear line engineering support to the Army. The annual turnover of MES is Rs 2000 crore and the sphere of activity includes constructing hospitals, airfields, factories, workshops and other marine works. The BRO ensures that the lines of surface transport are kept open to remote locations in all border states of the country and also rendering help during operations. At present the BRO is undertaking the construction of 162 km of roads in Myanmar. The Research and Development Establishment continues to be one of the active partners of the Corps of Engineers for designing futuristic combat engineering equipment. The survey arm ensures the supply of geospatial information vital parameters for the armed forces and of late have introduced the concept of 3 D maps which permit terrain analysis in its correct perspective. The achievement of the
sappers in sports have been extraordinary. Sub Paramjit
Sharma of the Corps has been felicitated with the Arjuna
Award this year. |
Quota for women on cards CHANDIGARH, Nov 18 — A move to make mandatory a minimum requirement of having one third women members on the governing body of women's colleges is on the anvil in colleges affiliated to Panjab University. This follows recommendations of a committee which was constituted on a resolution passed by Principal Joginder Singh in this regard. The present rule says that "as far as possible" a women's college shall have women members on its management to the extent of one-third of its total strength. Initiating the discussion in the committee, Mr Joginder Singh said despite the existing provision, certain women’s colleges did not have even a single woman on its management committee. It was felt that these colleges were taking shelter under the words "as far as possible". No qualifications had been prescribed under the existing rules for becoming members of the management committees. Citing reservation for women members even in the Municipal Corporations, Mr Joginder Singh sought deletion of the words "as far as possible". One of the members said there was no dearth of qualified women teachers who could be given representation. However, Mr Gurdev Singh Brar was against making reservations for any particular category, including women. It was pointed out that if there was any problem in meeting the reservation quota in the management committee, the college could request the Vice-Chancellor to send women as their nominees. Following deliberations, the committee decided to amend the rules saying that the words "as far as possible" be deleted and each women’s college have one-third women members on its management committee. The members of the committee included Dr Deepak Manmohan Singh, Dean, College Development Council, Dr Harmit Kaur Gill, Dr Gurdev Singh Brar and Mr S.K. Sharma, among others. The matter will come up
for detailed discussion in the forthcoming meeting of the
syndicate. |
NOS regional centre opens CHANDIGARH, Nov 18 — The regional centre of the National Open School was inaugurated here today. Inaugurating the centre Lt-Gen B.K.N.Chhibber, Governor of Punjab, emphasised the need for re-orienting the focus on the non-formal education system, especially at the school level, to meet the target of education for all. General Chhibber regretted that even after 50 years of independence, the goal of universalisation of education could not be realised. He emphasised the need for evolving flexible and practical life related programmes aimed to deliver education at the door steps of people who could not enter the fold of formal education. Prof M.B.Menon, Chairman of the National Open School, highlighted the benefits of the distance learning programme, including vocational courses. The centre will be of help in monitoring and managing enormous number of study centres scattered all over Punjab , Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh. Earlier, students had to go all the way to Delhi to get even their problems addressed. Mr V.K. Gaur, Regional Director, underlined the various provisions of pre-college education available under the system.There was no age bar to join the open school, he added. Mrs Anuradha Gupta,
Education Secretary, UT, also addressed the gathering. |
Now it's capsicum, cucumber CHANDIGARH, Nov 18 — Capsicum and cucumber continue to drill holes in the pockets of consumers due to their high prices. If capsicum is available between Rs 30 to Rs 50 a kg in different sector markets depending upon their quality, cucumber is priced at Rs 25 a kg. Both these commodities were priced around Rs 20 and Rs 10 during the past month. Inquiries with vegetable vendors revealed that the major factor behind the hike in the prices is that there is not enough supply of these vegetables from Himachal Pradesh. Moreover, farmers and traders of the hill state have started sending these to Delhi where both vegetables fetch more price than in Punjab and Chandigarh. Similarly, beans are also
out of the reach of housewives as these are priced
between Rs 25 and Rs 28 a kg, which is double their price
three weeks ago. However, there is no noticeable change
in the prices of other vegetables and food items. |
PU Zone B fest over CHANDIGARH, Nov 18 — The P.U. Zone 'B' Youth Festival competitions which started on a quite note concluded with a bang of the dhol. Competitions in clay modelling, poster and collage making were held on the lawns of DAV college. The conference hall was the venue for creative writing which included poetry, short story and essay writing. The topics for poets were nature and childhood, while short story writers had to weave their creation around the family of a drug addict or a journey. The topics for the essay competition were: "I wish I were---'' or "Waiting and Waiting''. A large number of students thronged the main hall of the college for the dance competition. The hall filled with students in no time. The enthusiasm was at its peak during giddha. The students turned boisterous on a couple of occasions while cheering their respective teams. However DAV boys were able to restore order. The audience danced along with the teams. The college principal, Mr R.C. Jeevan, disturbed by screams of boys, stressed the need for holding girls' events in girls colleges. Most of the prizes in the three-day events went to Government College, Sector 46, which had the distinction of participating in all the events. The results for today's
events are as follows: Clay modelling: Aman
Bhardwaj-Government College-46 (1), Amit Batra-DAV
College-10 (2); Collage making: Brij Bala (1) and Gurmeet
Singh (2)-Government College-46; Poster making:Pankaj-DAV
College-10 (1), Sandeep-Government College-46 (2); Poetry
writing: Vikram-SGGS-26 (1), Gurtej Singh-DAV-10 (2);
Short Story: Manu Devgan (1) and Amandeep Shukla
(2)-DAV-10; Essay writing: Abhilash Gaur-Government
College-11 (1); Sandeep Kumar-DAV-10 (2); Group dance: SD
College-32 (1), Government College, Sector-11 (2);
giddha: Government College-46 (1), SGGS College-26 (2);
bhangra: SGGS College-26 (1), SD College-32 (2).
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Villages may get basic amenities CHANDIGARH, Nov 18 — The Chandigarh Administration has decided in principle to provide basic amenities in all 18 villages of the city, to those houses outside the "lal dora" but adjacent to the main village "abadies". The administration would, however, continue to demolish the unauthorised structures, the ones like in Raipur Kalan recently. A statement to this effect was issued by the Chandigarh Administration today. This decision was taken on the basis of the recommendations of the three committees constituted by the administration in May. As per the recommendations, development plans for these areas should be in accordance with the provisions of the New Capital (Periphery) Control Act. It was considered necessary to do so to maintain the principle of planned development, while also deferring to the reality that the villages have been expanding, to meet the requirements of housing in the city. The basic civic amenities would be provided on payment of development charges. These charges include the cost of providing power and water supply, sewerage, roads and drainage. In the first instance, those houses covered in the reports of the committees would be taken up. Details of the plan of action are being worked out on priority basis. As such plans require budgetary resources, the provision of power connections would be taken up in the first instance. To discourage illegal
construction outside "lal dora", provisions for
constructing low income and EWS housing would be made. |
Workshop on receipts audit CHANDIGARH, Nov 18 — A three-day All-India Workshop on State Receipts Audit began at the office of the Accountant General(Audit), Punjab, here today. The workshop was inaugurated by Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Punjab Finance Minister. Mr K.N. Khandelwal, Additional Deputy Comptroller and Accountant General, said there has been a substantial impact of audit reports in increasing the revenues of the states. Recovery at the instance of audit during 1996-97 was Rs 146 crore and the total revenue arrears of various states were Rs 17, 500 crore. In the case of Punjab there was a recovery of Rs 102 crore whereas revenue areas were to the tune of Rs 2000 crore which is almost 40 per cent of the revenue. Mr Balvinder Singh, AG,
Punjab, welcomed the chief guest and the AGs from various
states. |
In-laws held for ‘burning’
woman CHANDIGARH, Nov 18 — A woman, who was married off to a car mechanic, during one of the mass marriage programmes organised by the Administration to curb the menace of dowry, has alleged that she was burnt by her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, who harassed for dowry. Shabnam alias Pinky who received burn injuries two days ago and was admitted to the GMCH. She gave a statement to
the police today alleging that her mother-in-law, Sawana
Begum and sister-in-law Sangeeta Begum had poured
kerosene oil over her clothes and burnt her. The two
women were arrested and a case under Sections 307 and
498-A of the IPC was registered. She has not complained
against her husband, Sehzad, who was injured while trying
to save her. |
Contractor's bail plea rejected CHANDIGARH, Nov 18 — The Sessions Judge, Mr B.S. Bedi, today turned down the plea of Yash Pal Saggi, a building contractor, for bail. He had sought bail on medical grounds. In his application, Saggi had stated that he had already undergone two bypass surgeries. He had further claimed that he had been advised hospitalisation by his physician. Saggi was booked by the Vigilance Department under Sections 420 and 120-B, IPC, on the ground that he had defrauded the Administration in the matter of allotment of work for the Sector 32 Government Medical College and Hospital. After his sustained
interrogation for a couple of days, he was remanded in
judicial lock-up. He is lodged at Burail Jail. |
Healthy Baby Show held CHANDIGARH, Nov 18 — "Healthy Baby Show" was organised by the Air Force Wives Welfare Association (AFWWA) at 12 Wing, Air Force Station, here today. The show was inaugurated by Mrs Geeta Kumar, wife of Air Cmde RV Kumar, the Air-Officer-Commanding of the station. As many as 80 under five children of 12 Wing and 3 BRD personnel took part. Tonmoy Ghosh was adjudged the best in the up to one year category, while Threetha Bheemaiah and J Rama Suryam were declared second and third respectively. In the one to three years category, Ridhi Iyer was declared the winner, while Lipi Borthakur and Payal were placed second and third, respectively. In the three to five years category, Kritika was declared the winner, while Harpreet Singh and Pooja were placed second and third, respectively. The show was organised by
Gp Capt (Dr) SV Rao, Senior Medical Officer, and the
medical staff of the 12 Wing. |
Medical education talks on
November 22 CHANDIGARH, Nov 18 — A Continuing Medical Education (CME) talks on common problems encountered in tropical areas of the country will be organised by the Department of Medicine, Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, on November 22. According to the Head of the Department of Medicine, GMCH, Prof H.S. Malhotra, discussions will be held on a wide-ranging subjects like malaria, tuberculosis, snake bite, worm infestation, dengue fever, epidemic dropsy, amoebic liver abscess and Hepatitis B and E infections, among other problems. A session will be dedicated to AIDS with special reference to India. Lectures will be on resistance in malaria and TB along with the recent advances in diagnostic techniques. A special talk on the
rationale use of antibiotic in common clinical situations
is also scheduled. About 250 delegates from the entire
northern region are expected to attend the CME that is
being organised at the Central Scientific Instruments
Organisation (CSIO) auditorium, Sector 30. |
CHANDIGARH, Nov 18 — Students of Panjab University blocked traffic for over four hours here today protesting against the "inefficient services of the university Health Centre". The immediate provocation, students said, was the treatment meted out to a girl student by a doctor on emergency duty on the night intervening Monday and Tuesday. A resident of Sarojini Hall complained of severe migraine trouble at around 11.30 p.m. Residents allegedly called the doctor concerned who was on duty. The doctor asked the students to first seek the permission from the hostel warden .The residents tried till 1.30 a.m. but in vain. Finally, the girls themselves had to carry the sick girl to the PGI. The doctor, when contacted, said under the rules no male doctor could enter the girls hostel without the prior permission of the warden. He maintained that he had sent an ambulance to the hostel immediately, but it came back with a reply that girls had already left for the PGI. The doctor said they had written as early as July this year highlighting problems of emergency to hostel residents. They had suggested mandatory keeping of first-aid boxes in hostels, immediate availability of ambulance to the doctor on night duty and provisions of sick rooms in hostels. Dr D Dhawan, the doctor in question, alleged misbehaviour on part of students today who "tried to hamper his work". The agitation was led by DPS Randhawa, the president of the Panjab University Campus Students Council. Around 11.30 a.m. the doors of the health centre were closed .The students then intercepted the traffic opposite the correspondence studies block. The president of the council said that the doctor expressed his regret. It had been decided that on receiving a call from the hostels, the doctor on night duty would rush to the venue with an ambulance. In case the ambulance was not available he could arrange for private taxi. Steps would be initiated to appoint additional nurses for the girls' hostels, Randhawa added. Workshop: A three-day workshop on "Developments in cell biology" organised by the Department of Zoology concluded in Panjab University here on Wednesday.The workshop was attended by teachers from Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. Speakers included Prof JS
Yadav from Kurukshetra University, Prof Ajit Sodhi from
Benares University and Prof RK Malhotra from HP
University. |
CHANDIGARH, Nov 18 — It was a day of high drama in Sector 46 today as shopkeepers blocked traffic to protest against the alleged high-handedness of the police. One of the shopkeepers, Rajesh Kumar, was injured in the ensuing scuffle and admitted to the General Hospital, Sector 16. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr R.K. Rao, has asked, Mr Bhagwan Dass Bector, DSP, South Division, to conduct an inquiry and report tonight. The police, who were reportedly under pressure from "higher ups" , had locked up a shopkeeper, Mr Mahesh Kumar, who had asked his employee to leave as he was closing down his beauty parlour business following losses, sources said. The "well-connected employee", Ms Simmi, claimed that she was a tenant in the premises and not an employee as claimed by Mr Mahesh. Senior police officials, however, could not offer a concrete reply whether the woman had provided any proof of tenancy. On the other hand, Mr Mahesh produced documents showing that Ms Simmi was his employee and he was the tenant and not Ms Simmi. He even lodged a complaint through the public window of the police at its headquarters in Sector 9. Interestingly, the police chose to arrest the complainant and allegedly supported the woman in her attempts to gain control of the premises. Attempts have been reportedly made by the police to enable Ms Simmi to get possession of the premises in the past two days. The police even went to the extent of helping the woman in breaking open the locks of the premises without any formal and written orders. However, shopkeepers of the area foiled the bids. This morning the girl accompanied by the police once again tried to take possession. Shopkeepers led by the president of the local unit of the Samajwadi Janta Party , Mr Devinder Singh Babla, met the DC and blocked traffic to resent the activities of the police. Cop held: A Head Constable of the Chandigarh Police, accompanied by his nephew allegedly hit a city resident, Mr Puneet Mittal, with an iron rod and fractured his arm. The cop, Ramesh Kumar, posted in the lines was on duty at the Sector 45 and 46 road check post when he got involved in an argument with Mr M.R. Mittal and his son Puneet. A complaint was lodged and the cop and his nephew were arrested. A case under Sections 325, 341, 506 and 34 of the IPC was registered. Stolen: A resident of Sector 23 has decamped with jewellery worth almost Rs 1 lakh and two bank pass books from the house of his neighbour. Mr Gurdial Singh of Sector 23 has alleged that Jagga, his neighbour, stole the jewellery and other items. A case under Section 380 of the IPC has been registered. Theft: Some cash
and documents were stolen from the car of Ms Belu
Maheswari as the vehicle (HR-01-0008) was parked outside
a house in Sector 11 last evening, according to police
sources. |
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