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| Wednesday,
August 22, 2001, Chandigarh, India
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Extend deadline: bus operators Chandigarh, August 21 In a jointly signed request to the Chandigarh Administration, the association has said that the order of the Secretary, State Transport Authority, to phase out all buses which are more than 15 years old was not possible to implement from August 31. Citing reasons the association said the purchase of a new bus takes two months from the date of placing the order as a waiting period exists in the market. There is no on-the-spot availability of bus chassis. Even after getting the chassis of the new bus, getting a new body build requires atleast 3 months. Besides all this, each bus costs about Rs 11 lakh and it will require a great deal of effort on part of the operators to arrange this huge sum at a short notice. In a request letter to the Home Secretary-cum-Secretary Transport, Mr Raminder Singh Gujral, the association has said the deadline should be extended till the next new academic session begins in April. If buses which are more than 15 year old are stopped immediately, it will lead to chaos . The association claimed that their buses were in prefect order, totally road worthy, safe
mechanically and were in line with pollution norms. The association has also demanded that in case of school buses the criteria for road worthiness should be number of kilometers and road fitness and not age. School buses do not run for very long durations as other long-route private or roadways buses run. This is the argument forwarded by the association. Further, the association has said that the deadline should be extended. |
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Problem of plenty at Chhat Bir Chhat Bir, August 21 There are 84 lions in the zoo but only 24 enclosures for them, forcing the zoo authorities to keep them in the open. “We are now trying to curb their population,” says Mr R.N. Luna, Director, Zoological Parks. “We have written to Punjab Agricultural University in Ludhiana to sterilise the male lions so as to put a check on the growing population of lions. So far, only seven lions have been sterilised.” The zoo authorities have also written to zoological parks in other parts of the country offering them lions under an animal exchange programme. But so far the response has been rather lukewarm. One main problem with the lions in the zoo here is that they are of mixed breed for which there are not many takers in other zoos. Mr Luna says that once the population of the lions in the zoo is brought down, the zoo plans to start a programme to stock pure breed Asiatic lions. The huge lion population in the zoo has also led to a heavy food bill for them. As much as Rs 65 lakh annually is spent on supplying meat to the animals in the
zoo. There are allegations in certain quarters that the lion population has been deliberately allowed to grow so that funds meant for supplying meat to the animals could be siphoned off. A case in this regard is already under investigation by the Vigilance Department. Spread over 200 hectares, the Chhat Bir zoo has 861 animals, including 428 birds, 147 mammals and 16 reptiles. The zoo is run by a staff of 150. Mr Luna denies that there have been any unusual number of deaths in the zoo in recent days. “The animal mortality rate in the zoo is the lowest in the country,” he says adding that 25 animals have died during the period from April 1, 2001 till date. But during the same period, 29 births have taken place. Thus, the total population at the zoo has increased. He also denies that any animal has died due to poisoning in recent days. Mr Luna says that security at the zoo has been tightened. Sixteen persons have been deployed at night as against only six earlier. |
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Beware! owners of pet dogs SAS Nagar, August 21 Officials of the council feign ignorance about the strength of the pets in the town. Inquiries reveal that ever since the inception of the council over six years ago, not a single dog has been registered by it. Representatives of the People for Animal (PFA) group say the council had been told a year ago to register the pet dogs but nothing had been done. Apart from earning revenue in the form of registration fee, charged annually, the exercise would enable the council to keep a record of the pets in the town. As per the Punjab Municipal Act, 1911, a dog found wandering on streets or public place without a collar or other marks distinguishing it as a pet would be detained and eliminated. However, due to strong protest by the animal rights activists and guidelines by the Union Ministry for Social Justice and Empowerment, the killing of dogs had been banned. Inquiries reveal that in Chandigarh, pet dogs were registered and a token number was issued to the dog owners. The registration was renewed annually. The pet owners had to get their animals vaccinated against rabies. For stray dogs, regular sterilisation camps were held. An operation costed around Rs 500, but the Chandigarh civic body was paying around Rs 300 to the animal welfare organisations like SPCA and PFA. Funds were also released by the Animal Welfare Board of India for the sterilisation of stray dogs. The local civic body is yet to start any drive to sterilise stray dogs despite a decision in this regard at its general House meeting over a month ago. Admitting the menace of stray dogs, the civic body officials had sought the help of PFA and the Society for Prevention of Cruelty Against Animals (SPCA) to sterilise the stray dogs. A target of sterilising at least five stray dogs every week had been planned. |
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Puranjit Singh appointed Chief
Engineer Chandigarh, August 21 Since April 1 this year, Mr Puranjit Singh had been working as Chief Engineer on current duty charge, which means his was not a full-fledged appointment or selection. The three-member DPC, comprising the Home Secretary, Mr Raminder Singh Gujral, the Finance Secretary, Mr Karan A. Singh, and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) nominee, Mr K.K. Madan, gave a nod to Mr Puranjit Singh’s appointment. A spokesperson of the Chandigarh Administration said a letter would be issued after the UT Administrator, Mr J.F.R. Jacob (retd), accords his approval. Mr Puranjit Singh had joined the Chandigarh Administration as Subdivisional Officer in 1972 from the Punjab PWD, where he had joined in 1967. In the Administration he was promoted as Superintending Engineer in December 1988. From October 1990 to January 1997, he served as Chief Engineer, Chandigarh Housing Board, following which he served as Chief Engineer, Municipal Corporation, till March 31, 2001. |
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Efforts fail to retrieve truck from Ghaggar Zirakpur, August 21 Driven to the bed of the Ghaggar for sand loading, the truck driver and other workers fled the spot leaving behind the vehicle (PB-11H-5945), when were surrounded by flood waters on August 13, about 1km on the left side of the Ghaggar bridge. The Patiala-based owner of the vehicle, Mr Jagjit Singh, found the truck missing from the site on the second day, following which a search operation was carried out along the river bed. A portion of the truck was noticed on last Thursday evening only after the flood waters receded. Continuous rainfall in the catchment areas of the lower Shivaliks did not provide any relief to the rescuers and they had to seek the help of their friends and relatives. Over 50 persons and three cranes were pressed into service. A visit to the site revealed that about 40 persons who came from Patiala and surrounding areas to retrieve the vehicle were camping. To lift the truck, the river course is being changed by using sand-filled bags, said Mr Jagjit Singh. He said that over 3,000 sand bags had been used and the same number was likely to be used for diverting the flow of the flood. Meanwhile, a number of trucks were seen lifting sand from the riverbed even though they were aware of the tragedy. It may be recalled that seven persons had
remained stranded sitting atop a fully submerged truck in the swirling waters of the Ghaggar near Mubarikpur, about 2 km from here, on June 26. A crane, the guardian angel for the lucky survivors, had taken over two hours to tow the hapless people to safety with the help of the local administration. The trucks had got stuck in the middle of the river when the flood waters started rising rapidly and went up to 5 feet. The truckers had driven their vehicles to the riverbed for loading sand and were caught unawares. The police had also saved the life of a person who was washed away by the swirling waters of the Ghaggar near the Chhat Bir zoo bundh August 31 last year. |
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New
Mayor felicitated Chandigarh, August 21 She was felicitated at a special congregation held at Gurdwara Sahib, Sector 46 for becoming the first Mayor of the city from the Sikh community. The president of the gurudwara, Mr Kesar Singh, presented her a siropa on behalf of the sangat. Siropas were also presented to her by Mr Paramjit Singh of Sikh Missionary College, Mr Prithi Singh of Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle and Mr Gurcharan Singh of Dashmesh Sewak Jatha. A release issued today, mentioned that the members appealed to the President of the Shiromani Akali Dal to consider her
success as that of the SAD Akali Dal and to restrain Mr Gurpratap Singh Riar from issuing wrong statements. She assured the sangat that she would work for the development of the city and strive for proper status for Punjabi and Hindi languages. Earlier in the day, the Principal of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 35, accompanied by some members of the staff and the school prefect, visited her at her residence. She was presented bouquets and hand-made cards. Ms Harjinder Kaur, who was elected the sixth Mayor of the city on August 18, spent her first day yesterday in meeting corporation officials and employees. She walked into their offices to meet them personally. She also met the UT Administrator, Lieut-Gen JFR Jacob (retd), the Adviser to the Administrator, Ms Neeru Nanda, the Home Secretary, Mr R.S. Gujral and the Finance Secretary, Mr Karan A. Singh. In a note sent to the Administrator yesterday, she urged him not to consider the resolution for dissolving the MC as it was neither in favour of the corporation nor the public. She further said that it was not even in legal order because out of the 30 members only 14 members supported the dissolution. She has also pointed out that the House could not dissolve the MC because it was beyond their jurisdiction. |
Musician’s body cremated in USA Chandigarh, August 21 Mr Lachchi Ram Mangoli, the father of deceased , came back after cremating Suresh Mangoli in the county of San Joaquin , California. “At least, now I have the mental satisfaction of knowing that my son is dead. The entire family is now out of the uncertainty and have gracefully accepted his death as the will of God,” he says. Mr Mangoli had gone to the USA in the second week of July and came back on August 1 with the mortal remains of his son. He then went to Hardwar to perform the last rites according to the tenets of Hindu religion. “Life is back to normal. There is a strange hollowness and a feeling of utter helplessness at not knowing the reason why our son was so brutally killed there. Each time, I see his young widow, the grief increases manifold,” he says. It is learnt that Suresh Mangoli had migrated to the USA a few years ago. He made his living by giving tabla recitals at gatherings in Central Valley and Bay Area in California. He was earlier residing in Stockton and had shifted to Fremomt two months before he was killed. Suresh Mangoli’s body was found in an irrigation canal near Tracy on June 25. He had been shot once in the head , wrapped in a sleeping bag and then set on fire. It was through his fingerprints that the body was identified as that of Mangoli and subsequently his father was informed here by the office of the Sheriff-Coroner on July 3. The letter received by the family asked his wife, Banita, and his parents said that since the deceased had no relatives in the USA, they would wait for the family to come to the USA for the funeral. Subsequently, Mr Lachchi Ram Mangoli and the widow of Suresh, Banita , applied for a visa from the US Embassy here, but were denied the same. It was after repeated persuasion and finally because of the intervention of noted popstar, Daler Mehndi’s younger brother, Harjit, that only Lachchi Ram Mangoli was given a visa. “Upon reaching the USA, the police there showed me a badly charred body, which they said was my son. It was the most difficult time of my life having to think that the charred body was that of my son, who I remember as a happy-go-lucky person, full of life and enthusiasm.” He says he stayed on for the prescribed 13 days of mourning and performed all rites there, before he returned back to India. |
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FAUJI BEAT Chandigarh Lack of the requisite support from the government as well as other agencies, indifferent attitude of the officers and lack of motivation among the cadets are some of the ills that affect the country’s premier youth organisation. Shortage of funds is a major problem as most state governments in this region have failed to pay their dues, thereby affecting training activities as well as stagnating routine office work. There are times when even fuel is not available for NCC unit vehicles for want of funds. The NCC today does not comprise even five per cent of the total eligible population in the age group of 12 - 17 years. With the present state of funding, physical resources and manpower constraints, it will not be possible to achieve even 30 per cent of the enrolment target. Both NCC officers and cadets pointed out that the facilities and incentives extended to them by the state governments in the region are much below those extended by states like Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Unlike Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, seats in professional colleges in some states are reserved for outstanding cadets. Lack of reasonable incentives is a major cause of disillusionment among the cadets. They feel that they do not get adequately rewarded for the time and effort devoted to NCC activities. A revision of training programmes is long overdue — both for cadets as well as Associate NCC Officers (ANOs), who are college lecturers given the task of handling NCC activities in their institutions. While most of the ANOs appear to be poorly motivated, the routine training of cadets needs to be more broad-based and invigorating than just drill and weapon training. Though there is much scope for improvement and several new ideas and proposals are doing the rounds, the bottom line is availability of funds. While expenses under certain heads are borne by the Central Government, the State Governments are responsible for funding the activities and training programmes. More often than not, the funds are either not made available or are diverted elsewhere. This leads to cutting down on the strength of cadets on training programmes or at times cancelling several programmes or expeditions. It has often been suggested that the Centre and State Governments should mutually work out a pattern of funding which would provide the necessary financial impetus for the organisation, logistics for outdoor activities, travel expenses and infrastructure required for specific projects. The honorium and rank pay of ANOs was recently enhanced up to Rs 11,300 per month as also their retirement age raised from 45 years to 55 years to offset the manpower shortage. Despite this, lecturers are by and large reluctant to serve with the NCC. Nor does there appear to be any worthwhile interaction between the state departments, the NCC authorities and the functionaries of the institutions concerned. The Central Government recently made several concessions for “C” Certificate holders, but if the organisation has to be brought back on the rails and its original charter has to be adhered to, a serious view will have to be taken by the authorities at all levels and much needs to be done. |
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From average to international arena Chandigarh, August 21 In town to meet up her family, Veena talked about how her “adventures” in the kitchen helped her win a title which even the best of chefs long to possess. Currently a lecturer in the Hospitality and Catering Department at South Birmingham College in the UK, Veena is better known back home as the “Queen of curry.” Ask her how it feels to be labelled as one, and she sends back a warm smile, “It’s this very label I have wished to bag all my life. My students are very fond of my recipes. I have been doing my bit in spreading vegetarianism abroad.” Interestingly, despite being the best-rated Indian cook in the world, Veena is herself a vegetarian. At work, the classes in Asian foods which she takes every Saturday, draw large number of learners. Veena also specialises in cake decorations and catering, the two fields mainly dominated by males. Things in the UK were not very difficult for Veena, who was already armed with a bachelor’s degree in nutrition when she landed in England after her marriage. Today she is respected in the food and nutrition circuit for the healthy recipes she creates and refines. Says Veena, “This is the result of long years of experimentation in the kitchen. I always loved creating something fresh which my family would like.” Veena is a strong believer in the fact that food serves to bind the family. “If your man is eating out everyday, you have no worth at all. I have seen families fall apart simply because the woman cannot cook. There has to be something which the entire family looks forward to sharing. Food is such a beautiful thing to share.” As for this passion for food, it travels back to her childhood days, when she used to watch her mother cook new dishes everyday. She spent most of her childhood in Shimla, where figs and dates were her favourites. But more than everything else, Veena loves cheese. Even today, she is famous for large variety of improvisations in cheese recipes. Her personal favourites are : shahi paneer, paneer with nuts and milk. Laughs the lady: “Well, that’s because cheese is very healthy. At the college also, I encourage my students to use more and more of natural spices in place of packed ones. Also the use of microwaves has to be minimised to retain the quality of food product. Colours should be used but only when they are absolutely natural.” Veena is also a strong advocate of minimum usage of artificial elements in food, like saccharin. She also immensely values the presentation of food. “You first eat with your eyes. The look of food should be so irresistible that you are forced to taste the recipe.” Recalling the contest, Veena talked about what made her stand out from the rest. “It was my originality, my blend of spices and my presentation.” In three hours, Veena prepared five dishes which turned out to be the hot favourites with the judges at the contest. Her award-winning recipes were: Basant bahaar lamb (shanks of lamb in gravy), tawa chicken (tender chicken with mushroom, onions and pepper), Shagunvihaar Dal (black dal with kidney beans) and Mughlai stuffed tomatoes. Veena was today honoured for her achievement by the NIFD faculty. |
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CVM launches ‘green’ drive Chandigarh, August 21 Dr O.P. Verma, general secretary CVM, Mr N.S. Mitha, president of the Residents Welfare Association, Sector 20A, and other prominent residents of Sector 20A also planted saplings on the occasion. Later, while addressing the residents of Sector 20 Mr Dhawan condemned the BJP and the Congress for the neglect of their constitutional duties towards the people of the city. He said in spite of having two third majority in the corporation, the BJP had shied away from its duties. Mr Dhawan said the way the Congress had played games in planting Ms Harjinder Kaur as the Mayor of Chandigarh had totally exposed the Congress as an opportunist party with no morals. Mr Dhawan appealed to the people not to support the BJP as well the Congress in the ensuing municipal elections and support a candidate who does not have to run to Delhi before taking every small decision. The CVM would ensure justice and a non-corrupt administration if voted to power in the coming MC elections, he promised. The Mahila Wing of the CVM headed by Ms Satinder Dhawan, Municipal Councillor of Ward No 1, today planted trees in Sector 8C park near DAV Public School to observe “sapling plantation day”. The day was observed jointly by the Mahila wing, the Residents Welfare Association, Sector 8 and the Horticulture Department of the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh. |
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Hussain honoured Chandigarh, August 21 And he had all the reasons to. Today he was honoured with a shawl and Rs 21,000 by the Punjab Sangeet Natak Akademi in association with the Punjab Kala Bhavan. Speaking on the occasion, the city Mayor and president of the Akademi, Ms Harjinder Kaur, further proposed a resolution that the Punjab Government should give a monthly pension of Rs 10,000 to Bakar Hussain. Supporting the resolution, Mr H.S. Bhatti, secretary general of the council, added that in case the government did not concede to the demand, the council would itself make arrangement of a monthly pension. Both Ms Harjinder Kaur and Mr Bhatti further called upon the four universities of Punjab to confer life fellowship on Bakar Hussain, who is a living legend in his own right. On this occasion, Mr M.L. Koser, secretary of the Pracheen Kala Kendra, announced that the kendra would give Rs 1,000 as monthly pension to Bakar Hussain. This will be applicable all his life. Speaking on the occasion, Bakar Hussain sounded demoralised over the fact that his nomination for life fellowship of music in Punjabi University has been declined twice. Later, during the function Bakar Hussain joined his disciples Nanak Shah, Manik Ali and Tejinder
Kaur. |
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Frequent power cuts irk residents Naya Gaon (Kharar), August 21 According to the villagers, the power supply which was snapped this morning was restored at around 8 p.m. Similar was the power supply scene yesterday. The power cuts have also resulted in the shortage of water supply in the area. Mr Manjeet Singh Kamboj, president of the Joint Action Committee, Naya Gaon, said, “The power supply in the area was always erratic but for the past two days the situation has become worse”. An official of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) maintained that the yesterday’s cut in the area was because of regular maintenance work. However, he claimed, “Today there was some problem in the afternoon but it was rectified”. |
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MPs’ panel to visit NIPER SAS Nagar, August 21 The committee members will also visit the NFL plant at Nangal . Meanwhile, the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, along with the Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers, will be at the institute on August 29 to inaugurate a convention centre. On September 12, the institute is holding its first convocation. Dr R.A. Mashelkar, Chairman of the Board of Governors of NIPER, will preside over the function. |
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‘Riar
is chief of city unit of SAD’ Chandigarh, August 21 He said Mr Riar enjoyed the full confidence of the party leadership as far as deciding matters pertaining to the party in Chandigarh was concerned. Any decision taken by him in consultation with the party high command, that decision would be given due importance by all concerned. |
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405 days of fast Chandigarh, August 21 Sixtyseven-year-old Jain, who was inspired into this feat by his guru Acharya Shiv Muniji, will break his fast on Thursday. Mr Jain is honorary manager of Jainendra Gurukal, Panchkula, and a member of the working committee of the All-India Jain Conference. |
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Train mowes
down 2 women Lalru, August 21 According to sources, the incident took place at around 12.15 p.m. when they were crossing the track. A case has been registered. |
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Body identified Chandigarh, August 21 The deceased has been identified as Maninder Singh, a resident of Sector 45. It is learnt that he was an alcoholic and had left his home a few months ago. He had earlier been admitted to Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, but had run away from there.
Ravel Singh cremated Chandigarh, August 21 Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar, Secretary, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), laid a wreath on behalf of the party. Earlier, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Punjab Chief Minister and other senior SAD leaders visited the family of the deceased to convey their sympathies. Several journalists and writers, and politicians , also attended the funeral. |
Body of 12-yr-old boy found SAS Nagar, August 21 The police suspects that the victim had drowned in the pond but the exact cause of death would be revealed only after an autopsy report. According to a police official, the body was found floating on the water surface by some women of the village who had gone to the pond. Public announcement was made through public address system of the village mandir and gurdwara but without any success. Booked: CHANDIGARH Cars stolen: A car ( CH-01R-6332) was stolen yesterday from the GPO parking in Sector 17. In another incident, a car ( CH-02-2833 (T) was stolen from Manimajra during the intervening night of July 19 and 20. In both the cases, the police has registered FIR’s under Section 379 of the IPC. An air conditioner and a telephone instrument was stolen from the residence of Ms A.K. Mann, Principal of GGS College, Sector 26, at about 1 pm yesterday. A case Under Section 380 of the IPC has been registered. One arrested: Four held: |
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This year she did the region of Punjab proud after bypassing 5,000 other participants in the International India Chef of the Year contest held at Edinburgh. After being shortlisted among the eight finalists, the unassuming Veena went on to put professional chefs to shame when she bagged the prestigious award for the originality of her preparations. The judges had commented: “This woman has cooked from the heart.” Also, she was the only woman among the eight finalists.