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| Sunday, February 24, 2002,
Chandigarh, India
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A plague case story Chandigarh, February 23 Krishan Singh lived with his wife and children in H No.194 at Kansal village and worked for an iron-welding unit in Sector 29. He belonged to a village in Mansa district and had come to the city four years back for work. Krishan fell ill on February 16 at his workplace till 7 pm. According to his brother Balbir, who also lives at Kansal, he took him to the Sector 16 Hospital the next day where an X-ray was carried out. Since Balbir knew a doctor at the Silver Oaks Hospital in Mohali, he took Krishan there. On February 18 Krishan was admitted to the Silver Oaks and kept in the isolation ward for a day. When his condition worsened the next day, he was referred to the PGI where he died within a few hours. The PGI issued a death certificate to his relatives which stated that he died of pneumonic sepsis. According to PGI doctors, the relatives were asked to get an autopsy done which Krishan’s brother denies. The seriousness of the matter came to light only when Krishan’s wife Karamjit, started showing similar symptoms of which he had died. Baldev, another brother of Krishan Singh, is undergoing treatment for TB at the PGI. Krishan had taken care of Baldev at the PGI emergency when Himachal family suspected of plague was undergoing treatment there. |
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Prince and princess in Rose Garden Chandigarh, February 23 Little wonder, the young fairies, instead of wearing "the usual stuff", were all dressed up for the occasion. Like contestants for Miss India, nay Miss World, pageant. For being adjudged the best of the best. In the junior category, that is. As the sun tried to peep through the slits in the tent, they waited for the turn outside the make-shift chambers of the judges, in strapless gowns with long slits on either sides. Tired of standing long hours in high heel slip-ons, they shifted weight from one leg to another. Some adjusted star-studded hair bands or smothered their silky tresses with automatic hands. Their mothers, deeply conscious of their daughters' beauty, took great pains to ensure that "everything was just fine" by wiping clean their supple faces before reapplying a thin layer of blush-on or lipstick. So many of them had already taken their daughters to the beauty parlours for getting the split ends trimmed. Others had ordered a Kareena Kapoor cut for their little ones. Some others, not so extravagant, had themselves applied hair gel on the fluffy tresses. Now, they gently, yet vigorously, combed their hair before adjusting the "cute" clips. The guys too were there. All ready to ride on the hearts of the audience. In black sherwanis with rich embroidery. Or else, in florescent T-shirts over regular denims with a tote bag dangling from across the shoulders. As they results were announced over high-wattage speakers in the evening, some of the lucky winners covered their wide-open mouths with surprised hands . |
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Controversial Prince A not so-rosy controversy over the result of the Rose Prince in the one-year to two-year category spoiled the mood of many a parents in the afternoon today. It all started when an organiser, "by mistake", announced the names of the "winners" only to withdraw them later, leaving the parents fretting and fuming. "It was all a mistake," said the organisers even as the parents levelled serious allegations. According to Panchkula resident Ms Santosh Khanna, the name of her child was repeatedly announced, but when she and others finally reached the stage, the organisers apologised for reading out "wrong names". Denying the allegations about the change in the names of the winners under "pressure", an organiser asserted that names from a wrong list had been
accidentally announced. |
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Rose festival
results Chandigarh, February 23 For the Rose Prince contest, in the 6-months to 1-year category, Hardic
Gogna, Sehaj Roop Singh and Abhay Sharma bagged the titles. In 1-year to 2-year category, Akshat
Dange, Rishu Singh and Arsh Passey were given the prizes. In the 2-year to 3-year category, Yuvraj Sidhu, Jashanpreet Singh and Nadar Preet Singh Gulati were handed over the prizes. Results of rose quiz are as follows: College category — Ravneet and Anjali from Dev Samaj College, Sector 45 (1); Pooja Bharti and Shipra Jindal from MCM DAV, Sector 36, (2); and Nishtha and Yogja from
GCG, Sector 11, (3). School category: Priyanka and Neha from Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 40, (1); Vikal and Kanika from Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 35, (2); and Tanvi and Anjali from Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 16, (3). |
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Peppy Masti sways audience Chandigarh, February 23 “People may have reservation about my songs, but when it comes to performing on stage, they have accepted me whole heartedly”, said
Masti, while having a tete-a-tete with this correspondent just before tonight’s performance. And if you ask what makes his performance tick with the audience, he is more then willing to fill you in with his little secret. “I was a theatre artiste and had acted in more than 20 plays with Kamal Vidrohi under the banner of “Lok
Rangmanch” that operated in Chandigarh,” says Masti. So it is his ability interact with a live audience on an eye-to-eye level and his passion for doing something different that make his concerts different. “Had I not become a singer, I would have become an actor,” says Masti with a grin. His journey to the pop world was purely accidental. “It was during a play staged in New Delhi, I had to fill in the gap between two scenes by singing a few numbers because the characters who were suppose to take up the stage had lost their beards and could not come up immediately,” says Masti recalling the harrowing experience. It was one of the members of Punjabi Academy there who thought that Masti’s singing talent was better then his acting, and later got him some contracts for stage shows. Masti’s first album “Munda Bikao
Ne” came out in 1993. The singer, however, plans to go back to acting and for this he is shifting is base from Delhi to Mumbai shortly. “Besides keeping me in touch with the film people being in Mumbai will help me honing my skills about the technical aspects of the singing as well,” says
Masti. He is currently taking training in handling the microphone for the best possible
effect. Masti’s next album is about to hit the market soon. “The songs are going to be more melodious in comparison to my previous albums”, says
Masti. The music has been given by Lalit Sen and videos for the songs have already been shot. “I am also planning to come out with a Hindi album recently,” he adds. In tonight’s performance Masti sang hit numbers like “Punjabian Di Ho gayi wah Bhai
Wah”, “Masti Hi Masti” “Diwani Mein Diwani”, a Bulle Shah kafi from the Haryanvi film “Lado” and also popular numbers of other singers including Gurdas Mann’s hit song “Apna Punjab Howe.” |
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2750 acres to be acquired for 10 new sectors of Mohali
SAS Nagar, February 23 Officials of the Punjab Housing and Urban Development cite overwhelming response to the last two housing schemes as the reason for the authority to go in for yet another housing project. For the housing scheme which ended today, as many as 13,500 applications have been received against 318 plots of varying sizes. For the housing scheme of sectors (76 to 80 ) floated in the year 2001, as many as 13,412 applications were received against 3,750 plots. The housing scheme would be the biggest project undertaken by the authority in the past few years. For the five sectors (76 to 80), the PUDA had acquired around 1,270 acres in Sohana, Mauli Baidwan, and Lakhnour villages. Sources in the Housing and Urban Development Department said the No-Objection Certificate (NOC) was being sought from the State Land Acquisition Board (SLAB). The process of land acquisition, before the announcing the land compensation rates, was expected to be completed within a year. According to sources the Town and Country Planning Department has been asked to prepare Khasra plans of the proposed sectors, falling in Mauli, Raipur, Chila and Lakhnour villages. The basic sector grid plan and the draft master plan of the area would not change, said an official. A provision for the new sectors already existed in the master plan for SAS Nagar. A private agency would be engaged to carry out the physical survey of the area before the planning was done by the town planning wing. According to sources about 50 acres ( falling in the proposed sectors 90 and 91) which had been acquired by the Central Government for a BSF complex would be left out. The alignment of the SAS Nagar-Landhran road would also change once the development of the sectors is undertaken. The existing Sohana-Lakhnour road would eventually be closed. The Chief Administrator of PUDA, Mr K.B.S Sidhu, did not deny that a new housing project was on the cards. He said it would be premature to comment before a notification under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act was issued. However, the sources said the project was being kept a closely guarded secret as it was feared that any announcement in this regard could encourage the land holders to register their land deals at higher rates so that the land compensation rates to be recommended by the district price fixation committee could go up. Once the Section 4 was issued, the rates of land deals were not considered by the government.  |
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3-day remand for
Customs Inspector Chandigarh, February 23 Singal was produced before UT Chief Judicial Magistrate C.L. Mohal at about 2 p.m. and was remanded in police custody till February 26. Sources said the CBI also moved an application for remanding the accused in police custody for six days in order to obtain original powers of attorney regarding acquisition of industrial shed and documents of amassing wealth by the accused and to find out how original documents belonging to the Land Acquisition Office, Chandigarh, had been found at the house of the accused. It was submitted that custodial interrogation of the accused was necessary. The accused was arrested by the CBI at about 9 p.m. yesterday. After registering the case on February 21, the CBI team reached his house — 3141, Sector 27-D — and conducted a raid. Sources revealed that the CBI had recovered some important documents. Sources added that the CBI had alleged in the FIR that the accused had been indulging in corrupt practices during his postings in Chandigarh, Amritsar and Ferozepore. The CBI alleged that the accused had concealed documents pertaining to assets acquired by him as original powers of attorney for the acquisition of property, which had not been recovered. The CBI further said bank passbooks, FDRs and NSCs had also not been found during the search. |
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Risk of waterlogging Chandigarh, February 23 The office of the North-Western Region, Central Ground Water Board, located in the city, has already informed the administration about the changes in the underground water-table, which at places is at a depth less than six feet. The only way out in such cases is by pumping water through tubewells, said officials of the Central
Ground Water Board. At the moment only around 25 per cent of the city water is supplied through tubewells, while the rest is supplied from the Bhakra Main Line Canal. A similar suggestion has been given to Punjab where waterlogging in fields along the canal has left the lands useless. On the other hand, the Chairman of the board, Dr D.K. Chadha, who was in the city today said there was need to reduce the per capita consumption of water supplied to residents. With water getting scarce there was need to modify set patterns of consumption and requirement. Dr Chadha, who inaugurated a rainwater harvesting station for ground water recharge at DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, said the water-table in certain areas of Chandigarh needed to be recharged. The board was running a scheme for harvesting rainwater in Panjab University and the Central Scientific Instruments Organisation. Next in line are the artificial re-charge scheme at the Chandigarh Housing Board Complex, Bhu-jal Building, Sector 27 A, TTTI, Sector 26, dividing roads between Sectors 19 and 27 and Sectors 27 and 30. A mass awareness programme is also being organised to propagate the rooftop rainwater harvesting and utilising the surface water during the rainy season to augment the ground water. Recharging underground water is like having an underground
reservoir. The choe running through the Leisure Valley towards the southern sectors will be used by making dams to arrest the flow of rainwater. |
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RUN-UP TO BUDGET Chandigarh, February 23 “A cut in the small savings rates and bank rate will help to kick start the sagging economy”, said Ms Neena Singh, vice-president HDFC Bank. When lending rates go down, it would automatically provide stimulus to industrial activity in the country, thereby favouring the banks , she said. The banking industry today is not lacking funds, but it is only that demand from the industry has to come, said Mr U.S. Bhargav, Punjab National Bank. “The government should encourage industrial segment in terms of more concessions and benefits for them in the forthcoming budget”, he added. Less of subsidies to the industry and lowering of the interest rates would encourage borrowings and help the economy improve, said Mr Varinder Gulati, Branch Head, The Federal Bank. The issue of Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) needs to be more seriously dealt with, feel those in the industry. According to the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the Union Budget 2002-2003 should focus not merely on announcement of reform measures but also on the implementation aspect. Focusing primarily on the large burden of NPAs, the CII emphasised on the need of their proper provisioning. On the operational front, the Confederation emphasised the need of setting up a pilot Asset Reconstruction Company (ARC) in line with the recommendations of the Verma Committee. “While this would help in taking some of the NPA burden off the banking system, it has to be coupled with setting a time table for the merger or privatisation both of weak public sector banks”, stated CII. Mr Bhargav of PNB said changes in a few laws and regulations would help in recovery of NPAs. Sharing his views, Mr Gulati said, “The banks should be given the power to tackle their NPA problems because NPAs are a major hindrance to the growth. More than 90 per cent of the NPA problems can be dealt with if we decide to deal rationally and strictly with them”. Talking about other factors which can boost banking, Ms Neena Singh said further enhancement and clarification on the issue of foreign ownership in banks is required as this would not only be financially helpful, but would also help the banks in technological upgradation. She said steps like enhancement in tax incentives on mortgages and tax break for export lending would also prove to be positive measures in providing impetus to the economy. |
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FILM REVIEW ‘Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge’ (Piccadily and Suraj, Panchkula) is an old preparation in a new package. It has all ingredients of a typical Bollywood production — mainly love, violence, family drama, lost and found and separated and re-united episodes. The presentation does evoke an emotional response but the overall storyline is hard to
digest. Sharat Saxena is bringing up Salman Khan lovingly. Salman, however, is shown trying to figure out some contact with recurring images in the subconscious where he sees himself in a different form. His marriage is fixed with Diya Mirza till he knows the reality of his life. Salman found his way to Saxena’s house after he was found fatally wounded. He was a sharp-shooter who worked to kill underworld folk in connivance with the police. He is double crossed in one of the missions where he is assigned to shoot the Chief Minister who would have a bullet proof jacket to save himself. The CM is however shot on his head by someone else. The chase
following the incident is on the expected lines. The cameraman, Thomas A.
Zavier, has done a commendable job. The cast includes Sushmita Sen, Mukesh
Rishi, Alok Nath, Sadashiv Amrapurkar, Pankaj Dheer and Johny Lever. Farah Khan has done the choreography and Sajid-Wajid and Daboo Malik have lent music. Pankaj Prashar is in the director’s chair. ‘Bollywood Calling’ (Jagat) is a brave attempt at portrayal of actual happenings in the making of a typical Bollywood production. The script is truly funny with commendable performances by the cast. However, the presentation lacks in universalisation of the script to attract or sustain larger screen appeal or create a lasting impression. One important tool for laughter is the language of the script. Dialogues in English (rather ‘Hinglish’) with stress on regional Indian accents, particularly South Indian, are nicely crafted, particularly where the typical Indian expressions are merely translated into English without bothering about the sense. The filmmaker Nagesh Kukunoor is known for off-beat productions, including the ‘Hyderabad Blues’ and ‘Rockford’. There is a dig at the largely unprofessional exercise of film production which produces the ultimate result and which is often a runaway hit with the masses. An English actor is planned to be cast in a Bollywood production by the producer (Om
Puri). He lands on the sets to find that there is no ready script. It is created with each scene being filmed. Navin Nischol is a mega Indian star who rules over the crew and controls the progress of a production according to his whims and
fancies. Surely not a treat for the masses. |
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Child dies in fire Chandigarh, February 23 The police said it was an accidental fire which occurred when a crude homemade kerosene lamp upturned. The lamp had been fixed in a glass bottle full of kerosene oil. The child kept on sleeping, unmindful of the fire inside the hut. Seeing the smoke, neighbours rushed in, but could not save the child. According to sources, Bhagwan Das (11), the eldest son of Ms Kaushalya, the mother of the deceased, lit a kerosene lamp and placed it on a table. He went out to a nearby hut to watch television after bolting the hut, from outside. The police suspected that a rat, which was found dead in the hut, fell on the lamp, making it fall on a dry patch, leading to the fire. At about 6.30 pm, local residents saw smoke coming out of Ms Kaushalya’s hut. The body is lying at General Hospital, Sector 16. The husband of Ms Kaushalya, Mr Ratan Lal, is said to be suffering from some mental problem and for the past few months he has been out of town. Om Prakash and Suraj, her other two sons, were playing nearby. |
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Seminar on model
Budget Chandigarh, February 23 He said every business should maintain records showing cost of its products or services on the pattern of record maintained by manufacturing and mining companies under the provisions of Section 209 (1) (d) of the Companies Act. Deployment of a cost accountant should be compulsory for the maintenance of cost records, he said. Emphasising on the audit of cost records, he said these should be made mandatory and annual cost data of every business should be published. The seminar was also addressed by Mr G.S. Narang, Commissioner Appeals, Central Excise and Customs, Chandigarh, Mr P.S. Puniha, Additional Commissioner, Income Tax, Mr I.S. Paul, MD, Drish Shoes, Mr V.V. Deodhar, President ICWAI, Dr M.R. Aggarwal from Department of Economics, Panjab University, Mr S.K. Chadha, UBS, PU, Mr D.C. Arya and Mr K.L. Jai Singh, Central Council Member,
ICWAI. |
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READERS WRITE The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered closure of schools running in private buildings in Chandigarh from the coming academic session. This decision has put over 40,000 students in a quandary as the existing Government Secondary Schools/ Government Senior Model Schools and those run by private managements would not be able to accommodate them. Parents were forced to admit their wards in private schools run in residential premises for two reasons: falling standards in Government Senior Secondary Schools; and limited capacity in the Government Senior Model Schools. If closure of schools in residential premises is necessary, the managements should be given at least 2/3 years’ time along with alternative sites so that during this period, the interested schools could make buildings ready and the students’ studies too do not suffer. UT Education Secretary R.S.Gujral’s instructions to adjust the students in Government schools do not hold good. He has also promised to construct more buildings. It is well known that posts of UT school teachers were sanctioned only after the Administrator took up the matter with the Centre, followed by a tireless follow-up with the Ministry. Construction of new school buildings is no easy job. Fund allocation, tender finalisation and actual completion of work may take 3-4 years. Moreover, many Government schools in Chandigarh are not fully equipped with trained manpower for existing students. If private school students are shifted to Government schools, there will be total chaos. At the same time, it will be gross injustice to put, in some cases, English-medium students into Hindi-medium secondary schools. Despite several appeals from the parents’ associations, the UT Education Department has not taken action against the money-making private schools. In the present circumstances, private schools not affected by the decision will get a chance to take advantage of the situation and exploit the hapless parents further. A review of the decision and giving sufficient time to the private managements to construct school buildings has become imperative. A.
P. BHARDWAJ,
Chandigarh Why land for them? On the face of it, the Chandigarh Administration’s offer of land on concessional rates to private school managements to build schools does not seem to be fair and proper. The offer would be justified only if the UT Administrator and top officials are in a position to stop the malpractices adopted by private school managements. Education has been commercialised. It has become big business today and these schools are making huge profits without any checks. If the authorities do not have any say in the questionable functioning of these schools, there is no logic for the Chandigarh Administration to offer land to those who, in the name of some educational society or trust, will exploit parents and mint money. In Chandigarh, private schools are charging exorbitant fees from the students, collecting hefty amounts as donation towards building fund and what not. The salary being paid to the teachers and other staff by private school managements is the main motive behind these institutions. Many letters have appeared in The Tribune in protest against the commercialisation of education by private school managements but the UT authorities have not done anything to stem the rot in these
schools. What is more, the Chandigarh Administration is yet to rationalise the fee structure and salaries for the staff. By not taking action against these schools, the authorities are supporting the business-minded attitude of the school managements. Infrastructural development in education alone will not contribute to the healthy growth of the country. Other basic needs too need to be looked into. A main area, which has a vital role in development, is the traditional art forms and cultural activities. The Chandigarh Administration is giving little importance to this aspect. This is evident from the steep increase in the cost of land meant for voluntary organisations, incorporated by the administration in the past. A decade ago, the cost of land for voluntary organisations was less than Rs 1,000 which at present stands at Rs 5,600 per sq. yard. Social organisations in Chandigarh are doing yeoman’s service without any profit motive. Yet, the Chandigarh Administration is giving a step-motherly treatment to them by increasing the cost of the land required by NGOs frequently and exorbitantly. The Chandigarh Administration should encourage voluntary organisations by giving them land at concessional rates so that they would be able to enhance their activities for the development of the country. D.
REGHU, Manimajra Review decision This has reference to the report ‘Close schools run from houses, orders High Court’. Over 50,000 students are on the rolls of 400 residential schools in Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali. Government schools do not have adequate infrastructure to accommodate such a large number of students. And admission/tuition fees of affluent public schools in and around Chandigarh is beyond the reach of the parents of these children. Nearly 10,000 teachers employed in the residential schools will be rendered jobless in the event of the closure of these schools. The unemployment scenario is so grim that even qualified doctors and engineers have been forced to take up private tuition work in order to survive. Judiciary may win laurels by taking resort to judicial activism but it needs to be tempered with prudence. ANUP KUMAR,
Mohali |
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Marriages solemnised Panchkula, February 23 A number of people had gathered here to attend the mass marriages. Families of the seven couples were overjoyed and visibly moved by this kind gesture. An emotional Mr Dev Raj from Pinjore, whose nephew was one of the bridegrooms said , “We could have never done so much for our child.” Since all couples belonged to Hindu religion, they were married according to the Vedic rites. The couples were also given items of daily use to begin their new life. Mr Radhe Shyam Bansal, president of the club said that the club members had collected donation of over Rs 2 lakh to arrange for these marriages. The Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.K. Goyal, was the chief guest. He blessed the couples and lauded the efforts of the club. |
Case registered Chandigarh, February 23 Liquor seized The police has arrested two persons and seized 864 pouches of liquor from their possession. The accused have been identified as Avtar Singh and Bant Singh, both residents of villages near Ropar. They were intercepted at a ‘naka’ while they were travelling on a tractor without any registration number. A case under the Excise Act has been registered against them. Motorcyclist injured A motorcyclist Alisher was injured after he was knocked down by a scooter at Dhanas. He was admitted to the Sector 16 General Hospital, while the scooterist sped away from the spot. The police has registered a case. Man assaulted Sector 40 resident Sunil Kumar was admitted to the Sector 16 General Hospital after he was assaulted by several persons near Government Model School in the same sector. The police has registered a case. Theft cases Ashok Kumar has reported theft of computer parts worth Rs 25,000 from his plot in Industrial Area. Mani Majra resident Rajiv Bhargo has reported that iron strips have been stolen from his residence. Sector 40 resident Gian Singh has reported that Rs 50,000 was stolen from the dicky of his scooter, which was parked in Sector 35. The police has registered cases. |
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