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| Sunday,
October 27, 2002, Chandigarh, India |
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Saturday fever dampens poll heat in PU Chandigarh, October 26 The rivalry between the Students Organisation of Panjab University and the Panjab University Students Union reflected in election speeches. PUSU says that
SOPU, that was in power last year, seems interested only in getting the candidature of PUSU’s presidential candidate, Malwinder Singh Kang, cancelled, in its bid to hide its non-performance. During a students’ agitation recently, SOPU had demanded that Kang’s admission be cancelled because he had not attended the required number of lectures. However, a special Syndicate had, later, found him innocent. SOPU says that outsiders are interfering in the campaign and their illegal stay in hostels is a matter of concern. All student organisations on the campus said the manifestoes would be released on Monday. Suggestions of students of various departments are being taken before the final drafts are prepared. Harveer Singh, presidential candidate of SOPU, said his party was for revoking the 75 per cent attendance rule. Each student has to attend at least 75 per cent of lectures to be eligible for sitting in final examinations. Malwinder Kang, his rival candidate, said the university needed to improve its examination system for improved results. Deepak Balyan, presidential candidate of the ABVP, said students should rise above party politics and talk about improving higher education. The campaigners visited students of the Departments of Laws and Chemical Engineering and also addressed students of the University Institute of Engineering and Technology, interrupting classes. Meanwhile, talks are on between SOPU and the breakaway group of the Association of Panjab University Students, but no alliance has been formalised. However, colleges are yet to wake up to the announcement of elections. It is expected that election activity will begin there on Monday, when colleges will announce the respective panels. In the Sector 26 Sri Guru Gobind Singh College, Ranbir Singh Grewal of the Chandigarh Students Union visited various classrooms, but the other colleges saw no campaigning. |
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No demolitions outside
‘lal dora’: minister Chandigarh, October 26 The minister was addressing a gathering of rural workers as part of the local BJP unit’s completion of “gaon chalo abhiyan”. The Atal Behari government aims at providing housing to all those who do not have a house and not to pull down constructions by poor people who have built houses outside the ‘lal dora’ of various villages, said Mr Shanta Kumar. The government was committed to provide road links and drinking water to all villages in the country by the end of 2004. This would cost around Rs 60,000 crores, he said. Earlier, while referring to the demand of the local unit of the BJP about regularising such houses, providing electricity and water connections besides framing a comprehensive policy in that regard, he said, the Rural Development Ministry would take up the matter with the MHA. Mr Satya Pal Jain, former local MP, listed achievements of the Vajpayee government , including the construction of the Chandigarh -Ludhiana rail link, expansion of the railway station, introduction of more trains and flights from Chandigarh. The All-India secretary of the BJP, Mr Om Prakash Dhankad said the BJP was determined to develop all villages in the country as model villages. He said the “gaon chalo abhiyan” was a big hit in villages as it provided an opportunity to party workers to revive their links in villages and to understand villagers’ problems. |
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PUDA offers site for rail-reservation counter SAS Nagar, October 26 PUDA has already written to a local residents welfare association in this regard and it is waiting for the Railways to demand a site before further action. “However, no decision can be taken on the basis of any correspondence with a residents welfare association. It is between the PUDA headquarters and the Railways,” said Mr Yashvir Mahajan, Additional Chief Administrator of PUDA, when contacted. The problem, now, seems to be the absence of a link between these two authorities, both of which are ready to act on the issue. The Railways had, earlier, written to the RWA concerned that it was ready to open a counter at SAS Nagar with adequate staff and equipment, but, since PUDA was not ready to allot a site for the purpose, the move was likely to be delayed. The Residents Welfare Association of Phase 3B1, which is pursuing the case for the past two years, says that the District Commissioner, on recommendation of the Subdivisional Magistrate, should take up the issue with PUDA and the Railways. “These officials will have to be the vital link,” said Mr H.S. Sangha, president of the association. Sources, however, say that the issue has been discussed several times with the DC and the ADC of Ropar, but it seems that they have taken no action at their level. |
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SI, another cop suspended Chandigarh, October 26 Inspector Tirath Singh, SHO of Sector 26, was issued the censure notice and ASI Chiranji Lal posted with the police station was suspended today, as an FIR was not registered in a chain snatching incident, which had taken place near the Chandigarh Golf Course on October 20. On July 20, the complainant, Mr Suresh Sawhney was successful in catching one of the snatchers. The snatcher was later handed over to the police. Sources added that the snatcher managed to escape the police net. However, the SSP was later informed by the police that the person caught was not culprit and hence he was later let off. Meanwhile, ASI Chirani Lal reportedly went to the complainant’s Pachkula residence and tried to persuade him to accept some money in lieu of the loss (gold chain) instead of filing a complaint. The SSP had later marked an inquiry to the DSP (east), Mr Surjit Singh, who today submitted his report. The notice and suspension order were passed by the SSP on basis of the report. When contacted, Mr Parag Jain said that the culprit escaped was a separate issue but the truth should have been told. Censure notice was also issued to the SHO of Sector 39 Police Station, Mr KIP Singh, as the police had failed to file chalan in a suicide case. In this connection, SI Ram Singh posted with the police station was also suspended. It must be mentioned here that Mr Kultar Singh, who was earlier SHO of Sector 39 Police Station was also issued the censure notice here. As per sources, during his tenure as SHO, a rape victim was paid cash to change her statement. Her father’s name was also changed in the police records. In this case, SI Karnail Singh was also suspended by the SSP here. |
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Rare honour for Principal
Carver Chandigarh, October 26 Instituted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, New Delhi, to motivate people to serve the nation, the award carries a medal in 22 ct gold, a citation and a cash award of Rs 1 lakh. Elated at receiving the award, Mr Carver says: “It just dropped into my lap. Though we principals are not working on these expectations, but if an accolade comes our way, we take it.” Being the first serving Principal of the region to have won the award, he adds: “There are so many people to thank. It is not only an honour for me but for the parents and children and staff who have been contributing to the success of this school. All students, past and present, are party to this success story. My faith in God is unflinching and this award is a tribute to my parents, especially my mother.” Interestingly, Mr Carver had not applied for this award but was nominated. The six-member jury comprising eminent members from different walks of life which included Mr Neil O’ Brien, Chairman of ICSE, Ms Vibha Parthasarathy, former Chairman of the National Commission for Women, Air Marshal D. Keelor, former President of the YMCA, among others, met on October 17 to stamp the final winner. However, the ball got rolling in July when the process of shortlisting of names received from nearly 1400 schools from all over the country and the Gulf were received. This was followed by a feedback from various quarters before the final announcement came. While Mr Carver received the intimation of the award on October 17, it would be presented to him at a ceremony to be held in Lucknow on November 28. |
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I.D. Swami advocates
uniform civil code Chandigarh, October 26 Mr Swami, who was here to inaugurate the annual conference of Association of Otolaryngologists (north west zone) at the Government Medical College, said it was a pity that the political parties and intelligentsia in the country had failed to agree on having a uniform civil code.” There is an uproar every time there is a mention of construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya, for which Parliament proceedings are stalled by Opposition members for days together,” he said citing an example. Mr Swami said that in a country like India, which was giving the world the best doctors, engineers and technocrats, there was a walkout by state education ministers, alleging “saffronisation” of education.” It is unfortunate that they even have objection to the singing of ‘Saraswati Vandana’ at functions, whereas Saraswati is the Goddess of learning,” he remarked. Mr Swami, while stressing upon a need for attitudinal change in doctors and other para-medical staff, urged them to volunteer for services in the rural areas, where 70 per cent of the country’s population lived. “It is in the rural areas, that the services of young doctors are required and by doing so they will be rendering great service to the nation,” he said. Dr Swami said that today was an age of super speciality when many advancements had been made in the field of medicine. However, it was important to ensure that these facilities were made available to the poor and needy who could not afford these at private hospitals. Over 200 delegates from the region attended the conference where sessions were held on imaging of brain tumors, breast cancer, immuno scintigraphy and thyroid cancer. |
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Stinting themselves to feed an
animal Panchkula, October 26 The calf was found in a ditch in the forest area of Saketri hills by Mr Ram Shankar Pandey, a forest guard with the Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute (CSWCRTI), about 25 day ago. The guard later brought the animal to a nearby farmhouse and asked some workers to take care of it. Since then, the animal is being looked after and fed by the workers. Narrating sequence of events to Chandigarh Tribune, Mr Ram Pyare Yadav and Mr Sushankar Pandey, workers at the farmhouse, said the forest guard brought the animal to the farmhouse on October 2 when it was just about two-day-old. Mr Yadav said Ram Shankar noticed the calf in a ditch amid the forest area on October 1. Considering that its mother might be roaming nearby, he ignored it. On the next day, he noticed the animal again. He rescued it and brought if to the farmhouse for safe custody. Mr Yadav said, “The animal seemed hungry and was not able to move. We arranged a bottle and fed the calf with cow milk for over a week. As it grew up, alternative arrangements were made to feed the animal,” he added. “The calf initially used to have one kg milk in the morning and a same quantity in the evening. Later, as it grew up the milk requirement became more. These days we are fulfilling its requirement by cutting our own quota of milk (meant for our tea)”, said Mr Sushankar Pandey. “We contacted the Haryana Wildlife authorities so that the animal could be handed over to them but despite repeated calls no one from the department has turned up till date,” alleged the farmhouse workers. To protect the calf from wild animals, the farmhouse workers used to keep the animal along in a hutment during night and released it in the fields of the farmhouse during days time. “It runs towards the hutment bleating when it feels hungry and returns to the fields after taking feed. After a gap of 26 days, the little bluebull has started plucking and eating a little bit of soft green grass,” Mr Sushankar Pandey said. Presently, the formhouse workers are feeding the animal by stinting themselves. Mr R.D. Jakati, Chief Wildlife Warden of Haryana, was not available for comments. |
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READERS WRITE Divali: What UT officials should do During the festival season, people buy sweets, dry fruits, gift items, furniture, electric/electronic gadgets, dress material, leather and hosiery goods in addition to crackers. The sale turnover increases manifold during this short period. At the same time, there is a general impression that the shopkeepers loot the people during this season. Sweets are prepared 8-10 days in advance for sale during Divali days. And by the time people lay their hands on the sweets, they aren’t worthy of consumption. Taking advantage of the circumstances, shopkeepers often indulge in unfair trade practices. The sweet sellers weigh the sweetboxes along with sweets despite clear instructions from the Chandigarh Adminstration not to do so. Though every year the Weight & Measurement Department takes necessary steps to stop such malpractices, the customers are fleeced by the shopkeepers. In this exercise, one can rule out the involvement of the officials of this department. There is flagrant violation of the instructions regarding the sale of crackers. No adequate arrangements for water and sand are made by sellers which, in the unfortunate event of fire/mishap, may result very dearly. Despite ban, crackers are also sold along with other items in covered shops. There is no clear-cut price fixation norm for eatables etc. Shopkeepers normally increase the rates of sweets in the festival season in the name of higher labour/input costs, quality etc to get higher returns. Some mechanism should be evolved after considering the input-labour cost and rates fixed accordingly in the larger interest of the people. The Chandigarh Administration should issue explicit instructions on these issues and ensure strict adherence by shopkeepers. Teams consisting of officials from the departments concerned and representatives from welfare societies should be constituted to carry out inspection of crackers/sweet stall owners. The team should visit every market thrice a week and ensure that people get the right things for the right price. A.P. Bhardwaj,
Chandigarh HUDA fee This has reference to the report “HUDA imposes enhancement fee in Sectors 25, 26” (The Tribune, September 28). The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) has imposed an enhancement fee of Rs 97 and Rs 142 in Sectors 25 and 25 expansion town, Panchkula. This is the third enhancement in two years. These enhancements have broken the backbone of the plot holders. HUDA has allotted the plots in 1994 and 1995 in both sectors. The allottees have been paying money every year. Two instalments have been cleared and now the third instalment is on the neck of the plot holders. The total enhancement amount is Rs 470 for Sector 25 and Rs 672 for Sector 26. Those who had purchased after allotment are the worst sufferers. What is the modus operandi of the enhancement fee? HUDA employees go to the farmers and ask them to go in for litigation. Accordingly, they go to courts. HUDA officials do not fight the cases properly. Instead, they help the parties and assure them that they will win the cases. They do not speak a word and ultimately, the cases go in favour of the landholders. HUDA authorities should note that all the schemes floated by them have failed — consider the examples of the plots of 27 and 28 sectors, industrial plots, the Group Housing Schemes in various sectors and so on. The people had surrendered the plots. HUDA has become a profit-oriented organisation. I request the Bar Association of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to come to the rescue of the plot holders of Sector 25 and 26. They must help them fight their cases free of cost. The plot holders are mentally sick. The print and electronic media should also highlight the sufferings of the plot holders. Harjinder Singh,
Chandigarh Full-fledged mandi! I would like to bring to the attention of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh the illegal occupation of vendors on the road adjacent to Punjab Chief Minister’s house and P.E.C. It all started with one or two barbers and some fruit rehriwalas. Now you look at the roadside any evening. It seems to have become a full-fledged mandi! Who has allowed this mushrooming of vendors and rehriwalas? Though they are on the pavements, customers’ vehicles are a major traffic problem. I appeal to the authorities to sort out this problem expeditiously. NARINDER SINGH,
Chandigarh |
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Ex-servicemen flay
govt Chandigarh, October 26 The league asked under which provision has the parity in pension been maintained in case of old and new MPs, Supreme Court and high court judges. The reason is not paucity of funds, but an anti-soldier attitude, it was alleged. Members stressed that at the time of elections an appeal should be made to all ex-servicemen and members of their families to vote for the party that promised to solve their problems. Other problems that were highlighted during the meeting included poor medical care for ex-servicemen and their widows as compared to that was available to retired civilian employees. The league demanded that war widows and personnel disabled in wars, other than Kargil war should be treated at par with martyrs Kargil. |
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Seminar on power
generation Panchkula, October 26 This was discussed during a seminar on power generation and water management organised by Aqua Virgo Water Treatment Company and Cheema Boilers at North Park Resorts here this evening. Eminent personalities and industrialists from all over Punajb and Haryana attended this seminar. Lectures were imparted on optimising usage of agro waste like bagasse and rice husk as an alternative for generating power to coal and furnace oil. As much as 50 lakh tonnes of rice husk and 2 crore tonnes of bagasse is genrated in Punjab and Haryana, which after being put in boilers for creating steam, can generate power between 2 MW to 8 MW per hour. A number of spinning mills, sugar mills and distelleries in the two neighbouring states were already employing these means of power generation for self- sufficiency in power, informed Mr Y.P. Sharma of Aqua Virgo. Mr H.S. Cheema explained these agro-waste fuels were an important step in utilising non-conventional energy sources. Mr Uddrav Harmunje from Vex Technologies, Pune, a leading organisation in water management, emphasised the importance of water management in boilers. Water being another scarce resource, the need for efficient usage of water cannot be ignored, he added. |
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Sector 33 resident missing Chandigarh, October 26 “Our father got up in the midnight at around 11.30 pm and asked us to bolt the house from inside, as he wanted to go out. Our wait for him has not come to an end till date,” say his sobbing son Amandeep (16) and daughter Swati (10). The children further said their mother was not at home that night as she had gone to her parents’ house in Sector 37. She came back on September 5, 2002 only to find her husband missing. |
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IA flights to Goa from today Chandigarh, October 26 He said the Chandigarh-Goa flight would start from Chandigarh airport daily at 10.30am and would take 3 hours and 20 minutes to reach Mumbai. The flight number IC 865 would take off from here at 10.30am and arrive at Delhi at 11.10am. After taking off at 12.00 noon from there it would reach Mumbai at 1.55 pm. From Mumbai, he said, it would start at 2.40 pm and reach Goa at 3.40 pm. On its way back, IC 601 flight would start from Mumbai at 6 am in the morning and would reach Delhi at 7.55 am. From Delhi it would take off at 8.40 am and would reach Chandigarh at 9.20 am. For the Chandigarh-Goa flight an airbus 320 has been introduced, which would have 20 executive seats and 125 general category seats. However, he said, the Indian Airlines has decided to close down its two flights — Delhi- Amritsar via Chandigarh. The fare of the executive class in Chandigarh-Goa flight would be Rs 13205 and for general category it would be Rs 8,965. The Chandigarh to Mumbai fare would be Rs 11,110 for executive class and Rs 7,000 for general class. For Chandigarh-Delhi the executive class fare would be Rs 3435 and for general category would be Rs 1500, he added. |
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Road safety day
observed Panchkula, October 26 The Superintendent of Police, Ms Charu Bali, was the chief guest on this occasion. About 200 students from 11 schools of the district participated in various competitions. While 37 students participated in rangoli competition, 31 in quiz and over 100 in painting competition. The competitions were sponsored by Nestle India. The results of various competitions are as under:- Quiz: first - Priyanka and Surbhi of Chaman Lal DAV School, second - Amanpreet and Bhavna of Satluj Public School, third - Ram Shankar and Avdesh of Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 17. Rangoli: B category - first- Jainendra Public School, second - DC Model School, third - New India Public School. C category- first - Satluj Public School, second - Jainendra Public School, third - DC Model School. Painting: A category - first- Kunal Kushwaha of DC Model School, second - Pallavi Luthra, third - Neera of Jainendra Public School. B category - first - Rittika of DAV School, second - Meenu of DC Model School, third - Ujeeta of New India School. |
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Fire in play school Panchkula, October 26 The fire broke out mysteriously on the thatched roof constructed over the play ground on the backside of Wonder Years play school in Sector 6 at 4 pm. The roof was completely burnt , though the cane pillars for supporting the roof were saved. A fire tender was called and the fire was brought under control within 10 minutes. |
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Five vehicle thefts in
city Chandigarh, October 26 4 youths held:
The police on Saturday arrested four youths allegedly for teasing girls. Rupinder was arrested from near Government Girls College, Sector 11, while Rajat Kalia, was arrested from Sector 11 market. Krishan Kumar was arrested from near Poultary Farm chowk and Jagdeep Singh. PANCHKULA 11 held:
Cracking down on gamblers and satta operators and players, the police has arrested 11 persons in separte incidents during the past 24 hours and a sum of Rs 32,100 has been recovered. While Devi Lal was arrested from near Ghaggar bridge, Sant Ram was arrested from Kundi village. Nandu Ram, Chand Ram, Dev Raj, and Ramesh Chand were arrested from Chandimandir, five persons- Sunil Kumar, Sanjeev Kumar, Girish Kumar, Rajesh Kumar and Sant Ram were arrested from Hotel Prabhat Inn. One killed:
Shiv Kumar was killed when he was run over by an unidentified vehicle near Surajpur Bus Stand Surajpur on Friday. A case under sections 454 and 380 of IPC has been registered. |
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Two women arrested SAS Nagar, October 26 Hoax call |
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Rural enterprises exhibition attracts good
response Chandigarh, October 26 A visit to the exhibition revealed that about 60 stalls have been set up by various NGOs working in the rural areas and by rural artisans in their individual capacity. The stalls are attracting good response from the public. The entry to the exhibition is free and the organisers have made good arrangements about parking and public utilities. At about 10 stalls, entrepreneurs affiliated with Khadi and Village Industries Commission, have exhibited their products, which include soaps, clothes, honey, leather and other goods. People are also showing keen interest at the stalls of Central Silk Board, where they have exhibited the whole process of silk production and silk clothes. The Appropriate Technology India from Uttaranchal has come with a fine range of Himalayan silk, devbhumi honey, rajmah and a host of bamboo products. Mr Sanjeev at the stall of Rishi Krishi Organics selling under Manthan organic foods is offering a wide range of chemical-free foods, which included desi dalia, rajmah, black gram, spices and vermi-composed fertiliser and vermi-wash spray. He claimed that the chemical-free wheat was available on demand at Rs 1300 per quintal. The Sanjiwini Bio-Organic Manure had come up with organic manure, which had been recommended by the ICAR, New Delhi. Mr Inderjit Singh at the Swaran Handicrafts stall, from Hoshiarpur district is selling wooden showpieces, small furniture items at much cheaper rates. Ms Rekha of Chavi, a Panchkula-based NGO, had exhibited foot mats, sheets, manufactured by rural women self-help groups. Jaswant Singh Tiwana from Ludhiana district was selling Aggmark honey at much cheaper rate than the market price. The customers are showing keen interest, especially at the stalls of embroidered clothes, silk clothes and organic food. Mr Gokul Patnaik, Chairman, Food and Agriculture Sub Committee, CII, Northern Region, chief organiser, disclosed that about 20,000 visitors are expected to visit here in the next four days. |
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Keeping in view the fast approaching Divali, the festival of lights and crackers, the Chandigarh Administration has banned bursting of high-sound crackers in the city. The Administration has also banned bursting of crackers of any type in the 100-metre radius of silence zones like temples, hospitals, educational institutions etc. This is indeed a good step for the safety of the city residents. It would be worthwhile if the Administration fixes the permissible sound limit and notify the detailed list of banned crackers in the print and electronic media for people’s information.