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January 12, 2003, Chandigarh, India |
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City schools closed till Jan 15 Chandigarh, January 11 Following the example of Punjab and Haryana, the UT Administration today, perhaps, for the first time in recent years, issued orders to close all schools from Monday to Wednesday during the following week. A statement issued by the UT Administration said the order would also apply to private schools in the city. Though some schools were in the process of conducting internal examinations and unit tests, these were now expected to be rescheduled. The president of the Non-Government and Private Schools Association, Mr D.S. Bedi, told the TNS that principals of private institutions had also decided to abide by the administration’s order and decided to observe the holiday schedule. The decision on rescheduling examinations, however, is the prerogative of school authorities, who would issue their decisions in this regard. Private schools were initially reluctant to declare holidays. According to school teachers, the severe cold conditions were affecting attendance in schools, with students either absenting themselves or arriving late. This was particularly so for some government schools. St Stephen’s School has also issued instructions that the Class-X pre-board examinations being conducted by the school have been postponed. |
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Miscreants
strike again in Dera Bassi Dera Bassi, January 11 The Dera Bassi police reportedly reached the spot over fours hours late after receiving the information regarding the incidents. It may be recalled that miscreants had earlier struck at seven houses in two separate incidents in Lalru and Dera Bassi areas. According to information, a gang of miscreants struck at the village and then barged into various houses one after another. They entered the house of Mr
Baldev Singh after breaking open the door of the main gate. While searching valueables there, they ransacked the house and took away wrist watches and some other goods. The gang used iron rods and batons for breaking open the locks and doors of the houses. Their next target was the house of Mr Mohan Lal from where they decamped with gold earrings, chain, nose pin, nose ring and Rs 10,000 after leaving
the house ransacked. It was the house of Mr Gian Singh, son of Mr Bir Singh, from where the robbers made it big. Besides Rs 8,000, the
burglars also took away three gold rings, two earrings, two necklaces, chain and woollen garments. They also took away a steel trunk and the briefcase from the house, and broke open these in nearby fields after fleeing from the scene. They also ransacked the house of Mr Gian Singh Saini but found nothing there. Talking to Chandigarh Tribune, the villagers said that the police reached the village at about 10.30 a.m. even after information was passed on to the police station at 6.30 a.m. The police came into action when some mediapersons reached the spot and enquired the police authorities about the incident. The police authorities, instead of visiting the spot, asked members of the victim families to report to the police station to get their statement recorded, they complained. On January 6 night, robbers had struck at four houses located in Saidpura village along the Dera Bassi-Barwala road and decamped with jewellery and cash worth thousands of rupees. A gang of robbers struck the village and looted the houses of Mr Surinder Singh, Mumtaz, Dharam Pal and a former sarpanch of the village one after another when the house-owners were asleep. Earlier in wee hours of January 5, miscreants had struck at the house of Mr Sahab Singh and Mr Jarnail Singh of Ballopur village and Mr Sita Ram of Malikpur village near Lalru and decamped with cash, jewellery and other valuables worth thousands of rupees. In all incidents, the police has failed to make any headway. Taking serious view of the murders, robberies, burglaries and thefts in the Dera Bassi belt of the district, Mr Paramraj Singh Umranangal, SSP, Patiala, today talked about constituting “Village Security Committees”
He also held the villagers responsible for the murders, burglaries and thefts as they were reluctant in organising community policing. He said that some street-hawkers selling ‘papads’ and ballons used to be informers of the miscreants and also joined their gangs for committing crime. He said that over 50 suspects in the Dhakauli robbery case in which the robbers had hacked one person to death and left five other
members of his family critically injured had been rounded up. The police was working on various theories and the culprits would be nabbed soon, claimed the SSP.
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PU reverts decision Chandigarh, January 11 The step is significant in the context that colleges are not offering all subject combinations, which have been identified by the University Grants Commission, due to different compulsions. For instance, the local GGDSD College allows students from other colleges to take up honours course in e-Commerce, accountancy and economics. Principal A.C.Vaid said each year the college received students from other colleges. The decision this time has come in as a change to the existing rule under which the university had withdrawn the facility and allowed students to prepare on their own. One of the reasons why the university had to revert back to the old decision was that there were certain subjects like psychology and physical education that had practical as one portion of the course. It is also felt that direct classroom teaching had its own importance. The matter had also featured in one of the recent syndicate meetings, sources said. Principal Harmit Kaur had said: “Earlier, a student could attend lectures in another college in which his college was not providing lectures. But, last year the facility was withdrawn by the university and the students were allowed to prepare on their own. Now the condition of attending lectures in other colleges had been re-imposed.” Mr Dilip Kumar, DPI (Colleges), said there was no harm in allowing students to attend lectures in another college in the second and third year even if they were allowed to prepare the subject on their own. Pointing out an important aspect of the matter, Prof Satya P. Gautam said: “The university had provided a limited number of elective subjects to be taken up for study. The combinations had been envisaged to increase teaching days and reduce days for examination... |
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Govt Sumo injures two Chandigarh, January 11 The two youths, who run a shop in Sector 40, have been admitted to the PGI Emergency. While Gopal sustained a serious head injury, Ravinder has been hurt on the ear. According to police sources, the driver of the Haryana Government vehicle, a Tata Sumo (HR-03-7617), fled from the accident site. An Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, who was present at the site, rushed the injured to the PGI. Police sources said the driver of the Sumo, informed a senior Haryana IAS officer in Sector 11 about the incident. It was the vehicle of a senior Chandigarh Traffic Police officer who took the relatives of the victims to the PGI. Till the filing of the report no case had been registered. The police had yet to identify the driver. |
FARMERS’ PROTEST Kharar, January 11 Unfazed by the fact that none of the leaders of the ruling party has even visited the site, these farmers are now on a do-or-die track. “Yaan ta raja ithe aayega, yaan ta pher kursi to jaayega,” said a farmer. “If the ‘raja’ thinks that we are going to budge from here, he is wrong. We are sitting here for as long as it takes. We are asking for what we have earned, that is all,” he added. Even the support of local villagers is not likely to wane soon. The unsaid solidarity of one farmer with another is falling into a fixed organised pattern. Each day, trolleys full of simmering food arrive at the site twice a day. “Just wait for another hour and you can have ‘langar’ with us” said a farmer. “Our brothers from neighbouring villages are sending food, sweets and everything. We are just fine. We are celebrating lohri the way we do in our villages. An ‘akhand path’ has been started. And on Lohri day we will have our celebrations here. If needed, you might also see us unfurl the Tricolour at this site on January 26,” added another farmer. One of the busiest chowks of the state is today a makeshift village in transit. The protesting farmers have put up tents, barricading both sides of the road with tractor trolleys and layered parts of the roads and their trolleys with hay to sit and sleep on. Logs of wood are being brought in to be burnt to provide warmth. All arrangements are on to stay put and stay firm. “We have been dealt with unfairly. We have showed enough patience but now we will not move from this place till our dues are paid in full,” said another farmer. “Yes it’s cold, but we can face anything,” he said. Compelled to leave their wives, children and mothers alone at their homes, many of these farmers are the only earning male members in their families. “Some of us are here in shifts as we cannot afford to leave our houses without a male member,” said a farmer.  |
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MC POLL Panchkula, January 11 He has promised abolition of fire tax, rationalisation of house tax and professional tax, better roads, more safety for residents by fencing the ward, finding solution to the Congress grass and stray animal menace. Ms Jagdamba Gupta, a BJP candidate from ward no. 5, said she had intensified campaigning. A former Principal of MCM DAV College, she is involved with Bharat Vikas Parishad. She has promised abolition of fire tax, rationalisation of other taxes, better roads, sanitation, a children’s park, better condition of parks and bringing the stamp duty on a par with Chandigarh. Mr Munshi Ram Arora, an Independent from ward no 11, today released his election manifesto. He has promised to make his ward a model one by removing encroachments finding solution to the low water pressure problem, and converting a portion of the front sides of houses into green belt, as in SAS Nagar. A retired employee from the Haryana Government, he has served as Estate Officer of Puja Sthal Board at Mansa Devi. Mrs Surinder Parmar, an INLD-backed candidate from ward no. 4, today said she had visited over 100 houses in Housing Board area. She promises cleanliness,
hygiene and sanitation, provision of security gates for inner lanes and proper street lighting. Mr Suresh Paul, a banker-turned-lawyer and candidate from ward no. 19, released his election manifesto amidst a large gathering. He said he had been extended support by the Yuva Shakti Sangathan, traders and bank employees residing in his ward. He promises to change the faulty overhead electric cable and PVC water supply pipes, rehabilitation of slum-dwellers and beautification of the ward. Mrs Meera Chopra, an Independent from ward no. 22, today said she had completed door-to-door campaigning twice and was getting a positive response from people. She has been extended support by the Market Association, Sector 12, the Mahila Mandal, Sector 11 and 12, and the Panchkula Sports and Youth Welfare Club. She promises to create a link road between Sectors 4 and 12, realignment of the Singh Nullah passing through the ward, a community centre and
government dispensary for the ward. The election manifesto of Mr Hari Narayan Jindal, a BJP candidate from ward no. 13, was released by Mr Rattan Lal Kataria, MP, from the Ambala Lok Sabha constituency today. He has promised beautification of his ward, abolition of fire tax and rationalisation of taxes. The election office of another BJP
candidate from ward no. 24, Mrs Charanjit Kaur was inaugurated by NRI and social worker Charan Das Kamboj. She too promises to make her ward a model one. |
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HPCC plan
to woo ‘weak’
candidates Panchkula, January 11 Sources inform that after at least 14 wards were identified where one party worker/office-bearer was having a definite edge, the rival Congress
candidate(s) are now being persuaded to withdraw in favour of their potential winning candidate. A two-member team is currently on the job and a Congress candidate from ward no 6, Mr Rajiv
Kundu, has already been “persuaded” to withdraw in favour of the rival candidate and office-bearer of the local unit of Congress, Mr
V.K. Kapoor. It is learnt that feelers were being sent to at least two candidates in ward no 11 to withdraw from the elections in support of their candidate. Senior partymen say that the “weak candidate” will be asked to withdraw within the next two days. Other than ward no 14 and 21, (where they do not see a clear victory for any Congress worker) and ward nos 3, 4, ,9, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 29 and 31 (where only one Congress man is in the fray), feelers are being sent to all “weak” candidates in the remaining wards to withdraw. Sources inform that a list of “winning” candidates has been prepared and trusted
lieutenants of Mr Bhajan Lal from the among the rank and file of the party are now involved in the job of convincing the “weak candidates” to withdraw from the polls and utilise their energy and votes for “the benefit of the party”. It may be noted that defying the directives of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee President, Mr Bhajan Lal, asking local party office-bearers to abstain from contesting in the Municipal Council elections, a number of office bearers had jumped in to the fray, risking their party positions. At least 17 local office-bearers of the Congress, contesting the polls, had submitted their resignations, preferring the seat of a councillor to that of an office-bearer. Anticipating that keeping away from elections was likely to have widespread repercussions as selection of these rebels as councillors would pose challenges to Kalka MLA and son of state party chief, Mr Chander Mohan, the move has apparently been made to contain the party workers in the fold of the Congress. |
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Road safety message at carnival Chandigarh, January 11 The show started with a group song presented by the members of the Chandigarh Police Cultural Club. Written by Deshraj, the song highlighted the importance of road safety. A skit, “Yamraj Ki Paresani”, on the same theme followed in which the students of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 47, pointed at the blunders people
committed on the road. The play was directed by Baldev Singh. The club members presented another theme song “Aao batchcho hum sikhe” highlighting the “dos and don’ts” on the road, which was followed by another hilarious play “Adhunik Mahabharat” through which writer Deshraj and director Sanjay Sharma placed the characters of Mahabharata on modern roads with majority of them creating havoc in the bargain. The final item was a choreography, directed by Sanjay Sharma, by schoolchildren. Individual dance items were presented by Rahul Sharma, Rishab Dev Samial, Rakesh Mann, Gaurav Anand, Chandan, Deepika, Vani Hans, Surbhi and Hemant Prasher. Another major attraction of the programme today was songs rendered by “Ibex Thrillers”, a music group from Ladakh Scouts Regiment Centre, Leh. The group entertained the audience with old Hindi songs along with a few Punjabi, Ladakhi and Nepali numbers. |
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HelpAge India
campaign successful Chandigarh, January 11 Talking to The Tribune, Mr Podder said at present every 12th person in the country was a senior citizen. By 2040, every sixth person would be a senior citizen and by 2050, one-fourth of country’s total population will be above 65 years of age. Unfortunately, the living conditions and plight of the most of the elderly people in the country were pathetic. Nearly 40 per cent of 77 million older persons in the country are below poverty line and another 33 per cent are just above it. HelpAge India, a registered social organisation, for the last 25 years has been supporting a variety of programmes to make life easier and comfortable for older people by making Old age homes and day care centres, mobile medicare units besides conducting free cataract operations. “In Punjab”, he says, the Campaign was launched in September last year here where the Administrator of Chandigarh, Lieut-Gen JFR Jacob (retd) was the chief guest. Any person who donates a minimum of Rs 1000 can register as a donor participant for one year and by paying Rs 10,000 can get life membership. The payments made to HelpAge India are exempt from Income Tax, he added. |
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India, China told to resolve boundary dispute SAS Nagar, January 11 He was welcoming delegates at the two-day all-India ICFA Council meet that started at Paragon Senior Secondary School, Sector 71, here. The meeting hosted by the ICFA branch in Punjab, was inaugurated by Mr Yang Linhai, Cultural Counsellor, Chinese embassy, New Delhi. The all-India President of the ICFA, Mr Koshala Ram Dass, urged the governments of the two countries to take up the boundary issue on priority and resolve it. ‘‘Differences between the two countries is a result of the imperial designs that were governing the world but now things have changed. Sino-Indian friendship is the need of the hour,’’ he pointed out. Mr Dass pointed out that the boundary issue must be seen in its historical perspective and each nation should seek settlement, which is reasonable and acceptable to both. Dr Bhuvan Chandel, Department of Philosophy, Panjab University, stated that in the post-Soviet Union world scenario, India and China should come together to strengthen the voice of the East across the world. She also dwelled upon the fact that India and China had had a long historical association. ‘‘This association starts from the time China accepted Buddhism after it originated and developed in our country.” Dr Chandel related her observations of Chinese society during her visit to the country last year. ‘‘I was pleasantly surprised to note that China had shed its old values and taboos and showed signs of technological and social modernity,’’ she said. Mr H.S. Halwarvi, Senior Vice-President, ICFA, said Russia, India and China should build an axis as a counter-balance to the USA and other European countries. Among others who spoke were Mr Harkrishan Singh Mehta, former fellow of Panjab University Mr B.S. Shergill, general secretary, ICFA, proposed a vote of thanks. |
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Lioness
delivers two cubs despite... Chhat Bir (Patiala),
To curb the increase in population of the “royal” inhabitants at the park, the zoo authorities had conducted vasectomy operations on 16 lions. The lions were operated upon by a team of veterinary doctors from Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana. This is the second such incident when lions have bred even after being operated upon for vasectomy. When contacted, Dr Vinod Sharma, Chief Warden (Zoos), Punjab, confirmed the incident. |
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Reservation
information round-the-clock Chandigarh, January 11 The automatic enquiry was initially functioning for 12 hours from 8 am to 8 pm. One can dial the number and get details regarding delay in the arrival of trains by feeding the number. According to railway officials, the service has been extended. |
100 pouches of liquor seized from two Chandigarh, January 11 Two separate cases under Sections 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act have been registered.
Stolen Unidentified persons took away a bag containing Rs 20,000, one digital diary and some documents from a car belonging to Gurinder Singh, a resident of Sector 20-D, while it was parked outside SCF No. 1 in Sector 26. A case has been registered under Section 379 of the IPC.
Purse snatched Ms Poonam Dhiman, a resident of Sector 49, has reported that unidentified motor cyclists snatched her purse containing Rs 700, a driving licence and an identity card, while she was going on her Kinetic Honda last evening. The incident took place near the Sector 19-27 traffic light point. A case under Section 356 of the IPC has been registered.
Cyclist injured A cyclist, Jasbir Singh, a resident of Mohri village in Ambala district was hit by a car (CH-01-X-7688) on the road separating Sectors 8 and 9 last night. He received minor injuries in the accident. The driver of the car fled away immediately after the accident. A case under Sections 279 and 337 of the IPC has been registered. |
MARKET SPOTLIGHT — 17-B
The minuscule market nestled amongst a cluster of offices and cinema halls keeps waiting for shoppers. There are thousands of people visiting Jagat and K C cinema halls, SBI's treasury branch, CITCO, Mezban Restaurant, LIC and Haryana Tourism but virtually none turns customer for the market. The market could have taken pride in dealing in hundreds of crores of rupees every year if the activities of the Bank Square had to add any business to the shopkeepers here. Shopkeepers argue the plot for SCOs bought during the early 70s at the rates of the ones that the prime areas of Sector 17 fetched have not brought them returns which were expected. The reason: apathy of the authorities. It was to become a hub of the cinema activity in the city with a fourth cinema hall proposed to have come up behind the Anand Cinema Complex which was closed down. Just behind the Anand Cinema Complex in 17 A, Ganesh Cinema hall was to be built. With merely 20 SCOs in the market and around as many businesses running from the upper floors, the small size of the sub-sector market has forced shopkeepers to join hands with the Sector 17 A to make a bigger business and political unit. Even their market welfare association is the same. Ashok Mahajan, owner of the KC Theatre and Mezban Restaurant who had also bought land for the Ganesh Theatre in Sector 17 A, said the Chandigarh Administration had never given possession of the land to him. Mr Ravinder Mohan, the proprietor of the Harmons Tailors whose shop is known for the stitching of police and military uniforms, said he had not seen any improvement in the market for the last 22 years. Mr Mohan has been living in the city for 41 years and has been doing business in the market for 22 years. Despite all odds, this tailoring shop is known for the dressing up of the bigwigs of the city. Regional Computer Centre, NIIT, Singla Law Agency, Chawla Publications and Chhabra Auto Agencies are few of the other well known names in the market. The entire Bank Square has only couple of shops. With shoppers being few, the market has been developing as a house for whole sellers. The trend has, however, not picked up due to lack of infrastructure. The dividing open space between Sector 17 A and B market tells an apathetical story of neglect with rains creating a havoc as the entire big area turns muddy. At this time visitors can not cross over to adjoining markets. Chandigarh Administration and the Municipal Corporation have probably forgotten the area despite a number of representations made by the market welfare association to remind them. After a long fight, the authorities concerned had made a walkway in the uncemented dividing space but that is now virtually lost in the sand. Ruined tiles around the market tell a complete story of neglect which, traders here say, has been one of the major reasons of the market losing out on business volumes. People have been witness to open defecation and urination in the vast vacant areas which have gathered heaps of garbage and debris. The Municipal Corporation which has recently approved malba by-laws itself has forgotten to lift malba that was dumped during the carpeting of parking area in front of Mezban. The recarpeting of the parking area, however, has thankfully been done after almost two decades. The recarpeting has not solved the basic problem: lack of storm water facilities in the area. Mr Ashok Mahajan said he could not do business as a virtual pond was created just in front of his restaurant which is towards a depressed side. He also feels that the quality of the recarpeting was not reliable. The entire area does not have a toilet forcing the people to openly urinate. An approved site for the purpose has been lying in files for years. When the active market association traced the plan, they were told money was not available. They arranged funds from the MP Local Area Development Fund only to be driven into despair with the authorities first claiming to make a toilet of Sector 34 class and then promising it would be a normal one seen in each market. The toilet has not yet been provided. Mr Mahajan seems to have business plans that could add glory to the market. He wants to turn KC Theatre into a multiplex which has been allowed by the Chandigarh Administration now. He has been in the market since it was merely a jungle and even sold his property in Delhi to invest in the city. Office-bearers: President: Kamaljit Panchhi, General Secretary: L. C. Arora, Vice President: Mandeep Singh, Secretaries: Madan Singla, Raman Mahajan, Joint Secretary: Rakesh Mohan and Treasurer Joginder Pal. |
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Pizza mania Chandigarh, January 11 Domino’s claims to deliver with its promise of Rs 30 off per pizza if the snack reaches the Chandigarhians’ doorstep later than 30 minutes of placing the order. |
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The cold wave in the city has further intensified, making the season the coldest winter ever in terms of day temperatures. The city recorded the lowest day temperature ever today, breaking the record of 8.4 degrees celsius set three days ago. 
