Mohali, September 25
Amidst heightened expectations and strong protests by applicants of certain reserved categories, the draw of lots for plots in Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA’s) Aerocity got underway here this morning.

(Left)A child takes out a slip from a box during the draw of lots for plots in Aerocity in Mohali on Saturday and (right) Applicants in the reserved category (freedom fighters) protest after their forms were not coidered in the draw of lots for the Aerocity.

Held for the 500 sq yard (reserved category) and 400 sq yard (general and reserved categories), 226 applicants in both categories hit the jackpot, while the remaining walked away with tears. After every one plot, three applicants in all categories have been kept in the waiting list.

Since morning, a number of property dealers and real estate agents were seen seated on most of the chairs, but a few genuine plot-seekers could be spotted. Apart from setting up temporary shops right under the nose of the GMADA officials, real estate agents from different parts of Haryana could be seen moving around trying to negotiate deals with the successful applicants.

Ace shooter Abhinav Bindra was among the lucky ones to hit the jackpot in the 500 sq yard plots in the sportspersons category.

Rajesh Berwal, a real estate agent from Hisar, who was one of the successful applicants, said due to extensive publicity done by GMADA, a lot of investors from around the NCR region had invested money in the Aerocity. He said he was expecting more plots as he, along with other persons, had filled many applications.

There was a lucky couple, Karan Vinayak and Kiran Vinak, who got plots in the defence category.

A few hours after the draw of lots for the reserved categories in 500 sq yard began in the presence of special observers, SK Sandhu, Managing Director of Punjab Agro Industries Corporation and Anjali Bhawra, Secretary Medical Education and Research, a number of applicants in the reserved categories of freedom fighters disrupted the draw, raising slogans against GMADA officials after Additional Chief Administrator Balwinder Singh Multani clarified that in the light of the sufficient number of applicants in the self category, the applications of the sons and wards of freedom fighters could not be considered for draw.

The ACA said the applications from the sons and wards of freedom fighters had been sought, as the authorities apprehended that a few freedom fighters would themselves apply.

After this, applicants under the Gallantry Award winner category, led by SK Madan, president of the President’s Police Gallantry Awardee’s Association of India, protested against the order of precedence of medals adopted by GMADA. Arguing the case, he said GMADA, on its own, had tampered with the precedence of medals in violation of the orders of Government of India. GMADA officials, however, claimed that the state government had given the order of precedence. The protesting persons were asked to move court if they had any objection. In the latter half of the day, the draw of lots for 400 sq yard plot wound up in two hours.

“It would be mean a big fortune me. If I get a plot, I can dream of owning a house in Mohali. Buying a plot from the market is nearly impossible,” said Sanjay, an applicant in the 400 sq yard category. He would be among the 5,500 applicants who would test their luck for just 50 plots. 

NCR real estate agents swoop on Mohali

Anticipating a windfall, a number of real estate agents from around the NCR region descended on the venue of draw of lots to buy plots from the successful applicants on Saturday. While some of the enterprising real estate agents had spread out agents at the venue to look for the successful applicants, others had set up shops to woo the buyers and sellers. Compared to local real estate agents, the unregistered agents from Delhi and the NCR region offered higher rates

Celebrities who made it

n Abhinav Bindra: Sports category

n Brig Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri: Gallantry award winner

Chandigarh, September 25
Ignorance, they say, is bliss. But not always!

What else can be the reason for funds worth lakhs of rupees under various welfare schemes for thousands of building and construction workers lying unutilised?

Sample this: Rs 2,500 for funeral assistance, interest-free loan for the purchase of cycle, scooter, motorcycle up to Rs 5,000, interest-free loan for medical treatment up to Rs 10,000. Funds under these and many more such schemes are lying unused, as there are no takers for them.

For the past many years, not even a single penny out of these funds for the “poor workers” has been spent.

Call it lack of awareness or blame it on the department of labour for not publicising these schemes properly, the fact that there are no takers remains unchanged.

Various schemes were recently approved by the Infrastructural Workers Welfare Board, UT Administration, for the benefit of thousands of building and other construction workers, including both male and female, registered with the Board.

Sources in the department of labour say while only those workers registered with the board can benefit from these schemes, there is actually a sizeable number of workers who are not registered with the board. This despite the fact, that once a worker becomes a member after paying a one time registration fee of Rs 25, his membership remains valid throughout the country even if he moves out to some other state.

Officials maintain that one of the biggest reasons for unregistered workers is the fact that contractors do not encourage their workers for the same. Their logic is simple. If they allow one worker to go for registering himself for an hour, the number of hours gets multiplied for all the workers and this way work suffers, said a senior official of the department.

At present, there are over 20,000 building and construction workers in the tri-city and another 10,000 workers, who are constantly moving due to government schemes under NREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme). Other welfare schemes for construction workers available in city include maternity benefit up to Rs 2500, old-age pension of Rs 250 per month, accident benefit up to Rs 50,000 etc.

Panchkula, September 25
The local juvenile court awarded three-year ‘punishment of probation period’ (meaning set free) to the key accused Robin Khan (name changed), one of the accused in the double murder of Vinod Mittal and his four-year-old son Yashan in February 2009.

Principal Magistrate Jaiveer Hooda of the Juvenile Justice Board pronounced the verdict in the case here today.

It is pertinent to mention that in the gruesome double murder of city-based financier Vinod Mittal and his four-year-old-son Yashan after they went missing on February 14, 2009, the district court, on May 8, had awarded life imprisonment to three accused, including Ashok Kumar, Sanjay Kumar and Sonu.

The court, in its orders, stated that the behaviour of the accused would be monitored during these three years. If any criminal case of similar nature will be registered against the accused, then he would have to serve his punishment otherwise there was no need for him to go behind the bars.

Chandigarh, September 25
Over 20,000 beneficiaries of the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) in the region could be deprived of health care facilities until and unless either the Union Health Ministry takes urgent steps to find an alternative place to shift its lone dispensary in Sector 45 or the UT administration shelves its plan to evict them from there.

The CGHS dispensary, the only one in the northern region (up Delhi), which caters to Central Government employees and retired personnel working or settled in Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, faces eviction notice from the Administration and is presently functioning on an extended deadline. The initial deadline expired in June and the Administration has given six additional months to the CGHS to make alternative arrangements.

However, nothing much has been done till date and if the things continue at the same pace and the Administration doesn’t extend the deadline, the CGHS beneficiaries could be heading for trouble, vis-a-vis their health care.

Confirming the Administration’s move, SC Anand, Additional Director, CGHS, Chandigarh, said, the UT administration had served an eviction notice for June, but after the intervention of some members of the coordination committee of the Central Government Pensioners Association, the deadline was extended till December.

He said the building where the dispensary was located was taken on rent from the Administration in 2002.

Anand said though they had identified some alternative sites for shifting the dispensary, the approval was yet to come from the Administration. “If any of the given sites is approved in time, the work can be started and the deadline met,” he said. Else they would face the dilemma of what to do post-December, he added.

On the other hand, UT health officials say they need the site for converting it into standalone “labour rooms” for encouraging institutional deliveries in and around Sector 45. Though the reason may sound plausible, a senior official could not explain why this particular site was required when the Administration has many alternatives with it.

Central Government employees and pensioners are obviously concerned about these developments and feel that rather than just indulging in “babugiri” of issuing notices, the Administration should offer alternatives. “If the lone wellness centre is closed, the elderly pensioners will be at loss,” said one of the members of the pensioners’ committee.

Interestingly, most of the Central Government pensioners registered at the CGHS dispensary in Sector 45 are from Chandigarh and are not covered by any other health care scheme. In case the dispensary goes non-functional, they will be deprived of medical facilities, maintains another member of the coordination committee.

Chandigarh, September 25
Largely untreatable hitherto, acute leukaemia is now well within the realm of curable disorders and a proper diagnosis and treatment with regular follow-up can save the lives of a majority of such patients. Medical experts deliberated on various aspects of leukaemia treatment at a conference of the north-west chapter of the Indian Society of Haematology and Transfusion Medicine, here today.

More than 200 delegates and faculty from various medical colleges, hospitals and private practitioners participated in the conference hosted by the Department of Haematology, PGIMER, Chandigarh.

The conference touched upon advances in the diagnosis, both clinical and laboratory, and the management of the disease. Dr Deepak Bansal from the Department of Paediatrics, PGIMER, Chandigarh, set the ball rolling by describing various ways in which patients reported to doctors.

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, commonly found in children, was generally treated with chemotherapy and the results were enthusiastic, said Dr Neeal Varma, Head of the Department of Haematology, PGI. However, only a very few, who did not respond to this treatment had to go through radio therapy or bone marrow transplantation, she said. The treatment for children could cost up to Rs 2 lakh, she said. There were many children who attained adulthood while undergoing treatment at the PGI and had been living normal life, she added.

Acute mycloblastic was another type of leukaemia that commonly affected adults and its treatment cost up to Rs 6 lakh, she said.

Laboratory diagnoses were outlined by Dr Anita Tahlan, who described the microscopic features of common leukaemia and the baseline testing available at a routine pathology laboratory. She also highlighted the use of simple stains to differentiate between various types of acute leukaemia.

Professor Renu Saxena, Head of Haematology Department, AIIMS, elaborated on refinements in laboratory diagnosis over the past few decades, with special emphasis on how these could be applied to Indian laboratories.

Ds Joseph John and Pankaj Malhotra discussed the treatment of ALL and AML leukaemias. They spoke on therapy phases, common complications and expected problems. Haematology quiz was a lively interactive session with active participation by pathology, medicine and paediatrics postgraduates.

Chandigarh, September 25
A newborn, discharged from the PGI with remarks “normal new born”, died within a day, as doctors allegedly failed to notice that the baby was not able to pass stool due to “anorectoal malformation”.

The parents of the baby alleged that doctors in the labour room did not heed their requests to examine the baby on September 14, who did not pass stool and urine since his birth on September 13.

PGI spokesperson Manju Wadwalkar said the complaint of Nitish Sharma, father of the baby, was being looked into and all departments concerned had been asked to send their reply in this regard.

Nitish Sharma, a resident of Sector 8, Chandigarh, in his complaint to the hospital medical superintendent, said his wife Meenu had been attending the gynaecology OPD of the PGI during pregnancy regularly and the baby was born on September 13. The mother and the baby were discharged in the evening next day.

However, during their stay in the hospital after the birth of the baby, it did not pass stool and urine. The mother and grandmother of the baby brought this to the notice of the doctors present there many a time whenever they made a visit to the labour room, he said.

Even at the time of discharging on September 14, Meenu conveyed this to doctors, he claimed. However, doctors told her that everything was fine with the baby, alleged Nitish in his complaint.

Next day in the morning, when the condition of the baby started deteriorating, we took him to the Advanced Paediatric Centre, PGI, where doctors found that the passage for stool was blocked and baby was not showing any activity. They were told that the baby was getting problems in kidney and heart as well, he said.

Doctors said it was not possible to perform any surgery that time on the baby. Following this, the family decided to take the child to a private hospital, where the baby died in the evening, said Nitish.

He demanded an inquiry and necessary action into the matter.

Chandigarh, September 25
“Exercise and a controlled diet can keep one’s heart healthy,” said cardiologist and PGI director Prof KK Talwar on the occasion of World Heart Day.

“A balanced diet, including seasonal fruits and vegetables, with controlled consumption of oils and physical activity in routine, can help in a big way to keep the heart healthy,” he said.

Life style changes are a must and vegetarians, too, need to take care of their heart. A lot of calories and fats are present in sugar, milk and sweets. Excessive intake of sugar can lead to health complications.

He said a number of healthy people could be seen using elevators.

“They prefer driving vehicles over walking,” said the cardiologist.

“Earlier, people avoided sweets, but now they love to binge on chocolates and junk food, which is the reason why more and more people are falling prey to obesity,” said Dr Talwar. 

Contrary to the earlier belief that only rich and affluent suffered from various heart ailments, it has been found that such ailments have gripped all sections of society. Even youngsters have complained of heart problems. Around 45 million patients are suffering from coronary artery diseases in India and with a roller-coaster lifestyle, the future looks more grim. By 2020, heart diseases will account for one-third of all deaths. — Dr Talwar

A study done by the community medicine department of the PGI revealed that people in rural areas, too, suffered from heart ailments.

The study revealed that about 14.4 per cent of people in rural areas of Chandigarh were suffering from hypertension, whereas in urban areas, the number of such cases was found to be 14.2 per cent. In Panchkula, a total of 16.2 per cent cases were reported from the urban sector, while 8.2 per cent cases were reported from rural areas.

Zirakpur, September 25
In the absence of traffic lights and traffic police on the Zirakpur-Kalka highway near Baltana link road, heavy traffic has become a nightmare for residents of adjoining areas.

Residents of Baltana, Dhakoli and surrounding areas have demanded to set up traffic lights near Baltana link road on the Zirakpur-Kalka highway.

It is learnt that in the recent Municipal Council meeting, the issue was raised by the area councillor.

He urged the MC president NK Sharma to take up the matter with local administration.

However, MC president asked the MC inspector to instal “yellow light” at the particular section, but nothing has been done so far.

Residents said a large number of children going to school on autorickshaws and bicycles on this stretch were not safe, as there was nothing to check the flow of traffic.

Sources said minor accidents were routine affair on this stretch. Last week, two youths sustained injuries after their motorcycle rammed into a rickshaw.

A visit to the area revealed that trucks, tractor-trolleys loaded with construction material parked along the highway caused inconvenience to commuters. Residents also demanded that tractor- trolleys should be shifted to another place.

Amanjot Singh, a resident of Dhakoli said: “Traffic jam is a routine affair on this stretch”. The situation is during peak traffic hours. Administration should ask the authorities concerned to instal traffic lights.

Sunny Oberoi, a resident of Baltana, alleges: “Police personnel are mostly busy challaning two-wheeler riders instead of managing the traffic.”

He added that traffic police should be deployed for the smooth flow of traffic. Zirakpur traffic in charge, Devinder Singh, said he had already written to senior officials about installation of traffic lights. “We will deploy traffic police during the peak time to control the traffic,” he added.

Chandigarh, September 25
The first-air-conditioned fish market of the city at Sector 41 has again failed to find any takers as only one tender was submitted for auction of booths in the market, forcing the MC authorities to cancel the auction.

In April, too, the MC had held the auction of booths in which only five bidders had turned up. Out of them, only two deposited their bids. After the poor response, the MC had cancelled the auction.

During the last auction, bidders had urged the authorities that as the quoted reserve price are high, provision should be made for them to avail loans for the same. However, ignoring the plea, the MC again tried to auction the booths without making any change in the rates and terms and condition.

When contacted, MC Additional Commissioner TPS Phoolka said the authorities were hopeful that this time more retailers and wholesale fish sellers would participate in the auction and the issue would be tabled in the next meeting.

Official sources said the money invested for constructing the market has gone down the drain. One of the fish retailers Salem Shah said it was not possible for the retailers and shopkeepers to invest such a huge amount for shops. He said most of the retailers who owned shops in various parts of the city used to pay rent between Rs 5,000 and Rs 6,000 per month.

There are 12 booths of three different categories and a chill room in the market. The authorities have fixed the reserve price for two small booths at Rs 37.5 lakh, for eight big booths Rs 41.5 lakh and for two wholesale booths at Rs 77.5 lakh annually. The reserve price of the chill room has been fixed at Rs 16,666 per month.

MC records show that the Chandigarh administration had incurred Rs 90 lakh on setting up infrastructure in the market, including machines. The market was handed over to the MC in 2009. 

Chandigarh, September 25
In order to minimise paper wastage while preparing reservation charts as well as to speed up the process of providing on-the-spot tickets to passengers, Indian Railways has decided to introduce a new device called handheld terminal (HHT) on trains. In the first phase of the exercise the devices are being installed at major stations, including Jammu and Amritsar from where important trains begin their journey.

A railway official said the system would be made available to travelling ticket examiners (TTEs) of all mail and express trains. “However, initially the project will begin with the Rajdhani Express trains running on various routes in the country”, he added.

While observing the procedure to prepare reservation charts showing the seating arrangement at all stations was very tedious, the official said the device would help in saving paper. “With its introduction the charts would be prepared only at the main station while the rest of the stations would be connected with the server. The HHT will display on its screen the number of occupied and vacant berths in the bogies”, he added.

GM Singh, senior commercial manager, Northern Railway (Ambala division), told The Tribune: “Hundreds of thousands of passengers travel every day in trains and tonnes of papers are used for printouts of reservation charts. The new system will save wastage of paper as well as railway revenues. It will also help in allotting berths to passengers, who will know the current position of each reserved bogie”.

Sources in Northern Railway said the system would also help in maintaining full transparency in allotment of berths by train ticket examiners on running trains. Besides, TTEs need not carry sheaves of paper related to reservation charts.

According to the present practice they had to refer to reservation charts several times while allotting berths or checking tickets of passengers. Under the new HHT system, TTEs would have to switch on the new device to know the latest position of each bogie.

Chandigarh, September 25
Impassioned verses with rich and varied thought content recited by acclaimed poets enthralled audience in the “Kul Hind Urdu Mushaira” at the Randhawa auditorium here today.

The event organised by the Pracheen Kala Kendra, known for propagation of classical arts, was dedicated to memory of its founder, late ML Koser, a noted dance maestro and choreographer.

The poets touched all moods and passions, joys, distress, ecstasy and grief. If Meeruti excelled with wit and humour, super cop poet Rajbir Deswal Aamil turned romantic with “Aaj gustaakh huyi jaati hai kyon vaade naseem kya kisi shokh ki zulphon se lipat aayi hai..” Another Haryana Sahitya Akademy awardee poet Madhav Kaushik disclosed “Kya jaane kisi raat ke seene mein chhipi hai, sooraj ki treaj ham bhi sehar dhoond rhe hain..”

With his ornate poetry, Padma Bhushan Dr Sardar Anjum took the lead, while Balraj Bakshi Haq Kanpuri, Shams Tabrezi, Ved Deevana, Ateeq Zia, Anis Ahmad Khan, Javed Anwar, Namita Rakesh, Nayeem Rasheed, Pritpal Singh Betab, Rukhsaar Balrampuri, SL Dhawan Kamal, Savita Aseem, Sabeeha Naaz, Anjum Barabanakavi, Krishan Kumar Toor, Madhav Kaushik and Rajbir Deswal Aamil recited soothing couplets from their vast literary works receiving thunderous applause.

Their recitations reflected the contemporary sensibilities about the prevailing socio-political scenario in the country.

Poet Shamas Tabrezi conducted the mushaira with commendable competence. Kendra secretary Sajal Koser welcomed Justice Virender Singh, Justice Parmod Kohli, Justice Sunil Hali, Justice Ajay Tewari.

Chandigarh, September 25
Panjab University Vice-Chancellor RC Sobti today denied all allegations levelled by RTI activist RK Singla against him that three posts have been filled against the university rules. Sobti today quoted Section 2 (E) of the PU calendar and said the recruitment against three posts of station manager (PU community radio station), training-cum-placement officer (UIAMS) and public relation officer (PRO) (against DPR-cum-editor, PU News) were all done as per the rules and regulations.

“The Sections of the calendar stated by the RTI activist are not applicable and have been totally misquoted. An advertisement was duly published and a selection panel was formed which selected the PRO. Upgrading a post is not in the purview of the VC, but lowering it is surely in the purview. The PRO has been appointed after a proper procedure and the post was also advertised,” said the VC.

Rumours are rife on the campus that pressure is being exerted on the authorities ahead of the selection for a permanent associate dean, college development council (ADCDC) on September 29. While a lobby of college principals has been demanding removal of incumbent ADCDC, Keshav Malhotra, who has been assigned an additional charge, the latter’s lobby is being accused of having proximity with RTI activist Singla.

Chandigarh, September 25
Winning by a margin of eight votes, Ronki Ram, former president of Panjab University Teachers’ Association (PUTA) and head of political science department, today defeated Manjit Singh in the Senate byelection.

Manjit received 50 votes and although the winning margin was expected to be higher for Ronki (58 votes), uncertainty prevailed over votes in certain quarters at the onset of election.

Out of 127 voters of the arts constituency, including Senate members, chairpersons and professors of the faculty of arts, 110 members turned out at the Senate Hall to cast their votes today and two votes were declared invalid. The voting process began at 9 am and the result was declared in nearly two hours. It is not for the first that Ronki and Manjit have confronted each other for a poll. Two years ago, Ronki defeated Manjit during the election for PUTA president by a huge margin of more than 140 votes.

The mood in the pro-Vice-Chancellor lobby today was jubilant after the declaration of the result. A tea party was also hosted for the members at the university guesthouse by the winning lobby.

Sources reveal that heated arguments preceded the election on Friday night in certain quarters of the Senate. The alleged third front of the Senate held a meeting last night, where certain members of the quarter raised objection on the selection of Ronki as a candidate.

Chandigarh, September 25
An argument between Panjab University Campus Student Council (PUCSC) vice-president Vibha and students of the department of botany was reported during the freshers’ party held at the geology department auditorium today.

The student council vice-president called the university security at the spot, but later refused to file any complaint. The argument in the freshers’ party took a political turn when Vibha and representative of the botany department, a member of the Student Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) entered into a heated argument.

Vibha contested the election from the Indian National Student Organisation (INSO), which had entered into alliance with Panjab University Student Union (PUSU), which is considered arc rivals of SOPU.