Over 2 lakh power consumers
There are 2,09,602 power consumers in the city. Out of this, 1,78,883 consumers come under the domestic category, 25,806 under commercial, 104 in large supply, 1,291 in small power, 1,152 in medium supply, 122 in agriculture, 867 in public lighting, 383 in bulk supply and 994 in other temporary categories.

Chandigarh, March 14
A dress rehearsal was conducted at the PGIMER today ahead of the 33rd Annual Convocation, which will be presided over by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, tomorrow.

Police personnel carry out security checks at the PGI in Chandigarh on Thursday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

A dog squad also visited the PGI campus. The convoy of VVIPs, including the President, Union Minister for Telecom Kapil Sibal and Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad, will reach the campus at 3.45 pm.

The main gate of the PGI will remain closed for public entry for a few minutes when the convoy will enter the campus. To avoid inconvenience to patients, security guards will be deputed near the gate to guide them to the other gate, said the PGI officials.

During the convocation, 393 students will be honoured and four students will be awarded gold medals for academic excellence.

No mobile phones, handbags or cameras will be allowed at the convocation venue on the PGI campus.

None of the students will be allowed to carry mobile phones, cameras or even handbags inside the auditorium during the function due to security reasons.

Panjab University’s gate no. 1 (opposite the main gate of the PGI ) will be closed for 3 hours,

from 2 pm to 5 pm on Friday. Exit from the Government Multi-Speciality Hospital, Sector 16, on the Madhya Marg will remain closed from 2.30 pm to 5 pm. Patients will be allowed entry from the same gate in case of emergency. The exit and entry gates on the Rose Garden side will remain open.

PGI’s stamp to be released
Telecom Minster Kapil Sibal will release a stamp of the India Post featuring PGI’s Nehru Hospital during the convocation on Friday. The Rs 5 stamp, which was issued by the India Post in January this year, will be released by the institution to commemorate the golden jubilee celebrations, which started last year.

Airport road recarpeted
The Chandigarh Administration has recarpeted the Airport road. The road had been in a very bad condition since sewerage lines were laid along it six months ago. Charanjit Saini, a resident of Zirakpur, said it was a nightmare to drive on this road, but thanks to the President' visit, the authorities had recarpeted it now. 

Chandigarh, March 14
Several airlines operating at the domestic airport have changed their flight timings in view of President Pranab Mukharjee’s visit to the City Beautiful tomorrow. According to the instructions issued by the Chandigarh ATC, the airfield will remain shut down from 9.30 am to 12 noon due to the President’s landing and some military exercise to be carried out on his arrival at the airport.

The runway is also expected to be closed for about 40 minutes, probably after 3 pm, for which the schedule has not been disclosed due to security reasons.

Following the schedule, three airlines, namely Air-India, Indigo and Go Air have rescheduled the timings of their morning flights for tomorrow.

For instance, the arrival of the Indigo’s Mumabi-Chandigarh flight has been advanced to 8.45 am from 10.15 am earlier. The departure to Mumabi will be at 9.10 am (10.35 am earlier).

Similarly, Go-Air's Mumbai-Chandigarh inbound flight, which was scheduled to arrive at 11.05 am, has been postponed at around 12.10 pm and its departure will be after 12.30 pm

Air India’s arrival from Delhi has been rescheduled at 12.20 pm instead of 10.35 am earlier. The same flight will take off from Chandigarh at 1 pm.

Some flights may get delayed by about half an hour in the afternoon when President Pranab Mukharjee will leave Chandigarh.

Chandigarh, March 14
Chandigarh has achieved the distinction of being the most consumer literate city in the region if the analysis of the Chandigarh Consumer Courts Bar Association on the number of persons per 1,000 residents moving the consumer forum is something to go by.

An analysis of the statistics available with the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission reveal that in Chandigarh, 56 of the 1,000 residents move the consumer forum, followed by 16 of 1,000 in Delhi, nine per 1,000 in Haryana and six per 1,000 in Punjab.

“In spite of its area and population being on the lower side, almost 60,000 consumer cases have been filed since the inception of the consumer courts in early 1990s,” said Pankaj Chandgothia, president of the Chandigarh Consumer Courts Bar Association.

Rajesh Gupta, a resident of Sector 21, said: “This is because of high level of consumer awareness among citizens. People here do not hesitate to file cases regarding products priced as low as Rs 10.”

In the neighbouring Haryana, only 10 out of every 1,000 residents file such cases, while in Punjab, just over six per 1,000 file cases. Even the national capital Delhi is way behind with only 16 persons out of 1,000 bringing their grievances before the consumer court.

The disposal percentage of the cases at the district level is also the highest in the country for Chandigarh.

It is as high as 97.48 per cent for Chandigarh as against the national average of 90.97 per cent. 

Chandigarh, March 14
In one of the fastest trials in the history of UT district courts, the evidence in a case of rape attempt on a minor was recorded in an hour today.

The case, which was registered 12 days ago on March 2, is now in the final stage with the court likely to pronounce the orders by the end of this week.

Four prosecution witnesses were today examined in the court in the first-ever case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. The court had framed charges on March 12 against the accused, Ram Bahadur, alias Veer Bahadur.

The police had filed a chargesheet in the case five days after the incident. The police had arrested 40-year-old labourer Ram Bahadur for attempting to rape a three-year-old girl. The

accused, a resident of Kajheri village, is the victim’s neighbour. In a complaint to the police, the family of the victim alleged that the accused, who was in an inebriated state, took the child to a secluded area and attempted to rape her. The victim raised the alarm and neighbours rushed to her rescue. The accused was thrashed by residents of the area before being handed over to the police.

The father of the victim is an auto driver. The chargesheet has been filed under Sections 8, 18 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.

Public prosecutor Manu Kakkar examined the witnesses in the court. The victim’s mother stood by the statements given to the police and said she had caught the accused red-handed in an inebriated state while he was trying to rape her daughter. The next hearing is scheduled for tomorrow. 

Chandigarh, March 14
The Chandigarh Social Welfare Board is facing an acute financial crunch due to the non-plan budget cut and delay in the release of grant-in-aid for the financial year 2012-2013. Recently, a communication was sent by the authorities to the Chandigarh Social Welfare Board that on all sub-heads under the non-plan budget of 2012-13, excluding salary of the staff, there will be a budgetary cut of 10 percent.

Adding to woes of the board, the UT Administration has also failed to release the grant-in-aid of Rs 17 lakh as the last installment of the current financial year. Sources in the department revealed even if the Social Welfare Department released funds, they would be unable to utilise it, as the board had not been constituted by the administration so far.

The UT Social Welfare Department Director, Rajesh Jogpal, said the grant-in-aid had been delayed as the Government of India had failed to release funds.

Chandigarh Social Welfare Board Chairperson Kamlesh said a number of reminders had been sent to the UT Administration for the release of the pending grant-in-aid, but till date no action had been taken. Sources in the board said due the paucity of funds, the department was forced to delay the payment of salary to 11 employees in the month of March by 10 days.

Administration fails to notify new board

The UT Administration has delayed to notify the constitution of the new Chandigarh Social Welfare Board by over four months. The administration is yet to notify the appointment of new chairperson Kamlesh who was appointed by the Central Social Welfare Board in November last year.

A number of reminders had been sent to notify the board and chairperson. Chairperson Kamlesh said she had recently requested the administration to speed up the process. She said as the board had not been constituted, it failed to take up any issues with Directors of the Social Welfare Department, Public Instructions, Schools, Technical Education and Health, who are also the ex-officio members of the board.

UT Social Welfare Department Director Rajesh Jopal said the final decision on the selection of board members would be taken by the administration. The department had forwarded all the request letters and the proposed names to the officials concerned, he said.

Records of the social welfare board revealed that during the three-year tenure of the previous chairperson, Lalit Joshi, not a single meeting of the board was held, as it was not notified. Even after the expiry of the last tenure, no fresh panel for the board's chairperson was sent to the central board for consideration. Sources said three reminders were sent to the administration for recommending the panel for the appointment of chairperson but no proposal was sent by the authorities. The central board had to appoint the chairperson.

As per norms, members of the board comprise of four social workers from the city and four ex-officio members.

Chandigarh, March 14
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne, today released the second issue of “March Towards Excellence” at the Air Force Station here. The magazine depicts the feats achieved and operations conducted by the Chandigarh airbase.

The Air Chief arrived at 12 Wing here on the eve on the presentation of the President’s Colours to two IAF establishments, No 3 Base Repair Depot and the Air Force Central Medical Establishment.

Addressing the station personnel, he recalled some of the strategic decision making and achievements in the transport fleet operations. He also said the induction of the much awaited C-17 heavy lift aircraft would soon become a reality. He commended the vital role being played by the station in achieving various milestones.

Earlier, on his arrival, he was received by Air Commodore SC Chafekar, Air Officer Commanding, 12 Wing.

Chandigarh, March 14
The enforcement wing of the Municipal Corporation conducted an anti-encroachment drive in Sadar Bazar, Sector 19. During the drive, 65 challans were issued to the encroachers.

The drive was conducted under the directions of Additional Commissioner Lalit Siwach and supervision of Superintendent, Enforcement, Kashmira Singh.

MC staff seized readymade garments, cylinders and rehris. Ten-truck load of items were seized during the drive.

Chandigarh, March 14
Obstructive sleep apnea (breathlessness which leads to sudden waking up at night) has turned out to be a common problem. As per experts, two to three new cases are reported every week at the PGIMER's department of pulmonary medicine, with people complaining of sleep apnea.

While such lifestyle diseases are often overlooked by many people, they can lead to long-term problems, including hypertension, disrupted mental function, and also make the person prone to accidents due to drowsiness during the day, said experts.

"Sudden waking up at night and drowsiness during the day or excessive sleep at odd time is a common problem with people suffering from sleep apnea," said Dr SK Jindal, head, department of pulmonary medicine, PGIMER.

The key causes for the onset of sleep apnea, including alcohol intake, smoking and also obesity. "Mostly, the patients suffering from sleep disorders are obese. Alcohol intake also leads to gradual breathing problems," Dr Jindal added.

Maintaining hygiene and avoiding smoking and alcohol can help control the problem. It is important to wash hands and face before going to bed to relax the body and mind.

"Due to inadequate sleep at night, these patients remain drowsy throughout the day. This poses a high risk of accidents while driving," added Dr Jindal.

Sinus is another cause of breathlessness at night. Inadequate sleep also leads to woes and worries of a person. The experts suggest that such problems should not be taken lightly and one must consult a doctor in case of sleeplessness.

"Snoring is one of the major indicators of unhealthy sleeping habit, as against the common perception that it signifies a sound sleep," said the experts.

Mohali, March 14
They may shoo away lovers from parks or isolated places, but that does not mean that they do not understand love, affection and attraction. Making up for the absence of annoyed parents, Mohali police officers solemnised the wedding of a couple today.

Earlier the officers, who were not letting the couple marry at a local gurdwara in Phase VI, not only convinced the families of the two to give their consent, but stayed at the gurdwara till the couple tied the knot.

Bridegroom Ravinder Singh is a resident of Chanalo village, Kurali, while the bride, Amandeep Kaur, resides at Solkhian village, Ropar.

Earlier, high drama was witnessed at the gurdwara when the family members of the girl reached there and started blowing up the girl. On receiving information, the police reached the place and brought the couple to the Phase I police station.

Following the claims of Ravinder Singh and Amandeep Kaur that they were major, the police produced them before Mohali SDM Lakhmir Singh, who checked their birth certificates and declared them major. Amadeep Kaur is preparing for the PCS examination while Ravinder Singh is a property dealer.

The police told the families that they should accept the two as no legal action could be taken against the couple.

Following which, the family members of the bride gave in writing to the police that they had no objection to the marriage.

Chandigarh, March 14
Two out of the four Panjab University (PU) employees, who were issued show-cause notice for confusion and disorder at the 62nd Annual Convocation held at the university, have submitted their reply to the authorities concerned.

PU Registrar AK Bhandari said two of the employees had submitted their reply, while the same was still awaited from two others.

"We are waiting for the reply of the remaining two officials before proceeding with the inquiry,” he said.

The employees who have been served the notice include two assistant registrars, a superintendent and a senior assistant working with different branches of the university.

Union Minister for Human Resource and Development Dr M. Mangapati Pallam Raju presided over the function.

Panjab University Staff Association president Deepak Kaushik said all officials who organised the convocation should be asked to submit a reply over the entire incident.

Chandigarh, March 14
In a surprising move, the Panjab University (PU) authorities have decided to interact with the media only through the Director, Public Relations, (DPR) for any queries. The PU administration has decided that all queries sought from officials should be responded through the DPR.

Archana R. Singh, Director Public Relations (officiating), said the Public Relations Department would act as a liaison between the media and the PU authorities.

“Any mediaperson who wishes to contact any senior official of Panjab University such as the Vice-Chancellor, DUI, Registrar, etc., may do so through this department,” the DPR said.

The DPR said the department would connect the media to the officials, carry forward the queries to them and receive their feedbacks.

Official sources said creating a barrier between the media and the officials was an exercise to avoid contact with journalists following some stories carried by them in the recent past.

A couple of years ago, a similar order was issued during the tenure of former Vice-Chancellor RC Sobti, which was later reversed within a few days.

A PU official, while reacting to the decision, said the process of gathering information through the DPR office would add burden on the office, which could also lead to communication gaps.

Chandigarh, March 14
More government funds are set to go waste as the Education Department issued instructions to government schools to again advertise tender notices for school uniforms.

The instructions came after the last tender notices of the government schools did not get any response from the uniform suppliers. These notices were issued in response to the recent guidelines of the Education Department, which necessitated each government school to procure its own uniform and utilise the funds earmarked for buying it till March 25.

While all schools have again begun their process for re-tendering, several said it, too, was feared to meet the similar fate.

“We have no hope from the suppliers to come forward when they did not respond to our earlier tender,” said a school head.

Another school official said it would unnecessarily add to burden on us to repeat the similar exercise. “Moreover, it seems a wastage of money as none of the suppliers is coming forward to supply us uniforms due to tough specifications and lesser amount offered in the official guidelines,” he said.

Every school will now again spend about Rs 6,000-Rs 7,000 for getting the advertisement published in local newspapers. A school head suggested a common advertisement on behalf of all schools.

Many school heads said: “Unless the government amends the policy and makes some changes in the upper ceiling of the rates, the suppliers will not come forward”.

As per information, some schools managed to get applications. But, over 95 per cent of the schools are going for re-tendering as their last tender did not fetch them requisite amount of financial bid. They need at least four applications for opening the tender.

Quantity orders missing
Several government schools, including GMSSS- 43A, GHS-Dadumajra, GMMS-Khudda Jassu, GMSSS-10, GMSSS-23, have not mentioned the quantity of their orders in the tender notice uploaded on the Education Department’s official website.

Fatehgarh Sahib, March 14
Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University organised a seminar on “Preservation of Environment: Challenges before Humanity” to commemorate the Gurtagaddi Diwas of Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib.

Padam Sri Baba Sewa Singh, chairman, Nishan-E-Sikhi Charitable Trust, Khadoor Sahib, inaugurated the seminar, whereas Jathedar Avtar Singh, president, SGPC, and the chancellor, presided over.

In his inaugural address, Baba said in Sikh doctrines, the place of nature was supreme but human beings were destroying it to achieve selfish motives. He condemned the ruining of nature for religious rituals.

Jathedar Avtar Singh said the SGPC, the main governing body of Sikhs, had initiated the drive to plant saplings at all SGPC institutions across the country. He called upon the Sikhs to follow in the footsteps of Gurus for taking care of the environment.

Dr AS Reddy, Head, Department of Energy and Environment, Thappar University, Patiala, said science and technology had made the life of human beings comfortable, but it had led to the exploitation of natural resources.

Bibi Kiranjot Kaur, member, SGPC, said Sikh concepts provide strong basis for the preservation of environment.

Vice-Chancellor Dr Gurmohan Singh said the conference had provided a common stage to environmentalist, scientists, professors and research scholars from different universities, institutes, science institutions to deliberate upon various issues related to the preservation of environment.

Dr Jaspal Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Punjabi University, Patiala, Dean Academic Affairs, Dr Kanwaljit Singh, Dr Pritpal Singh, Registrar, and a number of scholars from different universities, colleges and science institutions also addressed the gathering on the occasion. — OC