& V I C I N I T Y
Sunday, August 16, 1998
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C H A N D I G A R H & V I C I N I T Y |
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Sunday, August 16, 1998 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Free
education to bright SC students |
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 Dry day, but spirits high CHANDIGARH, Aug 15 — Bacchus lovers toasted to the nation's prosperity, unmindful of the fact that today was one of the three dry days observed in the country. Snag triggers
phone problem |
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Onion price brings tears PUDA
accused of bias Extension likely for PGI ad hoc doctors New STD facility for subscribers |
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Free education to bright SC
students CHANDIGARH, Aug 15 — The UT Administration has decided to give free education to bright children hailing from Scheduled Castes and weaker sections of society even after the plus two level. The scheme will be implemented from this year. This was announced by Lieut-Gen B.K.N. Chhibber, Governor of Punjab, and UT Administrator while unfurling the National Flag at the Independence Day celebrations at Parade Ground here today. General Chhibber also announced that the monthly state pension for freedom fighters had been increased from Rs 250 to Rs 1100. The entire function this morning was marred by incessant rain. However, all programmes on the agenda were performed. Impeccably dressed marching troupes of the police, scouts, school children and others assigned cultural roles braved the torrential rain. The function began with unfurling of the flag. This was followed by an inspection of the parade by the Governor in a Gypsy. War widows apart from 13 publicmen and UT employees were honoured for their outstanding contributions in various fields. The list of war widows to be honoured on the occasion included Mrs Sheela Rai, wife of Col Dewan Ranjit Rai; Mrs Gurinder Kang, wife of Capt Balbir Singh Kang; Mrs Parminder Kaur, wife of Major Kanwaljit Singh; Mrs Satish Kumari, wife of Sqd Ldr J.D. Kumar; Mrs Daulat Kaur, wife of Sepoy Udham Singh; Mrs Surinder Sidhu, wife of Major Parminder Pal Singh; Mrs Surjit Kaur, wife of Subedar Dewan Singh; Mrs Samesher Kaur wife of Sepoy Mukhtiar Singh; Mrs Jaswantjit, wife of Second Lt Ajit Singh; and Mrs Swinder Kaur, wife of Sepoy Mela Singh. The wife of Sukhwinderjeet Singh Randhawa, who laid down his life in the Kashmir valley, was not present. She is at present undergoing training for the officers course for Commissioned Officers in Madras. Three police officials, including Inspector Satbir Singh, Inspector Prem Singh Malik and ASI Subash Mehta, were named for the President Police Medals. The troupe of Chandigarh Police was adjudged the best in the parade. The NCC wing of boys was second while Shivalik Public School was named third. The 13 publicmen and
employees of UT Administration to be honoured on the
ocassion were Mr Rajnish Watts, Dr Aditya Prakash, both
architects; Mr R.K. Saboo, an local industrialist; Mr
Raghbir Singh, a sarpanch; Mr S.D. Sharma, a UT employee;
G.S. Virdi, a veteran athletete, Mr Vijay Goel, an
artist; Ms Madhu Sarin, Dr R.K. Kohli, a professor in
Botany at PU; SI Ram Gopal, Rattan Singh, a carpenter, Mr
Roop Ram, UT Secretariat employee, and the Late Mrs
Swarcha Paul, the key personality behind City Museum. General Chhibber expressed happiness over the fact that the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking had started a Deluxe bus service from today. In the first phase only five buses have been introduced. The Governor also released the Atlas of "Chandigarh. He announced the launching of Chandigarh Home Page" in Hindi, Punjabi and French on Internet. The UT Administrator said the Administration would resettle only those 'jhuggi' dwellers who were earlier actually residing in the city. The work on the rehabilitation of the slum dwellers of SBS and Karsan colonies had been completed. Approximately 12,000 jhuggis had already been provided with power connections. General Chhibber said the municipal corporation had developed 12 new parks in the southern sectors. Internal roads of 30 sub-sectors had been repaired at an estimated cost of Rs 2 crore in the first phase. The shopping centres of sectors 35, 37 and 47 had been provided with parking lots. The UT Administration would develop new dispensaries in sectors 35 and 44 while the dispensary in Sector 45 would be upgraded. A homoeopathic dispensary in Sector 47 and dispensary in Mani Majra would also come up soon. The Governor disclosed that the corporation had decided to raise the capacity of the water supply scheme from 20 MGD to 60 MGD. A filtration plant of 15 MGD capacity had been commissioned at water works in Sector 39. He also informed the gathering that construction work at the three-storeyed senior citizens home had already started as also at the Community Centre in Sector 46. Functions were organised by various organisations to mark the Independence Day celebrations in the city. Prof I.B.S. Passi, Dean, University Instructions, unfurled the National Flag in Panjab University. He made a plea for building a strong, prosperous peaceful and progressive India for the 21st century. The Director of the PGIMER, Prof B.K. Sharma, took the salute at a march-past at the institute. He paid tributes to millions who laid down their lives for the country's freedom. A joint function of Punjab and Haryana regions of the Food Corporation of India was held at the Auditorium of Women's Polytechnic. The Lions Club Rose Chandigarh celebrated the day at Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 33. The club adopted 12 needy students and paid their fees for one year. Rotary Club (Chandigarh) celebrated the function with children of Bapu Dham. Mrs Kawal Bedi, president, along with other members planted 35 saplings. The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development and Canara Bank celebrated the day at their own premises. Lions Club (Chandigarh Central) organised a function at the Lions Bal Mandir in Kumhar Colony The Jan Chetna Manch discussed the problems of addiction and other social problems on the occasion. A function was organised by the Lok Shakti Party where Mr Ravi Prakash Kansal, president unfurled the flag. The Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee held a torch procession last evening. A "prabhat pheri" was organised this morning. Mr Pawan Bansal, the party's local unit president, unfurled the National Flag at the party office in Sector 35. Mr Venod Sharma along with Principal Gurbachan Singh and other leaders attended a function at Labour Chowk. Mr K.S. Sandhu, a former district governor of Lions Club unfurled the flag at Blind Bhavan, Sector 26, at a function of the Lions Club (Chandigarh Classic).Rain did not deter students of Lohia International School, Mani Majra, who assembled to pay salutations to the national heroes and the National Flag. Mr Dhanik Lal Mandal, a
former Governor of Haryana, hoisted the flag. Mr B.C. Bhardwaj, Regional
Director of the ESI Corporation, unfurled the Tricolour
at a function at the Employees State Insurance
Corporation. PANCHKULA: Independence Day was celebrated with traditional fervour and enthusiasm in the district. The main function was organised at the Sector 5 Police Parade Grounds here. The Finance Minister, Mr Charan Dass, who hoisted the National Flag, said the countrymen were breathing in an independent nation due to the sacrifices made by the freedom fighters. He called upon the people to work for the unity and integrity of the country. The minister honoured Mr Vir Singh, employed as a conductor with Haryana Roadways, for his honesty, and ASI Barjinder Singh for extracting bodies of 10 victims who had drowned in Paploha rivulet in Kalka. At another function, members of the Rotary Club of Panchkula and the Inner Wheel Club celebrated the day with the inmates of the Saket Institute for the Orthopaedically Handicapped, Chandimandir. The Rotary Club sponsored scholarships for seven needy students of the institute. Similar functions were also organised by the Panchkula Relief Society at Bal Niketan in Sector 2. As many as 70 inmates of the orphanage were given sweets and shoes by the society. At another function, students of the local government college celebrated the day by taking a pledge to work for the unity and solidarity of the country. The Market Welfare Association, Sector 7, organised a function. Mr B.B. Kochar, president of the association, unfurled the flag. Students of DC Model School presented patriotic songs on the occasion. The local unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party held the celebrations at Indira Colony. The local unit of the
Ghoomar Akademi presented a cultural programme. |
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Dry day, but spirits high CHANDIGARH, Aug 15 — Bacchus lovers toasted to the nation's prosperity, unmindful of the fact that today was one of the three dry days observed in the country. Liquor shops in the city were by and large close as shops had been sealed from the outside by the authorities, barring some in Sector 32 and Sector 48, near Jagatpura village. While an employee in the former shop would surreptiously bring bottles from a nearby shop after taking money. There was no such restriction on the latter where the workers were busy handing out bottles to the customers. Similarly, shops in SAS Nagar were open and doing brisk business. Inquiries by TNS from the shopkeepers failed to evoke any response but one person who was sitting outside a shop in Phase VI said: "Doing business on a dry day is nothing new and mediapersons unnecessarily complicate matters." To another query, he replied: "Everyone has been taken care of and no one would bother them today". All liquor shops in the city besides in neighbouring cities were open, he said. The shops selling countrymade liquor L 14 and IMFL L 2 open today were located in various parts of the city, including the ones in Phase I, near the old education board building, near the truck union, a shop facing the milk plant. Shops selling IMFL in Mundi Kharar and near the vegetable market were also doing brisk business. The SHO of Phase eight said he was unaware of any shop conducting business on a dry day. The Sector 48 shop falls under his jurisdiction. Regarding the
Sector 32 shop, a police official said that they were not
aware of anyone conducting business. However, there were
strict orders to all police stations that no liquor shop
could be allowed to carry on business. |
Onion price brings tears CHANDIGARH, Aug 15 — These are not proverbial crocodile tears one can see in the eyes of housewives these days. But they are the real ones, courtesy onions, a kilo of which cannot be bought at a price less than Rs 25. The situation aggravated in the past two weeks, as during this period, the onion prices have registered an all-time high of over 100 per cent. One could buy a kilo of onions for Rs 10 to Rs 12 just a fortnight ago. What is pinching the buyers more is the comparatively low quality of onions despite shelling out more than double the price. The 'essential' of every kitchen, onions purchased from a phariwala is dearer by Rs 2 or Rs 3 than the retail price at the Sector 26 grain market. A visit to the Sector 26, grain market by the TNS revealed that though anxious buyers could be seen making enquiries about the price of onions, but a small number of them were coming forward for actually buying the "King of vegetables'. Mrs Alka, a housewife, said onions as compared to her fortnightly purchase of onions, the price was very high and above the reach of the middle class. However, she said onions were indispensable, and she would use onions sparingly. Mr Suresh, a
businessman, who purchased nearly 5 kg of onions, said
was even planning to buy more as he thought that the
price could go up in the days to come. |
PUDA accused of bias SAS NAGAR, Aug 15 — The Junior Engineers' Association, Punjab Housing and Urban Development Department, has accused the PUDA authorities of discrimination against department JEs in violation of government assurances. The association at a meeting held here yesterday said in 1991 the housing department was merged with the housing board. The government had then given an assurance in a letter to the department and also to the high court that the rights of department officials, including seniority, would be safeguarded. However, the PUDA authorities last week had planned to promote certain JEs from the board side, ignoring the claims of department JEs. This step was to be taken even before the joint committee set up by PUDA about a month ago had submitted its report on the inter-seniority of employees. The association said department JEs were also either not being posted in the construction wing despite their having 25 to 28 years of service, or were being sent back from this wing. The association demanded
an end to the discrimination and giving of promotions
only after the determination of inter-se seniority. |
Snag triggers phone problem CHANDIGARH, Aug 15 — Thousands of telephone users in the city who utilised STD services this morning have been charged double the rates. This resulted in heated arguments at several places between STD operators and telephone users, while those having STD facility on their personal phones will realise the damage only when the bill comes. The computerised exchanges in Sectors 17 and 34 were not programmed to charge half the rates during the day for today, a national holiday. This should have been done as a matter of routine as telephone rates throughout the country are halved on August 15 , January 26 , October 2 and all Sundays. Sources in the department said that many subscribers availed of the facility of "half rates" and called numbers during daytime. Those using STD booths came to know that they were being overcharged. The Principal General Manager, Telecom, Mr Prithipal Singh, said that the snag was rectified in the morning. The snag developed as a new software had been loaded and the command installing the procedure for half rates might have been missed, he added. Mr Prithipal Singh, however, added that the issue of refunds would create problems. Meanwhile sources said each year the department's engineers feed in the calendar of the year when rates have to be halved. Thus each Sunday or on a national holiday the computers show half rates even during daytime. The automated STD routing machines with the STD operators also then charge half the rates. Same is true for those having the STD facility on their personal phones. The Tribune is in possession of computerised STD calls slips that indicate how the consumers were made to pay double than what was due. Today the half rates should have started from 7 a.m. and continued till 8:.30 p.m. On normal days this is peak time and full rates are charged. For example a call to Delhi today should have been billed at 8 second per charged unit. However, due to the problem telephone users ended up paying at the rate of 4 second per charged unit. A unit is Rs 1.25 at the STD booths while the slab system applies for other phones. Meanwhile, services from the Fetex 150 telephone exchange in Sector 17 have been disrupted partially since yesterday following the loading of a new software, it is learnt. Mobile telephone users complained that the last three digits of incoming telephones were not being displayed on their hand-sets due to which identification of the caller had become impossible. The STD users were getting a pause of silence on the line before being connected to the outstation number as the call routing beeps were missing. The problem of connectivity with other exchanges in the union territory and Panchkula, problem in operation of dynamic STD facility were among the problems being faced. Some local and outstation
subscribers of other exchanges on dialling numbers with
70 and 71 have been getting a recorded message that the
dialled number does not exist. |
Extension likely for ad hoc doctors CHANDIGARH, Aug 15 — Doctors working on an ad hoc basis in the PGI need not lose hope. The Union Ministry of Health after much delay and controversy will start processing their cases for annual extensions, thus paving the way for them to continue in the PGI , sources said. The ministry had stopped giving extensions to ad hoc doctors in the PGI, citing that no set rules or procedure had been followed in recruitment. At present about 70 doctors are working on an ad hoc basis at the PGI. The number of ad hoc doctors has gone up over the years as there has been no direct recruitment in the past four years. Thus one-third of 325 Faculty posts are lying vacant. On the other hand , a string of senior doctors are about to retire or have retired in the past six months. A couple of months ago the ministry , in an unprecedented move , had stopped the extensions in service of nearly 10 doctors, sending panic waves in the PGI faculty. Extensions in service are granted by the Union Health Minister for service beyond two years. In some case even salaries had to be stopped as extensions did not come. The PGI authorities are worried that this kind of attitude towards the ad hoc doctors will ruin the working of the premier institute which is already short-staffed. The authorities have requested the ministry to allow the present lot of ad hoc doctors to continue in service and formulate a procedure for future appointments. Ministry officials say that all governmental procedures should be followed even for recruitment of ad hoc doctors, sources said. The PGI puts up a notice
and invites applications for appointment as doctors. An
interview is conducted later. |
New STD facility for
subscribers CHANDIGARH, Aug 15 — The local telephone users will be able to dial outstation numbers of towns located in the periphery of the city by prefixing `92' to the existing STD code of that town followed by the telephone number. However, the `zero' used before the STD code will not be dialled under the new arrangement. With this towns like Kalka , Rajpura, Dera Bassi and Kharar will be accessible directly from any phone — even non STD ones — in Chandigarh, Panchkula and SAS Nagar. Other areas near these towns will also be accessible. A spokesperson of the Telecom Department gave an example how a Kalka number can be reached. The caller needs to dial 92 1733 followed by the Kalka number. For calling Chandigarh, Panchkula and SAS Nagar, a Kalka subscriber will dial 92 followed by 172 and then the required number. Calls made from one short distance calling area (SDCA) to the adjoining SDCA will be charged at the rate of 180 second per call while within the same SDCA, it shall be charged as a local call. Shifting of telephones within the SDCA will be treated as local shifts and outside the SDCA as all-India shifts. The concessions available at present under the rural package will remain unchanged in respect of call charges and free calls. The new system began yesterday. Subscribers of Chandigarh , Panchkula and SAS Nagar can dial subscribers of adjoining towns on the following codes. Dera Bassi and Zirakpur: 921762 (followed by the number) Kharar and all areas presently under the sameSTD code: 921888 (followed by the number) Kalka and all
areas presently under the same STD code: 921733 (followed
by the number) |
Residents object to rehri market CHANDIGARH, Aug 15 — Members of the Mohalla Sudhar Committee, Sector 22-D, have criticised the Chandigarh Administration for allowing the setting up of a rehri phari market in the sector. Residents are up in arms as hundreds of vendors were recently rehabilitated in the sector, and have questioned the rationale of allowing another market in their area. Mr Tarlochan Singh Chohan, president of the committee said they would protest against the move. He added that there were
already three rehri markets and weekly mandi and as such
there was no need for another one. The vendors could be
accommodated in some southern sector where such a
facility did not exist. |
Poll for Bar Council chief
stayed CHANDIGARH, Aug 15 – The Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed the election of chairman and vice-chairman of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana. This order was handed down by a Division Bench consisting of Mr Justice H.S. Brar and Mr Justice K.S. Kumaran, on a petition filed by Mr Anmol Rattan Sidhu, an elected member of the Bar Council, contesting the amendment to the rules debarring the Advocates-General of Punjab and Haryana from exercising their franchise in the election. The Bench also issued notice to the respondents and listed the case for final arguments on August 27. The petitioner stated that
the notice for the election was issued on July 28 –
much before the acceptance of the resignations of
chairman and vice-chairman. The resignations of the
chairman and vice-chairman were accepted on August 11.
The issuance of notice for the election prior to the
vacancy arising was illegal and arbitrary. |
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