Oil firms urged to devise fool-proof method in LPG CHANDIGARH, Sept 6 — The Ludhiana Cooking Gas Consumers' Association has demanded that the major oil companies should devise a method for affixing of a fool-proof seal on the cylinders, in order to curb pilferage.

Woman complains of threat to life
SAS NAGAR, Sept 6 — A married woman of Sector 71 here has complained to the police that her husband had been beating her up and threatening to kill her for failing to meet his demands for money from her parents.

Forum notice to Milkfed, Coca Cola
CHANDIGARH, Sept 6 — The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-II, UT, Chandigarh, has issued notices to Milkfed and Coca Cola India Ltd., on two separate complaints alleging overcharging by their respective vendors.

Cartoon contest on cops

Fixed pay for selection grade teachers
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 6 — The teachers who have been working in the selection grade for five years will as per the agreement now get paid at the fixed rate of Rs 14,940 a month.

The new entrants who have not done their M.Phil or Ph.D or their degrees have been withheld for one reason or the other, will now get three increments instead.

These are two of the major demands which have been accepted by the government, according to a spokesperson of the teachers who spoke to TNS here late last tonight.

Clarifying on the demands, he said for example, a teacher who had been placed in the selection grade in 1993 would get the present amount while a person coming into the grade next year would get it in 1998. For teachers who have been in the grade before 1991 would get the present amount from January, 1996.

Taking up the issue of enhancement of scales with effect from January 1, 1996, the government agreed that the question relating to the adjustment of the total years of service along with the service of the immediate feeder grade for promotion would be discussed further and finalised in consultation with the UGC.

The spokesperson also said that it was agreed that the UGC would prepare a specific scheme in consultation with the government to give recognition to meritorious teachers who may not have done their M. Phil or Ph.D but who have made outstanding contributions in teaching and research.

Other issues relate to part-time teachers, the scales to be given to demonstrators, tutors under the merit promotion scheme (MPS), instructors, coaches and the teachers in performing arts etc. These issues are already being discussed with the UGC and the teachers organisations and the government would take expeditious decisions in this regard.

Pinky case: teachers suspend stir
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 6 — Keeping the interests of the students in mind, the Government Teachers Union, Chandigarh, today decided to suspend the agitation against the suspension of three teachers allegedly involved in the Pinky case.

A press note issued here said that the decision to suspend the agitation for the time being had been taken following a meeting with the Secretary, Education, Mrs Anuradha Gupta, today.

A charter of demands was also submitted to Mrs Gupta.

Following the suspension of the agitation, the terminal exams scheduled to begin tomorrow will be held as per schedule.

All-party meeting on parking fee today
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 6 — In the absence of any protest by traders, government employees and political parties, the system of paid parking functioned especially, in Sector 17 for the second day today.

As today was the closed day for the traders and government employees, no protest could be witnessed to the levying of parking fee. The contractor at the parking lot in front of the Bata shoe store up to the traffic point issued parking slips for the whole day though there were lesser number of vehicles in the parking lot because of Sunday.

The protest against the levy of the parking fee is likely to be intensified tomorrow when shops and government offices reopen. An all-party meeting, minus the BJP is planned for tomorrow in which the future course of action for opposing the parking fee will be discussed.

While protests are likely to be intensified tomorrow, corporation officials, on the other hand, asserted that the remaining parking lots would start functioning in a "phased manner" in the days to come. The help of the police would also be sought whenever necessary, they said.

MCC warning: The municipal corporation authorities today warned the staff not to take part in any protest and agitation during office hours.

A press note issued here threatened that if any employee joined the protests without the prior permission of the competent authority, action would be taken against him, as per rules.

Oil firms urged to devise fool-proof
method in LPG
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 6 — The Ludhiana Cooking Gas Consumers' Association has demanded that the three major oil companies should devise a method for affixing of a fool-proof seal on the cylinders, in order to curb pilferage in LPG.

The association, in a press note issued here today, suggested that such seals should bear the name of the company, the date of refilling and the batch number and should be fixed on cylinders in such a way that once broken it could not be replaced in any way so that the consumers were not fleeced by unscrupulous elements.

The president of the association, Mr C.S. Ahuja, said besides not taking proper care while handling and during transportation, it was a common practice among distributors to drain out gas from cylinders in a very crude way which was a hazardous as well as a violation of the safety norms prescribed under the Gas Cylinders Act.

Woman complains of threat to life
From Our Correspondent

SAS NAGAR, Sept 6 — A married woman of Sector 71 here has complained to the police that her husband had been beating her up and threatening to kill her for failing to meet his demands for money from her parents.

Ms Prabhjot Kumar, who was married in 1995, alleged in the complaint that her husband, Mr Inderpreet Singh Dhaliwal, and his parents had demanded that she bring Rs 3 lakh from her parents so that a plot could be purchased. A sum of Rs 1 lakh had been given but she had refused to bring any more, though her father had sought time to make arrangements for the rest of the amount.

She said she had frequently been beaten up by her husband and subjected to mental torture. Ultimately she was thrown out of the house.

The police has registered a case under sections 406 and 498 A, IPC, and the prevention of Dowry Act.

The local SP, when contacted, however, said yesterday that an application had been received from the husband's side, denying that any demands had been made.

The matter was under investigation, he added.

Forum notice to Milkfed, Coca Cola
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 6 — The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-II, UT, Chandigarh, has issued notices to Milkfed and Coca Cola India Ltd., on two separate complaints alleging overcharging by their respective vendors.

Mr Pankaj Chandgothia, a consumer activist of Panchkula, has contended in his complaint that a refreshment shop in Sector 17 charged him Rs 25 for one litre coke in spite of the bottle carrying a MRP print of Rs 20 only. Likewise, a Verka booth in Sector 11 charged 50 paise more than the printed price of Rs 4 on the Verka brand kaju pinni.

Mr Chandgothia has filed the copies of the bills issued by the vendors and the wrappings of the product in support of his contentions.

The forum, comprising its president, Mr R.P. Bajaj and members, Mr H.S. Ahluwalia and Mrs Kamlesh Gupta, has directed Milkfed and Coke to file their replies by October 14.

Cartoon contest on cops
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 6 — The Jaspal Bhatti Films will organise a cartoon contest on the theme "What to think of a person in police uniform."

The first prize winner of the contest will get Rs 5,000, while those standing second and third will be awarded Rs 2,000 and Rs 1,000, respectively. The prizes will be given at the premier of Jaspal Bhatti's forthcoming film, "Mahaul Theek Hai" to be released by October.

Teaching work to resume today
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 6 — Following negotiations between the All-India Federation of University and College Teachers Organisations (AIFUCTO), and the Central Government yesterday, teaching work in colleges and Panjab University will resume tomorrow.

Talking to The Tribune, Mr Rabinder Nath Sharma, convener of the coordination committee of college and university teachers, said the teachers would try to compensate the loss of time by taking extra classes for students.

He urged the Central Government to expedite the "pact" reached with the representatives of the teaching community.

Meanwhile, the ABVP, has welcomed the decision of AIFUCTO to call off agitation.

A spokesman of the ABVP said that the teaching community had rightly understood the voice of the students as raised by the organisation.

The spokesman urged the Vice-Chancellor to extend the last of admissions, keeping in mind disruption of teaching work.

Held for threatening landlord
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 6 — The police has arrested S.S. Bajwa for threatening his landlord, Mr D.P. Sharma, a resident of Sector 42.

According to police sources, Bajwa came to Mr Sharma's house in a drunken state and abused him. He also damaged his car.

A case has been registered.

Three hurt: Three persons were hurt when a bicycle was hit by a car in Kajheri village on Sunday. The injured have been identified as Isfaq, Abdul Hakim and Malu.

Malu has been admitted to the PGI in a serious condition.

The driver of the car, Gurdev Singh, has been arrested.

Play on drug de-addiction

CHANDIGARH: The City Beautiful gets to see many a street play, but their appeal fails to seep into audience which at times rushes home to get glued to their idiot boxes. But "Shaunq se aafat bani", which dealt with the problems of drug and alcohol abuse amongst youth, at Khuda Ali Sher village on Sunday evening was different. Directed by Zulfikar Khan of Theatre Age Group, the play was sponsored by the Drug De-addiction Centre (Nasha Mukti Kendra) of Servants of the People Society, Chandigarh.

The play commented on "hows" and "whys" of drug-addiction. It used the popular "Aati kya Khandala" and "Chal chaiyya-chaiyya" songs to regale a cheering audience.

The seven young artistes in the play put in convincing performances.
— Sonoo Singh

WHILE the incidents of robbing of customers outside and near the banks are increasing, the Chandigarh police appears to have made no arrangements for patrolling in the areas where the banks are located. According to the provisions made by the Government of India the police is expected to provide round- the-clock patrolling in banking areas and foolproof security during the working hours to infuse confidence among the customers. But the customers and the banks remain equally unprotected even during the day. Only nominal security of gunman hired by the banks themselves is visible. This is in spite of the fact that these gunmen are only a symbol and cannot protect anyone in the event of a robbery. Most of them are not properly trained. Their weapons are outdated. The police ought to take the issue of providing security in the city, which has the largest number of banks in the country as per the density of its population, more seriously.

The Chandigarh police seems to have topsy-turvy priorities, which have no place for even common security of the people. Surprisingly, the city has only challaning police but no traffic regulatory police. This is the impression one gets when one sees the city police functioning.

Road dividers
The dividers in the form of concrete blocks used on roads along sectors 21, 22, 34 and 35 do not serve the intended purpose of non-crossing of road by traffic users.

A reader of The Tribune, Mr B.S. Pooni, in a letter to Sentinel, says that cement concrete blocks cannot have proper binding force on the smooth surface of a road constructed with bitumen. To obtain adequate binding force for concrete blocks to serve as dividers, the existing road surface is required to be dismantled before laying the blocks.

With the increased intensity of traffic, the blocks turn from one end to the other to make the dividing line haphazard. "Now it is to be seen whether the technically sanctioned estimates of the department concerned contained a provision for dismantling of road surface while laying the blocks and was the work executed as per sanctioned estimates. Both ways, the public has to bear the cost of wrongful execution of brick blocks by the PWD Department".

Moreover, some space, approximately 18 inches, has been left between two blocks. It facilitates the movement of bicycles and even mopeds through them. Even children use this space to crisscross the dividers leading to traffic hazards.

He says that these blocks should have been plugged from the top by using reinforced cement concrete slabs which could have served the purpose of continuity and also for holding the blocks in position.

Further, the widened portion of the road where hard shouldering was done is not roadworthy as the surface of this portion is different from the surface of the original road. It can be brought at par with surface coating. But the department concerned is not moved by frequent movements of blocks and accidents on this stretch.

Derailed drive
Even as the municipal corporation was planning to go ahead with the second phase of the anti-encroachment drive all over the city, a letter from the local member of Parliament to the Adviser to stop harassing vendors put a spanner in the works.The letter somehow reached the leaders of the rehri phari wallas and they went to town with it.

Officials of the corporation were surprised when these leaders produced copies of the letter and urged them to drop challans of the vendors at a fraction of the fine. When an official questioned one of the pradhans as to why the vendors were not using the day market schemes instead of encroaching corridors and other busy thoroughfares, he could not give a convincing reply. Encroachments for encroachment sake perhaps!

Though it was necessary to strike a balance between urban discipline and human considerations, could widespread growth of pavement occupations be allowed? Experience has proved that periodic surveys to identify and remove encroachments have not been able to do much. In such a scenario what was the idea of such drives which entailed a lot of planning and expenditure, only to be thwarted half way through, officials lamented .

Spate of thefts
With the prized seizure of two members of a Bawria gang by the police in connection with the robberies which rocked Panchkula, hue and cry raised by the residents over the deteriorating law and order situation has died down, at least for the time being.

Perhaps learning from its experience and due to the browbeating by the residents the police officers have initiated a number of steps. The verification of migrant labour living in different labour colonies and servants has been stepped up.

At a recent meeting chaired by the Director General of Police, Mr S.K.Sethi, at Panchkula the district police force was pulled up by him to show better results. The Station House Officers have been made accountable for the law and order situation in their respective jurisdiction.

Apart from the incidents of robberies in Sector 21, the police appears to be clueless about the spate of thefts in the town in the past few months. Most of the reported burglaries have been reported from locked houses.

The residents feel that the police should sharpen its crime detection abilities and put a stop to the increasing incidents of thefts.

Prof R.K. Suri
Prof R.K. Suri, head of the cardiovascular and thoracic surgery department, at the PGI, bid adieu to the institute after a long and fruitful innings last month. It was he who started the coronary artery bypass graft surgery five years ago in the PGI. In these years he established the systems to replace heart valves and carried out correction of complex congenital cardiac abnormalities.

The surgeon, who joined the institute in 1971 and became head of the department in 1993, has over 80 publications to his name in national and international journals. Many of the publications have been cited in various books on cardiac surgery. During his tenure he researched on both experimental and clinical fields and in recent years he was actively involved in collaborative research on rheumatic heart disease.

During his tenure at the PGI he was invited as visiting professor to various Indian and foreign medical institutions and has been on the review panel of prestigious foreign journals. Besides, he was also designated a National Professor for the Comprehensive Postgraduate Courses in Cardiovascular and Thoracic surgery.

General Nagra
General Gandharav Singh Nagra, the first Indian General to enter Bangladesh with troops in December, 1971, has been discharged from hospital after angiography and angioplasty. Dr Upendra Kaul, a leading cardio-thoracic surgeon of the country, who worked at the PGI here for many years before joining the AIIMS, New Delhi, was the specialist who attended on him. General Nagra suffered a massive heart attack last month and was admitted to the Command Hospital here. He was later shifted to a private cardiac centre in New Delhi where he underwent angiography followed by angioplasty. Late last week, he returned to his home in Chandigarh where he is convalescing. Only a select number of relatives and visitors are allowed to see him as doctors have advised him complete bed rest for the time being.

General Nagra belongs to IV Gurkhas.

Congress grass stays
The congress grass is here to stay, the drive launched by the Panchkula Administration with much fanfare notwithstanding. The deadly weed is still visible on roadsides and in parks in the town.

A number of meetings with the representatives of the local Resident Welfare Association (RWA) chaired by the Deputy Commissioner preceded the drive. The residents complain that the drive lost its sheen due to the casual approach adopted by government agencies. Even the decision to involve the RWA failed to give any impetus to the drive.

Moreover, the instructions to uproot the weed were grossly overlooked. As a result it has grown again at a number of places. To top it all the weed after being cut, instead of being destroyed in open isolated spaces, has been dumped in open spaces within the populated sectors.

Photo medal
Mr Subhash Sapru, a city based amateur lensman, has distinguished himself in the international circle of photography by winning a medal in the photojournalism section of India Print Circuit for the second consecutive year.

Mr Sapru had won three medals and a certificate of merit in the India Print Circuit, a series of six international exhibitions of photography last year. He was among the few photographers who had won three or more medals in this international circuit. Professional as well as amateur photographers from 33 countries had sent their entries for the circuit during last year.

Now he has again been awarded for his outstanding story telling photograph in photojournalism section of the second exhibition of the circuit scheduled to be held at New Delhi. As the circuit comprises six exhibitions, the first exhibition has already concluded at Jodhpur where one of his photographs was also displayed. The remaining four exhibitions of the circuit are scheduled to be held at Nainital, Indore, Bhopal and Burhanpur.

The circuit has been approved by the Photographic Society of America, Oklahoma, USA and India International Photographic Council, New Delhi and the exhibitions are being conducted with their recommended practices.