Hottest-ever onset of summer
By Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 9 — The day-time temperature during the first few days of April indicates that this year has been the hottest-ever beginning of summer the city has witnessed.

The day-time temperature has shot beyond 37°C on four out of nine days and stopped a shade short of 37°C today. The minimum temperature has also risen by a couple of degrees above normal in the past three days, making city residents feel the heat as airconditioners, coolers and fans have been switched on.

Such high day-time temperature has never been recorded consecutively in the city during the first few days of April. Weather is known to be much pleasant in Chandigarh than other cities in the north-western plains.

The only time the day-time temperature crossed 37°C during the first 10 days or so in April happened in 1988. The temperature rose to 38.2°C on April 8 and April 9. Besides these two days, records at the local Meteorological Department show that the beginning of summer has never been so sudden and severe as it has happened this year.

Meteorological officials said the recording was started in Chandigarh in 1982. Since then this year the onset of summer was the hottest. However , this does not indicate that the mercury will continue to rise or remain at same level during the coming days, clarified Mr Subhash Chander Bhan, Director at the local meteorological office.

Met officials say that the only plausible reason for the sudden rise was that rains have been below normal during February and March this year. The rainfall in February was only 9.5 mm, while the normal rainfall should have been 41.7 mm. In March the rainfall was 5.8 mm, whereas the normal should have been 35.6 mm.

Usually it is the rain that leads to a drop in day temperature. All these years the day temperature in the city used to touch 35 or 36°C for a day or two before rains used to have a cooling effect.

This year due to lack of rain the temperature has started crossing 30°C on a daily basis from the third week of March. Such high temperature is an exception during March.

The early summer is indicated from the figure showing that the mercury had 37°C on April 24 in 1997. This year the day temperature had stopped a shade short of 37°C on March 30 when the mercury shot up to 36.6°C.

Ban likely on watering of lawns
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 9 — The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (CMC) is likely to impose a ban on irrigation of lawns and open spaces during morning hours. The ban is likely to become effective from April 15.

To enforce this ban, the corporation has authorised the following officials to enforce the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (Sanitation and Public Health) Byelaws,1999:

*Municipal Health Officer

*All Chief Sanitary Inspectors, Sanitary Inspectors, Sanitary Officers

*Assistant Director Malaria

*All Sub Divisional Engineers of Public Health, Roads and Horticulture Division

*All Junior Engineers

These designated officials have been authorised to impose a fine of Rs 50 on those found violating the ban orders. These officials can also order impounding of sprinklers, pipes and other equipment used for irrigating lawns and open spaces during morning hours.

After three violations, the supply of water to premises concerned can be disconnected, sources in the corporation said.

Don’t wash vehicles at home
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 9 — Be careful. Do not wash your motor vehicle at home. The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation may challan you for violating the Chandigarh water supply byelaws. The penalty may extend to disconnection of water supply.

The Municipal Corporation has authorised even Junior Engineers and SDOs besides others, to remain on the lookout for those who wash their vehicles, especially cars, at home and during morning hours.

The corporation sources say that there is no objection, if people wash their vehicles by using buckets. “But using hose pipes and pressure pipes for washing cars and other motor vehicles affects the pressure in the pipeline and others living on upper storeys do not get a drop of water. Even otherwise, the byelaws do not approve of washing of vehicles with domestic water supply.

“Further, because of regular washing of vehicles in the driveways, the water flows on to roads and collects there. In the southern sectors where there is a lot of construction activity and storm water drainage is not working properly, this collection of water is proving detrimental to the condition of roads ,” the sources added.

...later, two-wheelers were allowed
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 9 — The experiment of the Chandigarh Traffic police to divert slow moving traffic, including two-wheelers, onto the slow carriageways along Madhya Marg and Himalaya Marg dividing Sectors 21 and 22 posed a number of problems , especially for the two-wheeler drivers this morning.

In a review of the experiment carried out by the IG this evening, the experiment was modified. Two-wheelers will now be allowed onto the main roads while cycles and carts will be diverted onto the slow carriageways, the SP (Traffic), Mr Balbir Singh, said when asked about the problems faced by two-wheeler drivers due to the diversions.

During the day, the biggest complaint of two-wheeler drivers was that the roads on the slow carriageways are in a very bad condition and driving is impossible. Besides, the road is too narrow to take the traffic of two-wheelers alongside the slow-moving traffic. The ideal is to allow two-wheelers on Madhya Marg while diverting only cycles, carts and animal-drawn carts towards the slow carriageways, said a scooterist.

Another problem is that the slow carriageways join the main road near the roundabout and then again one has to divert to go back onto the slow carriageway after crossing the roundabout. This resulted in bunching of cycles, rehris and two-wheelers where the slow carriageways join or take off from the main roads. To top it all the slow carriageways have not been earmarked as one ways. For example, if those approaching the telecom office in Sector 18, miss the turn onto the slow carriageway on Madhya Marg dividing Sectors 8 and 18, use the next available turn near the Government Press to travel in the opposite direction of the oncoming traffic to reach the telecom office.

The story is the same at the petrol station in Sector 27. The same slow carriageway is used by vehicle users to travel in the opposite direction to approach the station.

The slow carriageway is also used by people approaching the numerous offices, shops and restaurants in Sectors 7, 8, 9, 22 and 26. Goods received by shops are also unloaded in front of the shops whereas space has been provided for the same at their rear side. In Sectors 7, 8, 9 and 26, the space behind the showrooms is so much that at a time two trucks can be accommodated for unloading.

Those who run their businesses from the showrooms also park their cars and other vehicles in the parking areas on the front . Their employees follow the same principle. This leads to congestion and the spillover burdens the already narrow slow carriageways.

Ramnik, Rishi top in middle exam
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April,9—Ramnik Kaur of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 19, and Rishi Kaushal of Moti Ram Arya Senior Secondary School, Sector 27, have secured first position in the annual middle standard examination conducted by the Education Department, Chandigarh Administration, in the model school and ordinary school category, respectively.

While Ramnik Kaur secured 656 marks out of 800, Rishi Kaushal got 616 marks in the examination.

The students of all government and private schools can obtain their result from their respective schools after 10 am, while private candidates can obtain their result from the school where they appeared in the examination. The result will also be available at Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 27, after 10 am.

As many as 8,145 candidates from ordinary schools and 3,919 from model schools appeared in the examination. About 5,118 students of ordinary schools and 3,471 from model schools were declared successful.

The overall pass percentage has gone up to 71.2 per cent this year as against 64.52 per cent last year. The authorities have attributed the 7 per cent increase in the pass percentage to the regular monitoring of 30 backward schools, identified by the Adviser, Mr Jagdish Sagar earlier in the session.

A total of 79 candidates from model schools and two candidates from ordinary schools secured more than 600 marks in the examination and have been placed on the merit list. The pass percentage for ordinary schools has increased from 52.08 per cent to 62.84 per cent while the result of model schools have marginally declined from 91.19 per cent to 87.57 per cent this year.

When contacted, Ramnik Kaur was composed after absorbing the news of her success. “We were not expecting her to top the examination though we were expecting her to make it to the merit list. She has done us proud,” her father said. Rishi Kaushal, on the other hand, was more demonstrative about his happiness.

Police drive against driving by minors
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 9 — Further tightening the noose around the people not following traffic rules, the Chandigarh Traffic Police, today wrote letters to all school principals asking them to ensure that the date of birth on the licences of all children driving vehicles to schools is verified and tallied with the date of birth record available with the schools.

The police plans a major drive against unauthorised driving by minors from April 12, a spokesperson for the police said.

The police has clarified that children between the age of 16 and 18 years can drive vehicles having the engine capacity not exceeding 50 cc.

Minors driving vehicles with higher capacity engines will be challaned and the vehicles impounded. The fine for the challan is Rs 500, while the owner of the vehicle will be liable to pay a fine of Rs 1,000.

Besides this, the police has requested the school authorities to warn children about the disadvantages of not wearing a safety helmet. If the students do not wear helmets they should not be allowed to park their vehicles on the school premises, the police request says.

The police has also requested the women to wear helmets voluntarily, though it is not mandatory under the Motor Vehicle Act , 1988.

Suggestions on autos sought
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 9 — The Chandigarh police has invited complaints and suggestions to improve the working of autorickshaws which operate without meters and taxi drivers who refuse to carry passengers at rates fixed by the Administration.

Similarly, complaints and suggestions have also been invited about the bus drivers who do not stop buses at authorised bus stops or misbehave with passengers.

A large number of complaint cards have been distributed among members of the public. Besides, cards are also available at pre-paid fare facility counters at the railways station, the inter-state bus terminus, Sector 17, the PGI and also at the Traffic Lines in Sector 29 .

The cards can be mailed to the Superintendent of Traffic Police, Headquarters, Sector 9, Chandigarh.

Prompt action would be taken on the complaints, a spokesperson for the police said.

Office order on building rules challenged
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 9 — A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court comprising Mr Justice H.S. Brar and Mr Justice V.M. Jain admitted a writ petition challenging the office order dated July 23, 1992 passed by the Chief Administrator, Chandigarh, allowing the construction of double storey buildings in single storey zones in case of one kanal houses in Sector 2 to 30 of Chandigarh. The court further directed that the interim order restraining Joginder Shangari, Jatinder Shangari, Anil Bhasin and Shalini Bhasin from further constructing House No. 585, Sector 16-D, Chandigarh shall continue.

The petitioner, Mr Tilak Raj Malhotra, a resident of House No. 584, Sector 16-D, Chandigarh contended that Shangari Builders and Bhasin Property Dealers had forcibly demolished the common dividing wall between House Nos 584 and 585, Sector 16-D, Chandigarh, to convert it into a load-bearing wall for the purposes of resting construction on it. It was urged that despite the Civil Judge, Chandigarh holding that the sanctioned building plan of House No. 585, Sector 16-D, Chandigarh was illegal and invalid, the Assistant Estate Officer took no action on the formal petition presented to him.

It was averred that the Capital of Punjab (Development & Regulation Act) provided for bar on erection of buildings in contravention of the building rules which among other things provided for space to be left about any building to secure ventilation, free circulation of air and for the prevention of fire. The Punjab Capital (Development & Regulation) Building Rules provided for an open space of 3 metres to be left in the front, rear and side open space in case of a building not more than 10 metres in height.

The petitioner stated that Jatinder Shangari, Joginder Shangari, Anil Bhasin and Shalini Bhasin had after demolishing the old building tried to raise an illegal double storey building structure on House No. 585, Sector 16-D, Chandigarh without leaving any open space on the side abutting house No. 584, Sector 16-D, Chandigarh and raising construction on the common wall dividing the two houses.

The Chandigarh Administration defended the alleged sanctioned building plan of House No. 585, Sector 16-D, Chandigarh on the basis of its office order dated July 23, 1992, allowing construction of double storey building in the open space. It was urged that such an office order passed in exercise of administrative powers was neither required to be notified in the official gazette nor was any amendment in the Act or Rules required to be made for giving effect to the above order.

The petitioner challenged the office order on the grounds that it amounted to amending the building Act and the Rules and taking away vested rights which was beyond the scope of administrative action. It was also stated that the impugned office order also amounted to amending the zoning plan of Sector 16-D, Chandigarh as no corresponding change had actually been made in the zoning plan.

It was also stated that the alleged office order takes away the very basic scheme of providing planned open spaces in constructed houses in Chandigarh as raising of a 24 feet 9 inches construction on a common wall dividing two houses would leave no space for light, ventilation, free circulation of air and for prevention of fire.

The Chandigarh Administration defended its action on the ground that the office order did not violate the provisions of the building Act and the Rules as such executive orders could be passed by the Chief Administrator in exercise of the powers vested in him by the building Act and hence there was no infringement in law.

The court admitted the matter to be heard by a Division Bench and ordered that the earlier directions stopping further construction of the building on House No. 585, Sector 16-D, Chandigarh shall continue.

‘Big top’ in city
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 9 — The roar of lions was an unusual sound in Sector 17 of the City Beautiful.

Tracing the roar we landed in the “big top” at the circus ground. One of the 10 African lions was announcing it presence in regal style. Nearby were about 22 tigers.

The big cats are in the main attraction of the Empire Circus which began its show in the city tonight.

In the afternoon the attendants were busy testing the swings for the trapeze artistes. We talked to Mr M.K.B. Nambiar, the owner of the circus. He is related to P.T. Usha’s coach. Mr Nambiar said this was Empire Circus’s first trip to Chandigarh, although they had held shows in the region earlier.

He talked a lot about the globe cage of death, in which four motorcyclists make their rounds in a dare-devilry “that is to be seen to be believed”.

Another show that could stand out is the ring dance, a straight lift from the famous Russian circus. The item in the Russian circus was named “hula, hula dance.”

In another cage we saw a tiger. This is a prized possession — a cross between a lion and a tiger.

The artistes are from Nepal, Bengal and Kerala. And according to Mr Nambiar, the artistes belong to all communities.

The circus was inaugurated by the Mayor of Chandigarh, Mr Kewal Krishan Addiwal.

EC orders revision of electoral rolls
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 9 — The Election Commission of India has ordered a special revision of electoral rolls of Chandigarh parliamentary constituency with January 3,1999, as the qualifying date.

The Chief Electoral Officer of Chandigarh, Mrs Anuradha Gupta, said a draft roll shall be available for inspection in the office of the Election Department from April 20 to May 20. The draft rolls shall also be available at all polling stations on April 24 and 25 and May 8 and 9 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The eligible voters, whose names have not been included in the rolls, can file their claims in the office of the Election Department, Sector 17 or the designated polling station on the specified date. The supporting documents for eligibility i.e. proof of residence in Chandigarh should be submitted along with the claim.

SNIPPETS

Demand to probe arrests
Tribune News Service
CHANDIGARH, April 9 — A deputation of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shiromani Akali Dal Councillors today met the UT Administrator and demanded an inquiry into the arrests of the councillors of both parties on March 23.

The deputation, comprising of Mr Gian Chand Gupta, former Mayor, Mr Des Raj Tandon, leader of the BJP-SAD group in the House, Mr Dharam Pal Gupta, President of the local unit of the BJP, and Mr Gurpartap Singh Riar, President of the local unit of the SAD, said the act of the Administration in arresting the leaders was “unconstitutional” and “undemocratic”. They urged the Administrator to scrap the committees constituted “illegally” by the Mayor.

Lawyers not to work on Saturdays
Tribune News Service
CHANDIGARH, April 9 — Lawyers of the local district courts decided to abstain from work on every Saturday in support of their demand for a five-day week.

According to a spokesman of the District Bar Association, any lawyer who will violate this decision would be fined Rs 500. This amount will be deposited in the account of the Bar.

The District Bar Association took this decision in support of Punjab lawyers' demand for a five-day week.

FCI employees hold rally
Tribune News Service
CHANDIGARH, April 9 — Members of All-India FCI Class IV Employees Union staged a rally to protest against the sacking of security staff on the corporation in contravention of norms here today. They demanded an inquiry by the CBI into the non-deposit of EPF and ESI contributions by the corporation authorities.

The agitators held a rally in front of the regional office of the FCI in the Industrial Area. They demanded reinstatement of the retrenched employees.

Mr Lal Singh and Mr Sukhdev Kumar, senior leaders of the union, said the employees had been retrenched even though the Supreme Court had ruled in their favour and had ordered that the employees who had put in 240 days of service should be regularised.