Poll code will be implemented: Chhibber
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 15 — The Administrator of Chandigarh, Lieut-Gen B.K.N. Chhibber (retd), highlighted various achievements of the Chandigarh Administration after unfurling the national flag and taking salute at an impressive march past in the Sector 17 Parade Ground here this morning.

General Chhibber paid rich tributes to jawans and officers who either laid down their lives or were injured while fighting the enemies in the Kargil, Dras and Batalik sectors and thanked citizens of the Union Territory for contributing generously for rehabilitation of the families of the martyrs. He also felicitated 13 war widows of various actions since 1948.

General Chhibber said that Chandigarh had been chosen one of those parliamentary constituencies where voting will be on electronic machines this time. Chandigarh would maintain its tradition of holding free, peaceful and impartial elections and every effort would be made to ensure that the model code of conduct was implemented.

The Administrator maintained that because of population explosion in the Union Territory, the infrastructure has to be upgraded. Inauguration of work on the Chandigarh-Ludhiana rail link would facilitate better traffic movement. The work on the construction of the two-way bridge over Sukhna cho on the

Chandigarh-Kalka road would be completed during the current financial year. Similarly, work on Old Age Home in Sector 43-A was nearing completion. The work on the construction of the first phase of the second Inter-State Bus Terminus was also expected to be completed soon at a cost of Rs 1 crore.

The Housing Board chowk on the Chandigarh-Panchkula road and the intersection of Sectors 34 and 35 will be provided with automatic traffic lights.

The work on the development of Phase III sectors — from 48 to 56 — was continuing. The work on development of land to be allotted to the Cooperative Housing Societies was also going on. The Chandigarh Housing Board has been entrusted with the work of development of facilities in the city sub-centre in Sector 34, Kala Gram and the 11-storeyed commercial complex in Sector 17 besides the Exhibition Ground in Sector 31.

The Municipal Corporation, he said, has augmented the water supply system in the city. About the power supply position, a 60-KV single circuit line was being laid from Sector 39 to Sector 55-B. The work on the construction of 14 new sub stations has already started. Under the Voluntary Disclosure Scheme, he said, 32,000 consumers applied for regularisation of their unauthorised load.

Keeping in view the explosion in the population of motor vehicles, the administration was aware of the problem of pollution and effective measures were being taken to contain it. General Chhibber also talked about new additions to the Sector 32 Government Medical College Hospital, Sector 16 General Hospital and new schemes to provide quality healthcare to poor and needy children. He also highlighted achievements of CITCO.

Children from various schools presented a colourful cultural programme, including group songs, a skit on the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and bhangra.

Students, police present items
From Our Correspondent

DERA BASSI, Aug 15 — Hundreds of residents and students of various schools of this subdivision pledged to make any sacrifice for the sake of the nation on Independence Day here today.

Mr Sher Singh Sidhu, Sub-divisional Magistrate, hoisted the national flag at a function organised in the playground of the local Government High School. Addressing the public, Mr Sidhu highlighted the sacrifices of leaders made for independence.

Family members of Kargil martyr, Subedar Balbir Singh of 153-Medium Regiment, a resident of Dapper village and Havildar Nirmal Singh of 66-Engineering unit, a resident of Dhire Majra, were honoured on this occasion. Subedar Balbir Singh had laid down his life in the Batalik subsector on August 9 while Havildar Nirmal Singh had died in an explosion in Bathinda in June.

The contingents of the Punjab police, Home Guard, Government Degree College (NCC), DAV High School, DAV Public School, SS Jain Girls Senior Secondary School (NCC) and Government High School participated in the parade.

Students of local government and private schools also presented cultural programmes, including skits and giddha. The patriotic medley based on film lyrics presented by S S Jain Senior Secondary School was highly appreciated by the audience. Some residents of this area perched on the trees for a better view of the programme.

Meanwhile, a holiday on Monday has been declared by the SDM in the schools that participated in the I-Day function.

Students of CVRM DAV Public School Dera Bassi dedicated the Independence Day to the martyrs of Kargil by paying them rich tributes. Mr R.C. Jeewan, Principal of DAV College, Chandigarh, while hoisting the national flag, stressed upon the need of maintaining the unity and integrity of the country.

A colourful cultural programme was also presented by kids of the school on this occasion.

ZIRAKPUR

Mr Surjit Singh, Administrator of the Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat, unfurled the Tricolour here toady and paid tributes to Kargil Martyrs. He assured the residents of the newly-formed the nagar panchayat that quick development would take place. He also said that the nagar panchayat authorities will issue the No Objection Certificate to get power connections from the electricity board.

Mentally retarded kids compete
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 15 — Children of the Government Institute for Mentally Retarded Children, Sector 32, Little Flower, Panchkula, Samarpan Institute of Handicapped, Kalka, Asha Handicapped Children School, Chandi Mandir and Bharaitya Vidya Bhavan, Sector 27, participated in the Independence-Day celebrations, at the Government Institute for Mentally retarded Children, Sector 32, this morning.

In the category of cultural events, Nidhi of the Government Institute for Mentally Retarded Children, Sector 32, received the first prize for singing a patriotic song. Gurpreet and his team won the second prize for presenting a mono-acting. The third prize was won jointly by a yoga performance by the children of the Government Institute for Mentally retarded Children, Sector 32, and a Rajasthani dance by Shalu and Mandeep.

In the fancy dress competition, Hema and Ashok from the Samarpan School were declared first, Manish Katoch of the Sector 32 institute second and Pradeep from Little Flower, third. Sanchit as a navy sailor and Poonam as Bharat mata were given consolation prizes.

BJP celebrations

The BJP nominee for the Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat, Mr Krishan Lal Sharma, unfurled Tricolour at five different places in the city today to mark the Independence-Day celebrations.

Mr Sharma highlighted the achievements of the Indian defence forces in evicting intruders from the Kargil sector. He said that the BJP government at the Centre was fully committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and integrity of the country.

Meanwhile, the local Ramgarhia Sabha has decided to extend support to the Bahujan Samaj Party nominee, Mr Mata Ram Dhiman, in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

CHB unfurls flag

The Chairman of the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB), Mr Balbir Singh, unfurled the national flag at a function on the board premises here today.

He said the development of Sectors 50 and 51, construction of Exhibition Centre in Sector 31, the Kalagram project and development of Motor Market in Sector 38 will be completed in time and the projects in the pipeline will be taken up in full steam as soon as various clearances are given, he assured.

Schoolteachers honoured
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 15 — Various educational institutions in the city organised colourful functions to celebrate Independence Day here today.

Sri Aurobindo Society, Chandigarh, organised a function at Aurobindo Bhavan to celebrate Independence Day and Sri Aurobindo's birth anniversary. The programme started with meditation and was followed by patriotic poems, songs and shlokas presented by the tiny tots. Presiding over the function, Mr Kamleshwar Sinha, formerly of Santiniketan Visva Bharati, called for aesthetic expansion of awareness. He quoted Sri Aurobindo to say: `` We belong to the noons of the future'.' Earlier, in his welcome address, Mr B.K Mehan, Chairman of the society, dwelt upon the life and vision of Sri Aurobindo.

The school headmaster and four teachers of Government High School, Hallo Majra, were honoured for their services in the field of education at a function held today. Mr Umesh Prasad Gupta, sarpanch, hoisted the national flag. The four teachers who were honoured by the panchayat were Mrs Veena, Mrs Chanchal, Mr Satya Prakash and Mr Gurcharan Singh Gill. The students who stood first in their respective classes were also given prizes by the panchayat.

The students of Sacred Heart School, Sector 26, bagged the first prize at an inter-school group songs competition of patriotic songs organised by Lions Club Chandigarh Plaza today. While students of Shishu Niketan Senior Secondary School, Sector 22, won the second prize, those of Blue Bird High School, Panchkula, won the third prize. Children from 14 schools and two Leo Clubs participated in the contest and paid poetic tributes to Kargil heroes. Mr C.S.R. Reddy, SSP, City, was the chief guest, while Mr D.S Saroya, DPI (Schools) was the guest of honour

An essay writing and painting competition marked the Independence Day celebrations organised by Dr Ambedkar Study Circle, Sector 37. The students also participated in patriotic songs singing, quiz and debate contests. The first and second prizes were won by Shilpi Bhatia and Shashi Kumar in essay writing; Rajinder and Rajeev in painting and Kishan and Deepak in debate. While the team of Nitin and Vivek won the first prize in quiz, Shashi and Jagdeep won the second prize. Kishan and Nidhi won the first and second prize in the patriotic song competition. Earlier, Mr P.R. Kedee, President of the study circle, hoisted the national flag.

Meanwhile, staff and students of Dr Ambedkar Institute of Hotel Management, Catering and Nutrition paid homage to the martyrs who had laid down their lives during the freedom struggle. A colourful function was organised after the hoisting of the national flag.

Cultural programmes mark I-Day
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Aug 15—Patriotic fervour, gaiety and cultural programmes marked the 53rd Independence-Day celebrations here today.

In Shemrock School, the celebration commenced with the hoisting of the national flag followed by a cultural programme which included patriotic songs, speeches and a dance drama. Students pledged to cherish the freedom attained after supreme sacrifices.

Posters, cards and messages prepared by students on the Kargil crisis were also displayed. A paper bag making contest was organised to enlighten students of the hazards of the use of polythene bags. Saplings were also planted on the occasion by the students and staff.

At the Saket hospital, the inmates, dressed in colourful clothes, gave an entertaining cultural programme. Earlier, the inmates visited Chandi Mandir where the Rotary Club, Inner Wheel Club and Rotaract Club presented them with a carom board, a cricket kit, two beds, a locker and a stretcher. The Bharat Vikas Parishad organised the function. Sweets and fruit were distributed among the inmates.

Speaking at the function Mrs Amit Singal, Honorary Secretary of the Saket Council, encouraged the handicapped children to build up will-power, grit and determination to be able to live like other children.

The orphans of Bal Niketan, Sector 2, presented a cultural programme and demonstrated karate skills to celebrate the day. The programme was organised by the Panchkula Relief Society.

In Government College, the Acting Principal, Mrs Santosh Malhotra, hoisted the flag and inspected the college contingent of NCC cadets.

In a function held at the parade ground in Sector 5, the Governor of Haryana, Mr Mahavir Prasad, announced Rs 21,000 for the children who had participated in the cultural programme.

The RSS organised a lecture and observed the day as "Akhand Bharat Divas'' at the Aggarwal Bhavan in Sector 16.

Tributes paid to Kargil martyrs
From Our Correspondent

MULLANPUR GARIBDASS, Aug 15 — Rich tributes were paid to Kargil martyrs by teachers and students of Mullanpur Government Senior Secondary School and the villagers on the occasion of Independence Day, here today.

The Principal of the school unfurled the Tricolour on the campus. The Puri Development Trust for Mullanpur arranged a tree plantation drive. More than 50 saplings were planted near the senior secondary school, being constructed by the trust.

A cleanliness drive was launched by the local school. A cultural programme was also organised by the students.

Students honoured on I-Day
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Aug 15 — Honouring of freedom fighters and meritorious students marked the 53rd Independence Day celebrations at the sub-division level function held at Government Senior Secondary School, Phase 3B 1 here today.

The Sub-divisional Magistrate (SDM), Mr O.P.Popli, who unfurled the Tricolour on the occasion, took the salute from an impressive march past from the contingents of the Punjab police and school children led by ASI Manjeet Singh.

The attraction of the celebrations was an item presented by students on the Kargil action.

Paragon Senior Secondary School, Gem Public School, Sant Ishar Singh Senior Secondary School, Shastri Public school, Shivalik Public School and Golden Bells School participated in the celebrations.

Mr Popli presented a shawl and memento to freedom fighters — Mr S.D.Sharma, Mr Ajmer Singh, Mr Nidhan Singh and Dr Kali Charan, whose award was accepted by his family member. The SDM announced that a park in Phase 3A had been named 'Freedom Fighters Park' .

The meritorious students honoured were : Class XII — Mandeep Kaur and Umesh Chand Sharma, both students of Government Senior Secondary School, Phase 3B 1. Class X — Gurbir Kaur (Paragon Senior Secondary School), Navneet Kaur and Sarabjeet Kaur, both students of Sant Ishar Singh Senior Secondary School. Class VIII — Navjot Kaur (Shastri Model Public School) and Manpreet Kaur (Jain Public School).

Tarandeep Kaur, who won the gold medal in the 200-metre relay in the Olympics Games for mentally retarded children, held in the USA last year, was also honoured by the SDM.

The national flag was hoisted by a number of government and non-government organisations on the occasion of Independence Day in different parts of Chandigarh today.

Mr B. L Jatab, Presiding officer, Central Government Industrial Tribunal, hoisted the national flag at a function organised by the Residential Welfare Society in Sector 7 today.

The State Bank of India celebrated Independence day at its head office here today. Mr Parbhakar Sharma, Chief General Manager of the bank, unfurled the national flag on this occasion.

A function in connection with Independence Day was organised by the Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee (I) in Sector 30-B.

The Lions Club Chandigarh Shivalik celebrated Independence Day at the Government High School in Daddu Majra.

Sec 9 property to be auctioned
By Pradeep Sharma
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 15—Faced with a huge gap between expenditure and receipts, the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) has decided to auction prime commercial property in Sector 9-C here.

A recommendation to this effect was made at a recent meeting of the Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC). As many as 15 commercial sites and 23 booth sites will be put under the hammer once the decision gets nod from the House of the civic body at its meeting later this month.

A proposal to auction these sites was brought up at the meeting of the corporation on June 30. A number of councillors wanted the MCC to explore other possibilities like constructing a shopping complex in the area so that it could become a source of permanent income to the corporation. The matter was ultimately referred to the F&CC which recommended that the sites be auctioned so that "additional funds are generated and committed liabilities under non-plan are discharged in time and development work did not suffer". The committee anticipated Rs 12 crore through the auction of the commercial property during 1999-2000.

Sources informed that the fund-starved MCC had no other option but to auction the commercial property to raise short-term resources with a view to bridge the expenditure-receipts gap. The corporation has approved the Budget estimates for 1999-2000 amounting to Rs 147.97 crore—Rs 96.86 crore as non-plan and Rs 51.11 crore as plan expenditure.

The Chandigarh Administration has sanctioned the grant-in-aid of Rs 74.50 crore—Rs 48 crore for non-plan and Rs 26.50 crore for plan—leaving a huge gap of Rs 73.47 crore to be covered by the corporation from various receipts. In fact, even after taking into account the receipts of MCC and grant-in-aid from the administration, there remains a gap of Rs 32 crore which is to be met by the civic body through raising its own resources.

And with the administration deciding to effect a 10 per cent cut in the grant-in-aid per annum in future and asking the MCC to raise its own resources, the civic body had no other option except to take the short-cut route for raising resources by auctioning the commercial property.

In fact, after the letter of the Adviser to the Administrator, Ms Vineeta Rai, to the Mayor, Mr Kewal Krishan Addiwal, the civic body has started expediting the process of decision-making on the proposals for raising additional resources. While the proposal to levy property tax on the commercial property is likely to come up at the meeting of the civic body later this month, the issue of the revision of water tariff is to be taken up after the elections are over, the source said.

It may be recalled that in the absence of resources of its own, the MCC has largely been surviving on the grant-in-aid of the administration and auction of the commercial property transferred by the administration since its formation.

The Administration has transferred 29 SCO sites and 23 booth sites in Sector 9-C near the CITCO petrol station to the corporation at a token price of Re 1 on lease-hold basis for 99 years. The MCC had auctioned eight SCO sites on January 2,1998, and withdrew two sites for lack of bidders.

Similarly, at an open auction held on March 18, 1998, seven of the 12 sites put to auction were disposed of. Later, one site was surrendered by the bidder with 30 days from the date of auction.

Societal engineering to be added to courses
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 15 — The Directorate of Technical Education, UT, has floated a new concept of societal engineering to prevent environmental degradation and to ensure sustained development. The aim is to generate awareness about the relationship between society, energy and environment, and its implications.

The concept, which is the brainchild of Dr S.K Aggarwal, Director, Technical Education, will be introduced as an interdisciplinary subject at the diploma level in concurrence with the Punjab State Board of Technical Education and at the degree level of engineering courses in concurrence with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), besides a few polytechnics. Steps for preparing the curriculum for the subject have been initiated.

Giving details, Dr Aggarwal said the study of this subject would focus broadly on the interrelation between society and use of energy, quality of life and environmental degradation. The subject assumes importance in the wake of the dangerous imbalance between the sun-powered environment given by nature and the fuel-powered systems created by man, and its impact on the quality of life.

For instance, with growing urbanisation, vehicular pollution has increased manifold. The solution to the problems lies in the three-fold attack on two-wheeler engine technology and diesel engine technology and the development and use of alternative fuels, including natural gas.

It will highlight many issues in which society uses energy merely for improving the quality of life without bothering about its implications. The awareness created by the study of this concept will help check the misuse of energy through remedial measures.

Dr Aggarwal highlighted the need to include development parameters in addition to parameters derived from physical laws. The start of this subject does not include any additional expenses as existing infrastructure, including faculty, can be used for the same.

Hoarding removal likely today
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Aug 15 — Following the 15 days' time given to the municipal bodies to remove hoardings and sign boards from 50 metres from roads, the local municipal council is likely to start a drive to remove them from tomorrow.

Officials of the council say that though earlier the hoardings and sign boards, especially along the main road passing through Phases 3B1, 3B2, 3A , 4, 5,7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, had been removed, encroachers had again put the boards back.

The Sohana road contract leasing out about 50 hoardings at a cost of about Rs 6 lakh for a year is also likely to be terminated after six months following court orders. An official said the hoardings had been rented before the court order.

Ban on throwing of waste sought
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Aug 15 — The SAS Nagar Citizen's Welfare Council has drawn the attention of the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) towards the untreated sewer waste being thrown by the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation in a choe, Patiali Ki Rao, passing through this township.

Seeking a ban on throwing of untreated sewer waste in the choe, Mr B.S. Tej, President of the council, said apart from spreading nauseating smell, it was creating unhygienic conditions. A demand to set up a sewerage treatment plant was also made.

During the monsoon, rain water entered the low-lying areas in the township, especially in Phases 2 and 5, and there was a need to lay additional storm water lines before the next monsoon, said Mr Tej.

Construction of a civil dispensary in Phase 1 and a community centre in Phase 5, which had been approved, were yet to begin. The council urged the PUDA to take up the construction of community buildings at the earliest. Maintenance of public parks in developed sectors was also sought.

the council expressed concern over mushrooming of unauthorised labour colonies in Phase 10 and Sector 71. It urged the PUDA to check expansion of such slums.

Sikh bodies to continue stir
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 15 — Twenty Sikh organisations and Gurdwara Committees which held a meeting at the Sector 34 gurdwara today decided to continue their ongoing agitation to demand immediate exemption of Sikh women, both drivers and pillion riders of two-wheelers, from wearing helmets.

The meeting reviewed the assurance given by the SGPC chief, Bibi Jagir Kaur, that the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, had assured her that all Sikh women, throughout the country, would be exempted from wearing helmets, both while driving or pillion riding two-wheelers. The representatives of various organisations expressed their satisfaction over the assurance but maintained that the agitation must be taken to its logical conclusion.

It was further decided that since the Prime Minister would visit Chandigarh on August 19, he should make a public announcement to this effect. The next review meeting of the Sikh religious organisations would be held on August 20, a day after the Prime Minister's visit, to decide the future line of action.

It was also decided that a delegation of Sikh women would meet the Prime Minister in the city and present a memorandum to him so that the Central Government repeals the law pertaining to compulsory wearing of helmets by women, both drivers and pillion riders of two-wheelers.

The meeting also decided that a rally would be organised at the Sector 46 gurdwara on August 22 at 10 a.m.

SNIPPETS

Schools closed today
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 15 — All schools in the Union Territory of Chandigarh will remain closed tomorrow.

An announcement to this effect was made at the official Independence Day function at the Sector 17 Parade Ground here this morning.

Later the Adviser to the Administrator, Ms Vineeta Rai confirmed that all schools, including government, aided and private schools would remain closed on Monday.

PSEB results to be rechecked
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Aug 15 — The General Secretary of the Punjab School Education Board Karamchari Association, Mr Jarnail Singh Brar, today claimed that senior officials of the board at a recent meeting with the leaders of the association had agreed to get rechecked the Class XII results of the commerce and science streams of the board examination held in March 1998.

He said the board had got the results prepared from an external agency last year and rechecking of the results had been a demand of the association.

Regarding the show-cause notice issued to the leaders of the association, he said a reply in this regard had been sent to the Chairman of the board.

25 pc patients found TB positive
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 15 — Nearly 25 per cent of more than 250 patients examined at a special free TB detection camp were found to be positive cases of the disease, Dr Sarvinder Singh Gandhok, director of the camp , announced here this evening.

Dr Gandhok said that of the total patients examined, more than 150 were found to have common symptoms like persistent cough, chest pain and blood in sputum. These patients were subsequently screened through chest X-ray, sputum test and blood test. On the basis of the results available, he said that a little more than 25 per cent of these patients were found to be suffering from TB.

Dr Gandhok said that there had been a phenomenal increase in the number of TB cases in the city, especially in slums, unauthorised colonies and villages. From these carriers, it was spreading to affluent sections of society as most of the patients were employed as domestic helps, maid servants, cooks and for similar other jobs.

Dr Gandhok said that his organisation would continue to organise similar free TB detection camps besides educating the general masses about this dreaded disease which according to the latest WHO report was afflicting nearly 30 per cent of the world population.