& V I C I N I T Y
Tuesday, January 19, 1999
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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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Tuesday, January 19, 1999 |
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Results spring surprise winners CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — The results of the panchayat poll are mixed and the race to "claim" the Independent candidates is already on. The elections were not contested on party symbols. Northern Rly fined 15,000 for harassment CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — In a rare decision, the UT District Consumer Disputes Redressal (Forum-II) has slapped a fine of Rs 15,000 on the Northern Railway, Train Superintendent Bawa Singh, and Train Ticket Examiner Nirmal Singh of the Shatabdi Express (New Delhi-Amritsar) for causing inconvenience and harassment to Ms Madhu P. Singh. PGI selection panel yet to be formed CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — Even as 10 months have gone by since the BJP came into power at the Centre, the Union Health Ministry is yet to form the selection committee that will be empowered to appoint doctors and other staff against vacant posts at the PGI. All this was happening as nearly 140 posts of doctor had been advertised and close to 700 doctors had applied. |
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Council
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Panchayat poll Results
spring surprise winners CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — The results of the panchayat poll are mixed and the race to "claim" the Independent candidates is already on. The elections were not contested on party symbols. The elections sprung surprise winners while tall figures bit the dust. While some candidates were claiming that they had the backing of political parties, stressing this in their campaign, others were not so open about their affiliations. No party has released a list of their successful candidates and efforts are on to win over the Independent candidates. As many as five winning candidates have fought on their own steam. The local unit of the BJP with Mr Dharam Pal Gupta, the president of the party, pointed out, the "indifference" of the MP, Mr Satya Pal Jain, towards the poll and has alleged that he did not campaign for their candidates. As a result of which only three party-backed candidates could post wins. This claim also rings hollow as the three candidates — Mr Harbhajan Singh (Dhanas), Ms Shanti Devi (Raipur Khurd) and Mr Jai Chand (BJP) — have been asserting during their campaign that they will fight on their own. The MP on his part has preferred to remain silent but in a statement issued from New Delhi today claimed that out of the 147 posts of sarpanches and panches, as many as 50 elected members belonged to their party. However, no list containing the names and villages to which the sarpanches belong has been released. A factor of the changing face of village politics were surprise immigrant winners like a rickshawpuller, Ramu (Congress) from Kajheri and Mr Umesh Prasad (Independent) from Hallomajra while Mrs Leelawati (Congress) upset all poll calculations to post a win from Daddumajra. On the flip side, Mr Bhupinder Singh (Congress) from Palsora, Mr Mohan Singh(SAD) of Raipur Kalan and Mr Kesar Singh (Independent) of Kajheri lost contrary to popular expectations. Mr Venod Sharma, president of the Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee, has attributed the victory of a majority of the party-backed candidates to a clear verdict of the people of the villages. The party reportedly backed 12 out the 17 winners, which could signal a re-emergence of the party at the grassroot level. The panches of three panchayats — Khuda Jassu, Kaimbwala and Behlana — have been elected unopposed. The sarpanches of Behlana and Khuda Jassu too have also been elected unopposed. As many as 52 candidates were in fray for the remaining posts of 15 sarpanches out of a total 283 candidates in the fray. The winners are as follows: Mauli Jagran — Mr Kartar Singh (Sarpanch), Ms Sheel Devi, Mr Joginder Singh, Ms Draupadi, Ms Shakuntla Devi, Mr Kishen Chand, Mr Narayan Sharma, Mr Darbara Singh, Mr Kesar Singh and Mr Gulab Singh, all panches. Kishangarh: Ms Bhupinder Kaur, (Sarpanch), Ms Suresh, Ms Krishna Devi, Mr Bhajan Singh, Mr Bhagwan Singh, Mr Santa Singh, Mr Kawal Kishore, and Mr Ramhand Raturi, all panches. Khuda Lahora: Mr Manmohan Singh, (Sarpanch), Mr Kaur Singh, Ms Gian Devi, Ms Subash Rani, Mr Rakesh Sharma, Mr Labh Singh, Mr Jagdish Chand, Mr Ramesh Dass and Mr Ujagar Singh, all panches. Sarangpur: Ms Bhupinder Kaur, (Sarpanch), Ms Sita Devi, Ms Nasib Kaur, Mr Harbans Singh, Mr Surjit Singh, Mr Jaswinder Singh, Mr Devinder and Mr Gurbachan Singh, all panches. Khuda Ali Sher: Mr Pala Singh, (Sarpanch), Ms Angrej Kaur, Ms Krishna Devi, Ms Jasbir Kaur, Ms Roshani Devi, Mr Ajmer Singh, Mr Hukum Chand, Mr Rattan Singh, Mr Kashmir Singh, Mr Piara Singh, all panches. Kajheri: Mr Ramu, (Sarpanch), Ms Rani, Ms Rajinder Kaur, Ms Shanti Devi, Mr Kuldeep Singh, Mr Babu Singh, Mr Ajaib Singh, Mr Gurmeet Singh, Mr Ajit Singh, Mr Nirmal Dass, Ms Sarla Sharma, Mr Kulwant Rai, all panches. Maloya: Ms Surjit Kaur, (Sarpanch), Ms Gurnam Kaur, Ms Surinder Kaur, Ms Bhupinder Kaur, Mr Darshan Singh, Mr Rajpal, Mr Major Singh, Mr Avtar Singh, Mr Mahendra Pal and Mr Rajendra Kumar, all panches. Palsora: Mr Jai Chand, (Sarpanch), Ms Surinder Kaur, Ms Hardip Kaur, Ms Jaspal Kaur, Ms Saroj Kumari, Mr Gurmel Singh, Mr Ram Phal, Mr Shiv Ram, Mr Sukhwinder Singh, Mr Bhupinder Singh, Mr Major Singh and Mr Angrej Singh, all panches. Hallomajra: Mr Umesh Prasad, (Sarpanch), Ms Surjit Kaur, Ms Harinder Kaur, Ms Rattan Kaur, Ms Ramo Devi, Mr Lal Jha, Mr Gurdhian Dass, Mr Mohan Srivastav, Mr Jagmohan Thakur, Mr Kalka Prasad and Mr Dinesh Jha, all panches. Daria: Mr Parkash, (Sarpanch), Mr Sharda Prasad, Ms Usha Dhiman, Ms Gurmal Kaur, Ms Manjit Kaur, Mr Harish Chand Sharma, Mr Gurpreet Singh, Mr Navkishore Yadav, Mr Hari Singh and Mr Om Singh, all panches. Raipur Kalan: Mr Bahadur Singh, (Sarpanch), Ms Harmel Kaur, Ms Balwinder Kaur, Mr Ramvir Singh, Mr Naib Singh, Mr Harminder Singh, Mr Harjit Singh and Mr Karnail Singh, all panches. Dhanas: Mr Harbhajan Singh, (Sarpanch), Ms Piar Kaur, Mr Rattan Singh, Mr Amrik Singh, Mr Jaswant Singh and Mr Harbhajan Singh, all panches. Daddumajra: Ms Leelawati, (Sarpanch), Ms Gurdip Kaur, Mr Ved Pal, Ms Devaki Devi, Ms Shimla Devi, Mr Gurmit Singh, Mr Subash, Mr Triveni Prasad, Mr Bhag Singh and Mr Kuldip Singh, all panches. Raipur Khurd: Ms Shanti Devi, (Sarpanch), Ms Jagir Kaur, Mr Gian Singh, Mr Neetu, Mr Ranjit Singh, Mr Jaspal Singh, Mr Sukhdev Singh and Mr Piara Singh, all panches.
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Northern Rly fined 15,000 for
harassment CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — In a rare decision, the UT District Consumer Disputes Redressal (Forum-II) has slapped a fine of Rs 15,000 on the Northern Railway, Train Superintendent Bawa Singh, and Train Ticket Examiner Nirmal Singh of the Shatabdi Express (New Delhi-Amritsar) for causing inconvenience and harassment to Ms Madhu P. Singh, a resident of Sector 16-A, here. Mr R.P. Bajaj, Mr H.S. Walia and Mrs Kamlesh Gupta, president and members of the forum, respectively, also ordered the Northern Railway to refund Rs 700 charged from her by way of a fine by the Train Ticket Examiner with interest at the rate of 10 per cent per annum from March 31, 1997, till the date of payment. The respondents have been ordered to comply with this order within one month from the date of receipt of this order. In her complaint, Ms Madhu P. Singh had stated that she was to travel from New Delhi to Chandigarh on March 31, 1997 by the Kalka-Shatabdi Express (No 2005). She purchased the ticket and reached platform No 1 of the New Delhi railway station. She was allotted a seat in coach No C-5. On approaching the platform she found a board displaying the name of the train Kalka-Shatabdi Express. Accordingly, she took a seat in the coach. However, another passenger approached her and told her that she was sitting on her seat. In the meantime, the train left the railway station. She approached the Train Superintendent and told him that she had boarded the wrong train because the Shatabdi Express was bound for Amritsar, which also started from platform No 1. She requested the Train Superintendent to stop the train at Sabzimandi railway station to enable her to get down. However, he refused to oblige her. Instead, she was allegedly treated rudely. The complainant and other passengers later ascertained that Flying Squad Inspector, Mr Krishna Murti, was also travelling by the same train and he would disembark at Ambala Cantonment. She and other stranded passengers requested Mr Krishna Murti, who assured them that they would be able to alight at Ambala Cantonment, where the train normally did not halt. The Train Ticket Examiner charged her Rs 700 as fine. Finally, at a distance of about 1 km or so the train halted and the complainant and other such passengers could get down from the train.
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PGI selection panel yet to be
formed CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — Even as 10 months have gone by since the BJP came into power at the Centre, the Union Health Ministry is yet to form the selection committee that will be empowered to appoint doctors and other staff against vacant posts at the PGI. All this was happening as nearly 140 posts of doctor had been advertised and close to 700 doctors had applied. As per the Act of Parliament governing the PGI, the selection committees had to be formed by the institute body of the PGI. The institute body of the PGI was formed by the Ministry during the first week of December and no meeting of the body had been convened so far. Even if a meeting was convened now it would take another two months before procedural formalities, including the formation and convening of the selection committee, could be completed. This was an unprecedented delay in forming the committees and it was causing untold harm to the PGI, said a highly placed source. The institute was already suffering on account of shortage of staff. It had been nearly four years since appointments of doctors had been made to the institute. All these years one legal wrangle after another had delayed matters. Finally when everything had been put in place, the formation of a committee was holding up things, said the doctors. Meanwhile a total of 678 doctors had applied for 134 posts that had been advertised to fill in the huge number of vacancies at the PGI. Sources said 585 doctors had applied for 98 jobs of Assistant Professor , the entry level at the PGI. Another 93 doctors, including 61 internal candidates, had applied for the 36 posts of Professor in various departments. No one had applied in the
departments of anaesthesia and cardio-vascular surgery.
Senior doctors at the PGI said the applicants for the
post of Assistant Professor would provide a good choice
while the number of applicants for the posts of professor
were abysmally low. A total of 93 applications for 36
posts was not good competition, said a senior doctor. |
Modern grain market for city CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — The UT Administrator, Lieut-Gen BKN Chhibber (retd), today laid the foundation stone of the new grain market in Sector 39 here. Speaking on the occasion, General Chhibber said with the construction of the market, the congestion in the Sector 26 Grain Market would be reduced. This would also give a boost to the development of the southern sectors, he said. He instructed the officials to keep the shortcomings of the Sector 26 Grain Market in mind while making the new market the most ultra-modern market of the region. Video-filming of the area should be done with a view to checking the encroachments, he added. Mr Jagdish Sagar, Adviser to the Administrator, informed that the first phase of the market would be completed in a year. The market was being constructed by changing the original master plan of Le Corbusier, he added. He said some of the architects attending the recent conference on "Chandigarh 50 years of idea" had opined that to save Chandigarh certain changes must be made in the master plan. To be constructed in an area of 75 acres at a cost of Rs 10 crore, the market would have covered auction platforms for the convenience of traders and farmers. The market would have 49 shop-cum-flats for fruit and vegetables, 29 shop-cum-offices and 144 vegetable and fruit shops. Prominent among others, who spoke on the occasion were the Mayor, Mr Kewal Krishan Addiwal, the Finance Secretary, Dr G Vajralingam, and the Deputy Commissioner, Mr R K Rao.
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Pulses cheaper, but not for
consumer CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — Despite a fall in the wholesale prices of pulses, the consumer continues to pay higher prices for these in the retail market. According to sources in the trade, though the wholesale prices have started coming down during the past two weeks, most of the retailers, aware of the fall in prices, were yet to pass on the difference to the consumer. The maximum difference in the price has been witnessed by good quality black gram, the wholesale price of which has come down from Rs 1700 to Rs 1500 a quintal. Its average quality is priced at Rs 1400 per quintal. It is still sold in the retail market at the old price between Rs 20 and Rs 22 a kg. The same is the case with ‘dal chana’, which is still priced between Rs 20 and Rs 22 a kg against its reduced wholesale price of Rs 1500 a quintal. ‘Roungi’ and ‘arhar’, too, are available at the old prices in the retail market though the wholesale price of its ordinary variety has come down from Rs 3800 to Rs 2500 a quintal. It is sold at Rs 36. Similarly, although the price of good quality ‘reshmi roungi’, which has come down from Rs 3600 to Rs 3200 a quintal, its retail price continues to be Rs 40 per kg. ‘Arhar’ price has come down from Rs 4500 to Rs 3600 a quintal, its retail price remains between Rs 38 and Rs 40 a kg. Attributing the fall to
arrival of fresh crop of most of these pulses, the trade
sources predicted that there would be a further decline
in the prices of ‘kala chana’ as an
exceptionally good crop was expected this year. “If
the present price trend is any indication, the price of
grams can go down between Rs 800 and Rs 1000 during
April, when fresh crop arrives in the markets,” said
a wholesaler. |
NSUI supports strike CHANDIGARH, Jan 18—Due to the indefinite strike in the colleges of the city, the seminar at Government College, Sector 11, on career options in the Army, scheduled for January 21 has been postponed. The new date will be announced later. The one-day strike call given by the Panjab University Campus Students' Council (PUCSC) was partially successful in most city colleges. Classes were held regularly in the first half of the session while the second half saw poor attendance in one or two colleges. Students chose to stay away from their classes in most colleges where the presidents of the respective college councils were active. However, classes in Dev Samaj College for Women, Sector 45 and MCM DAV College were well attended throughout the day. A delegation led by Mr D.P.S. Randhawa, President, PUCSC, met Mrs Anuradha Gupta, Home and Education Secretary, and apprised her of the situation. She assured them that the guilty would be punished after an inquiry into the matter. She immediately accepted the students' demand that the police should not be allowed to enter the college premises without the permission of the Principal and a student representative. Another delegation met Mr Satya Pal Jain, MP, who assured them of a solution by tomorrow. The students will continue the strike. The Secretary and Joint Secretary, Gurdial Singh and Sukhwinder Singh, respectively have started a fast unto death in front of Government College, Sector 11. The elected representatives of NSUI in the five colleges also extended full support to the strike, here today. Mr Sandeep Ghagga said that their party would provide issue-based support to the PUCSC, and the demands of the striking Government College students was justified. The strike was also supported by the Central Polytechnic Students Union. Meanwhile, the ABVP at its executive meeting, has decided not to support the strike. According to Neeraj Sharma, President, the elected representative was using the mandate of the students for sheltering himself from disciplinary proceedings for his misconduct. The ABVP students' body said that the students were "wasting precious academic time for an individual's unjustified cause''.
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Council to take up urban issues CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — The Administrator's Advisory Council meeting scheduled for tomorrow is expected to take up several long- standing urban issues, including simplification of procedures for conversion of leasehold property into free- hold property, extension of lal dora and grant of identity cards to those engaged in informal vocations. The much-delayed meeting will witness a boycott from the lone Samata Party nominee, Mr B.S. Dhaliwal, in protest against non-inclusion of his items in the agenda for the third consecutive time. Official sources maintain that it was decided at one of the meetings that instead of taking all items raised by all 35 members, it would be better to focus on a specific issue. This time, the focus will be on urban issues.The sources maintained that there was no malafide in keeping items of any of members out of agenda. Mr Dhaliwal maintained that items submitted by him were flagged for the first meeting of the council, but could not be taken up then. He was assured that these items would be on regular agenda for the next meeting. Again, his items were ignored. Now when the agenda has been circulated for the third meeting, his items did not find mention in it. Mr Dhaliwal also wanted that the meeting should be opened to newsmen covering the Chandigarh Administration beat. Among the important items to be discussed tomorrow will be simplification of procedure for conversion of leasehold residential property to free-hold. The problem was being raised at every meeting of the council. The Administration had decided to constitute a committee headed by Ms Meenakshi Dutta Ghosh with the Finance Secretary, Deputy Commissioner, Commissioner of Municipal Corporation and Legal Remembrancer as its members to look into the problems being faced by people seeking conversion of their leasehold property to freehold. The committee was also asked to look into the problems faced by allottees of the Chandigarh Housing Board dwelling units. A large percentage of these dwelling units have been sold on General Power of Attorney (GPA). The report of the committee is expected to be tabled tomorrow. The committee, according to sources, have recommended that in case of the CHB allottees, they should be treated on a par with those who have been allotted land by the Estate Office as lessees. Similarly, the committee has also recommended that time period be fixed from the date of application till completion of the entire process with a maximum limit of 15 days. The committee has also recommended a procedural map for the completion of all formalities besides making a few other recommendations. Equally important is the item pertaining to extension of "lal dora" in villages. Though the Administration has taken a policy decision to provide basic services, including water, power and sewerage facilities to houses built outside lal dora of all villages of the Union Territory, the demand for extension of "lal dora" has not been conceded by the Administration. It may generate interesting debate. Similarly, a confidential survey conducted by the Administration to gauge the quantum of problems of footpath vendors engaged in informal vocations is also expected to be discussed tomorrow. Some of the informal vocation practitioners, including cobblers, barbers, tandoorwallahs and others may be issued regular identity cards to save them from harassment by anti-encroachment drives of the Administration and the Municipal Corporation The Administration is also yet to identify and specify which are the vocations to be included in this category. A formal decision on the allotment of place of work for them is also to be decided. In all probability, those given photo identity cards would be required to keep the place of their vocation and surroundings clean and work at site only for specified hours each day.
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Major trains delayed by fog CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — Fog in Delhi continued to delay major express and mail trains. As has been happening quite frequently in the past one month, slow running of trains delayed thousands of commuters, delivery of mail and freight. The fog that descended over the north western region slowed down all major trains, including the Shatabdis’ running between Delhi-Chandigarh and Delhi-Amritsar. The Delhi-Chandigarh Shatabdi reached Chandigarh 80 minutes behind schedule this morning. The Amritsar-Delhi Shatabdi on its downward journey was delayed by 75 minutes by the time it had crossed Ambala while the Swarn Shatabdi between Delhi and Amritsar was late by an hour and 45 minutes by the time it had reached Ludhiana on its upward journey. The Inter- City Express between Bathinda and New Delhi was late by 55 minutes by the time it had reached Ambala and the Shan-e-Punjab had been delayed by 55 minutes by the time it reached Ambala on its upward journey between New Delhi and Amritsar. The Kalka Mail arrived at Kalka 50 minutes behind schedule this morning. The Himalayan Queen had been delayed by 50 minutes by the time it reached Kalka. Among the long distance trains the Sealdah Express on its upwards journey was late by 16 hours and the Jhelum Express was 13 hours behind schedule. Besides this, the Malwa Express, the Duplicate Howrah, the Chhattisgarh Express, the Pooja Express and the Swaraj Express were delayed by between one hour and four hours. Meanwhile, dense fog over the city and its surrounding areas kept the mercury below 11°C and made people shiver. The fog did not lift throughout the day reducing visibility on the road to few metres. Vehicles had to be driven with headlights on. The Meteorological Department said fog had not been lifting due to high humidity. People were forced indoors and the use of heaters and blowers was optimum. People hosting marriages and other functions made arrangements for heating to keep off the biting cold. Little children going to school were all wrapped up in woollens while office-goers shivered in their two-wheelers while driving.
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700 vendors fined in drive
against encroachers CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — The enforcement staff of the Municipal Corporation has challaned more than 700 vendors and shopkeepers under a special anti-encroachment drive, the majority of which belong to Sector 17. The drive, which began a week ago, is an attempt to check the growing incidence of encroachments in city shops in general and Sector 17 in particular. A large number of workers of the staff have been deputed to keep a watch on the cleared areas so that the violations do not appear. According to sources, senior officers of the Administration and the corporation had taken a serious view of the growing number of vendors plying their trade in the corridors of the shops hampering movement of general public. There had been complaints from the public that the vendors were creating unhygienic conditions and pestering them to buy their goods. There had been instances of vendors coming to blows with each other after the next person offered the same goods at a lower prices or forcing the customer to buy from the vendor he bargained with initially. In addition to confiscation of goods the offender was also fined a substantial amount, sources added. As many as 100 persons were today fined in various parts of the city for displaying their wares in the corridors, passageways and public land. In view of the success of the drive, it is likely to be extended to other commercial sectors of the city shortly.
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Onions back in city
‘dhabas’ CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — Onions have staged a comeback at many city "dhabas" restaurants and homes following a steep decline in its prices during the past two weeks. Onions started disappearing from "dhabas"and restaurants last year following an unprecedented hike in prices. The price even touched an all-time high of Rs 80 a kg in November last. Now when the price of onions has touched Rs 8 a kg, it has started reappearing at most of the city "dhabas" and restaurants and even on "rehris" selling chaat and other food items. "Though the customers had been demanding onions, I had to make do with radish due to the high price of the commodity. Now I have started serving them once again," said a "dhaba" owner in Sector 22. Similarly, a Sector 28 "dhaba" owner said he had to include onion in the salad, which he served with meals, due to increasing demand from the customers. "Moreover, onion, has now become affordable again," he said adding that the price was even less in the "apni mandi" from where he arranged a week’s stock. Ms Neelam, a housewife,
who had come to the Sector 27 vegetable market, said as
her entire family members were "onion lovers",
she had been forced to use onions in salad, even the
price was high at Rs 20 last month. |
Ban on Mizoram lottery tickets CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — The Finance Department of the Chandigarh Administration has urged the Inspector-General of Police and the Deputy Commissioner to take immediate action against those selling Mizoram State Lottery tickets in Chandigarh. In an official communication, the department has maintained that there was a complete ban on the sale of Mizoram State Lottery tickets in the Union Territory. But reports suggested that these were being sold. Investigations reveal that
these lottery tickets were being largely sold in Sectors
17, 22, 29, Mani Majra and at several other places. The
sellers were also not paying any sales tax on the sold
ticket. |
Gallantry awards distribution CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — The Army Investiture ceremony will be held at Military Station, Sri Ganganagar on January 20 at 10 a.m. The gallantry awards — 22 Sena medals and six Vishisht Seva medals — will be given to personnel. Nine Sena medals will be given posthumously. The awards will be presented by Lt-Gen H.B. Kala, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Western Command.
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Students appeal for second reappear
chance CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — Students of Master of Finance and Control (Part I) of the Department of Correspondence Studies, Panjab University, in a letter to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof M.M.Puri, today requested him for a second reappear chance. These students stated in the letter that the study material could not be dispatched on time. This resulted in the students losing a lot of preparation time and consequently most of them have got reappears in two to three subjects. Moreover, the reappear examination was postponed continuously and was ultimately conducted this month. The students have also pleaded that students of all other subjects were being given two chances by the university. The last batch was also given two reappear chances. A copy of the letter ,
signed by the students, has been sent to a few Senators,
administrative officials, Panjab University Students'
Council and the Chairperson and co-ordinator of the MFC
course. PGI doctors meet Chhibber CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — Faculty members of the PGI today presented a memorandum to the UT Administrator, Lieut-Gen B.K. N. Chhibber. More than 100 faculty members went in their vehicles to Raj Bhavan during lunch hour today to protest against the low wages and non implementation of the new pay scales suggested by the high powered committee headed by the Union Health Secretary, Mr K.K. Baksi. Meanwhile a delegation of PGI doctors today joined the protest march organised by the AIIMS faculty association in Delhi.
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Mobile dispensaries for villages CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — Under operation "Umeed" the Khanna Foundation has decided to cover villages in Sangrur by providing mobile health services. These dispensaries on wheels will be free of charge. According to Mr Arvind Khanna, who is chairperson of the foundation, these mobile health clinics will function in 252 villages. Making a beginning with only 24 villages last year, the expansion is programmed to coincide with the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa. Doctors and paramedical staff tour the villages in mobile dispensaries examining patients and providing them medicare. Besides health cover the foundation is preparing a plan for opening schools to be managed by sarpanches. Funds permitting, the foundation proposes to institute training facilities for women and sport for the youth to wean them away from drugs.
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Unscheduled power cuts in
Panchkula PANCHKULA, Jan 18 — Different parts of the township are facing unscheduled power cuts for the past six days, putting the residents to a lot of inconvenience. With the region reeling under intense cold wave, the problem of the residents has been compounded. They complain that in spite of the claims by the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) to supply uninterrupted power supply, power cuts in the mornings and evenings have become a regular feature. The Citizens Welfare
Association (UE) lamented that the complaints about the
power cuts have gone unheeded. SHO reinstated CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — The Chandigarh Administration issued an order this evening to reinstate Mr Jaswant Singh as SHO, Sector 3, Police Station. Mr Singh was transferred to the police lines on December 17 following a controversy. The cop had been allegedly involved in brawl outside a Sector 10 hotel.
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Teachers meet Finance Minister CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — A deputation of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers' Union led by Prof S.S.Hundal, President, met Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister of Punjab, and discussed the problems of non-government aided and unaided colleges, here today. The union stressed the implementation of the pension-gratuity scheme, revision of payscales, updating of grants-in-aid posts and release of salary grant and arrears of Rs 9.78 crore. The Finance Minister gave an assurance that their problems would be solved within a week at an official meeting with the union. The PCCTU has, therefore, postponed the rally scheduled for January 19 to be held at Banur, the constituency of Capt Kanwaljit Singh. The mass casual leave action for the same date has also been cancelled.
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Earthen dams in Morni sought PANCHKULA, Jan 18 — The Shivalik Vikas Manch has demanded that the peasants of Morni area who have been tilling "nautor" land for past many years should be handed over the ownership of the land. A delegation of the manch led by its president , Mr Sadha Ram Saini, today met the Deputy Commissioner in this regard. Members sought that earthen dams be set up in the area to supplement the sources of irrigation. Improvement in the water and electricity supply was also demanded.
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Girl
crushed to death by bus PANCHKULA, Jan 18 — A 20-year-old girl was crushed to death by a Haryana Roadways bus near Sector 7 here this evening. Veena, a resident of Sector 9, was returning home when the bus crushed her to death. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination to the local General Hospital. Arrested: The Kalka police has arrested Rattan Lal, a resident of Uppar Mohalla, Kalka, for gambling at a public place, near here, on Sunday. A sum of Rs 915 have been recovered from him. A case under the Gambling Act has been registered Truck recovered: A truck which was stolen from the Majri chowk few days back has been recovered from Pira Wali, in Adampur. CHANDIGARH: |
Musical
tributes to Saigal CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — The Environment Society of India organised a function in the memory of legendary singer K.L. Saigal at the Sector 10 Government Auditorium here today. The function was organised in connection with the tercentenary celebrations of Khalsa Panth. Musical tributes were paid to the singer by a number of singers, including K.S. Suri from Jalandhar, V.P. Sharma from Sangrur, R.S. Chopra and Radha Chopra from Panchkula. A "K.L. Saigal devotional contest" was also organised, in which the first prize went to the Gem Public School, SAS Nagar, while the second position was bagged by the Sector 10 Government Senior Model School. In the individuals category Damneet Kaur and Isha lifted the first and second prizes. The president of the
society, Mr S.K. Sharma, urged the UT Administration, and
the governments of Punjab and Haryana to build K.L.
Saigal theatres in Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula. |
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