Bus drivers to be challaned from today
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH July 6 — This is one challaning drive the local traffic police is hoping would remain a non-starter.

The drive to challan minors driving two-wheelers without proper documents and licences to school failed to take off for lack of offenders. According to Mr S.S. Randhawa, DSP, Traffic, not even a single challan was reported from the entire city and the teams dispatched to challan the offenders in front of the schools returned empty handed.

“But we are happy that city residents have realised the gravity of not only the offence but the dangers involved in allowing underage wards to drive on the city roads. They are not only a danger to others but run the risk of begin involved in serious road accidents themselves”, he said.

Teams of the traffic police could be seen flagging down the seemingly underage boys and girls, driving around the city, and checking their documents.

The Tribune had carried a news item in this regard in these columns yesterday.

Similarly, the drive to challan bus drivers who ply their buses in violation of the Motor Vehicles Act would be carried out from tomorrow. A team of the State Transport Authority (STA) had been made available and the drive would be pursued vigorously, Mr Randhawa added.

Meanwhile, the police as part of its regular drive challaned 250 persons of various offences in the city.

Police officials said in the previous drives they had weeded out many cases where the minors had falsely entered wrong dates of birth in the application forms to get a licence.

Prior to the drive, the local police had started an awareness scheme in the schools to educate the youngsters on the dangers of driving two-wheelers without proper documents or the ones wrongly acquired.

The schools had been involved and the managements in addition to teachers had been asked to furnish the number of vehicles the children drive to school. Teams of the police also visited the schools to urge the authorities to discourage the growing practice of minors driving two-wheelers to school or elsewhere.

As for bus drivers, all vehicles should be roadworthy and carry a certificate of fitness annually for this purpose. All buses should also carry a certificate under Section 146 of the MV Act.

The drivers should be in possession of a driver’s license with five years’ experience and should not been challaned more than three times for traffic violations.

The body of Lt Verma, who is son of a retired officer, Lt Col S Verma, would be taken to Delhi as his family had already reached the national Capital.

The remaining bodies would be transported by road to their home towns, the spokesperson added.

SJP collects money for Kargil troops
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh July 6 — The local unit of the Samajwadi Janta Party (SJP) today handed over a cheque for Rs 1.46 lakh to Ms Vineeta Rai, Adviser to the UT Administrator, for the welfare of soldiers fighting in Kargil. The money was collected by activists of the party by organising a 'padyatra' in the city, according to Mr Devinder Singh Babla, party president.

One day's salary

The Punjab Small Scale Industries and Export Corporation Staff Association contributed one day's salary for the welfare of jawans fighting in Kargil. A cheque of Rs 1.55 lakh was dispatched, according to Mr G.S. Oberoi and Mr K. Sivadasan, president and secretary of the association, respectively.

Cheque handed over

The members of the Chandigarh Administration Field Drivers Welfare Association contributed Rs 11,000 towards the Army Central Welfare Fund. A cheque for the amount was handed over to the Adviser by Mr U.S. Mohi and Mr R.S. Rampur, president and general secretary of the association, respectively.

Homage paid

The Residents Welfare Forum (Kothies), Sector 46-D, held a meeting to pay homage to the soldiers who had laid down their lives in Kargil. It observed a two-minute silence and expressed solidarity with the armed forces.

'Give money to families'

The members of the All India Ex-servicemen Welfare Association urged people and organisations not to contribute money for the Kargil soldiers to central or state government sponsored funds and give the money to the affected families directly. Mr Bhim Sen Sehgal, chairman of the association, said the experiences of the 1962, 1965 and 1971 wars had shown that the money collected for soldiers' welfare never reached them. The entire funds were misappropriated, he alleged.

PANCHKULA

Cheque for hospital

The Upkaar Society presented a cheque of Rs 11,000 to Maj-Gen Virendra Singh, Commandant, Command Hospital, Chandi mandir, for the injured soldiers admitted to the hospital. The employees posted in the sub-divisional office and the tehsil office donated one day's salary to the Chief Minister War Heroes Relief Fund.

TVs donated

Mr Chander Mohan, MLA from Kalka constituency, visited Western Command Hospital and donated two colour television sets for soldiers injured in Kargil. He lauded the services of the soldiers defending the front and expressed his support.

Mr Jagdish Nagpal, an industrialist, who accompanied the MLA, also donated 500 woollen 'balclavas' to be sent to facilitate the soldiers defending the border. Mr Sanjeev Chopra, President of the city congress (I) committee, panchkula, accompanied them.

Artists to raise money for Kargil
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH July 6 — It certainly is a rare occasion for the artist community of the city to come together as one. But at a time when the whole nation seems to be united on the Kargil issue, it was reason enough for Chandigarh artists to come together and hold an exhibition, the sale proceeds of which would be contributed for the army welfare fund. But even this getting together of almost 25 artists has not been without its fair amount of doubts and apprehension.

Initially a group of artists decided to get together and organise an exhibition for “the cause”. But since the new Lalit Kala Akademi, Chandigarh, has been formed recently, with the famous sculptor-artist, Shiv Singh as its Chairman, it was thought that the Akademi should hold an exhibition of this stature. But till yesterday, confusion prevailed as to who would eventually organise the exhibition, because the Akademi is yet to install its new set of official members.

A meeting of some local artists was called today morning by Shiv Singh, where it was decided that the Akademi would hold the exhibition. The meeting, reportedly, decided that 25 artists of the city, which would include painters, printmakers, photographers and sculptors, would donate their works to be exhibited at the Government Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10.

The committee of artists that met today would also decide on the price of each of the exhibits, keeping in view the aspect of saleability.

Though a one-man Akademi, as of now, this exhibition would be the first activity of the year of the newly formed Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi.

Defence authorities object to unauthorised structures
By Rajmeet Singh
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA July 6 — Defence authorities have raised serious objections to hundreds of unauthorised structures which have come up in the restricted zone around the Terminal Ballistic Research Laboratory (TBRL), Ramgarh near here. The district administration has been asked by the defence authorities to keep the area free of undesired structures.

Around 200 unauthorised structures, including the building of a private dental college and an agro -forestry company, have come up in the restricted belt over the past few years.These are located in Ramgarh, Kot Billa, Bana Madanpur, Jaswantpur and other places. Some of the undesired structures are also along the Panchkula - Barwala highway running along the boundary of the TBRL, a defence establishment under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

A 900- metre wide belt from the outer boundary of the TBRL had been declared a restricted belt in 1994 after a notification in this regard was issued by the Ministry of Defence under the Works of Defence Act, 1903. In fact, when the notification was issued, the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) had to scrap sectors 29 and 30 in the Panchkula extension due to objections raised by the defence authorities. Both sectors were to be developed in close proximity to the defence establishment.

The issue of undesired structures, which have come up mainly on privately owned land, has been brought to the notice of the administration and the Department of Country and Town Planning, Haryana, from time to time.

Sources in the administration say that the removal of the structures in the restricted belt has been hanging fire as the defence authorities had yet to delegate powers— through a notification — in this regard. Usually the powers are given to the District Collector but in this matter no powers have been delegated by the Ministry of Defence.

The issue was raised at a recent meeting of the monitoring committee on unauthorised constructions attended by the Chief Secretary of Haryana. To stop raising unauthorised constructions in the future, the administration had reportedly suggested to the defence authorities to acquire the land, running into several 100 acres falling in the 900 -metre wide belt around the TBRL.

10 city students qualify National Talent Search Exam
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH July 6 — Ten students from the various schools of the city who appeared in the National Talent Search Examination have qualified the test and are among the 1,600 students from all over the country who will take an interview before the 760 successful students are made known. The result was declared at the State Institute of Education, Sector 32, here today.

The students who have qualified the examination are Alok Gupta of St Kabir, Abhishek of Shishu Niketan, Udit Kapoor of St Annes, Puneet Gulati of St John's, Preet Pal Singh of GMSSS-35, Neha Chakravorty of Sacred Heart, Ruchika Grover of Shishu Niketan, Himjeet Bains of Shivalik Public, Lucky Goel of Shishu Niketan and Roopak Suri of St Kabir.

Giving details about the examination, Dr .H.C. Sharma, Director of the State Institute of Education, said that as many as 1,200 students from the city appeared in the state talent search examination. Ten students were selected in consonance with the quota allotted by the National Council of Educational Research and Training to the city which is usually in direct proportion to the student population. Similar state-level tests were conducted in every state and a total of 3000 students had participated.

At the state-level examination, after the screening test held last November, all 10 students who had appeared from the city qualified the examination and this was followed by an examination at the national level which was held in May.

Following the declaration of the result, students who have qualified the national-level examination from the region will be interviewed by a panel of experts chosen from the university along with representation from the office of the region's Field Adviser of NCERT on July 26. During the interview the students will be quizzed on the various subjects taught till Class X besides their perceptive of national and international issues.

Dr Sharma also informed that students clearing the interview would be rewarded with a scholarship of Rs 150-200 which would be awarded till the time the student completed his education. From the 1600 students from all over India, only 760 would be selected for this scholarship.

Power failure hits village
From Our Correspondent

MULLANPUR-GARIBDASS July 6 — Six days of continuous interruption in power supply in more than 300 houses at Mullanpur village has caused resentment among residents of the area.

According to residents, power supply to a pocket of the village was interrupted on Thursday night. Several residents of the village were affected due to damaging of a 100 KV transformer.

When contacted the SDO, SAS Nagar, Mr PS Bains, said non-availability of 100 KV transformer was the main hindrance in the restoration of power. The transformer of desired capacity was not available with the local subdivision but was available only at Pathankot. He, however, said that transformer had been ordered from there and assured that power supply will be restored by Tuesday evening.

Meanwhile, sources said efforts to restore normal power supply proved futile. As many as three transformers were installed but all of them were damaged as these had lower capacity than needed.

A number of residents had to remain without water. Mr Surinder Sharma said as whole village was provided with rural water supply, they have their own water lifting pumps at their respective houses.

Power failures are frequent in the village. According to Mr Devinder Singh, a piece of shamlat land was provided for the construction of 66 KV station. In lieu of the land, the villagers were promised power supply as per the urban feeder. We were also promised the best possible service, Mr Singh added.

Residents complained of non- cooperation on part of the maintenance staff. Whenever we approach the staff to register complaints, it pays little attention.

Steps to streamline kerosene distribution
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH July 6 — With a view to streamlining the supply of kerosene under the public distribution system and check blackmarketing the UT Food and Supplies Department has from July 1 started a campaign for getting a declaration form filled by all ration card holders whether they have a gas connection or not.

Following the release of gas connections on demand by various oil companies since December, 1998, a majority of the ration card holders were found to be getting fairly large quantities of kerosene despite having a gas connection. According to sources, filling of declaration forms will not only facilitate those who do not have a gas connection but will also help check the blackmarketing of the commodity to some extent. The dealers will then affix rubber stamps indicating whether he is a gas user (single cylinder or DBC facility) on the ration card so as to debar people having gas connections from getting kerosene for cooking purposes.

Furthermore, the Centre has reduced the allocation of subsidised kerosene to union territory by nearly 30 per cent. The kerosene quota has been reduced from 1810 metric tonnes to 1250 metric tonne. The reduction in the supplies would have created an imbalance as it would not have been possible to supply kerosene on the basis of the previous policy to the same number of ration card holders.

The declaration forms have been made available free of cost at all the 10 kerosene outlets in the city, besides fair price shops and depot holders. The consumers are required to fill in a declaration saying that ''he does not possess any gas connection of any oil company in his name or in the name of any person of his family and kerosene is the only source of fuel in the kitchen.''

The exercise of filling these forms will continue till the first week of August and the data will reveal the number of people who own gas connections in the city. The department has also asked the gas agencies in various sectors to supply them a list of their consumers.

After the completion of this exercise, the inspectors of the Food and Supplies Department will start a house-to-house survey and will put the seal of gas users on all those cards where a person is found to be using both gas and kerosene simultaneously. Such consumers will not be able to avail the facility of kerosene under the PDS in future.

Sources further reveal that the quantum of distribution is also likely to change. The card holders having single LPG cylinder will be given just three litres instead of five litres per family from this month. However, in case of non-gas users, 15 litres will be supplied to a family of two and 25 litres to those who have more than two units in a family. The double cylinder holders will be debarred from the PDS allocation of kerosene.

SBP holds customer relations programme
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH July 6 — A customer relation programme was organised by the State Bank of Patiala here today.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr M. Sitaram Murthy, Chief General Manager, said the wave of liberalisation had triggered competition among different banks and also had its effect on the perception of customer care. "In the absence of any competition, customers had no choice but to be content with what banks offered them in the name of customer service. But now, the customer had wider choice and consequently banks have to offer more customer-oriented and personalised services," he said, adding the banks had to find out what was desired by their customers and tailor-made finance schemes on liberal terms was the first step towards this end.

He further said the bank had decided to lay more emphasis on housing finance and retail banking. Mr Murthy explained to the customers the details of the housing loan facility, the karamchari karza suvidha yojna and car loan scheme for the salaried class. He said to enable the brilliant students pursue higher studies, the bank had launched a scheme called ''gyan jyoti scheme'', which offered loans on very liberal terms and conditions.

Mr Murthy said as many as nine local branches of the bank had been computerised and there were plans to computerise two more such branches during the current financial year. Mrs Prem Lata Jain, Deputy General Manager, and Mr J. S. Maan, Assistant General Manager, also spoke on this occasion.

Oustees to get housing board flats
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH July 6 — The Chandigarh Housing Board has decided to allot flats to the oustees whose land has been acquired by the UT Administration for different purposes.

Stating this at a meeting of the Rural Development Committee here today, Ms Vineeta Rai, Adviser to the Administrator, said the flats would be allotted to oustees under a special scheme. The category of the flats would depend upon the size of the acquired land, she said.

Addressing the members of the committee, Ms Rai said the objective of the committee was to assist and advise the administration on matters concerning rural development and upliftment. She said the Panchayat Raj was a system of local self government, which meant that people were to take responsibilities, particularly of rural development.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr Rakesh Singh, Finance Secretary, said estimates had been made for maintenance of a harijan dharamshala in Dadu Majra village and the work was expected to be completed within three months.

Regarding the allotment of plots to residents of Milk Colony in Kishangarh village, it was informed that there was no such scheme at present. The repair of streets and drains of Kishangarh village had been started and was likely to be completed within a couple of days, he added.

Speaking about granting of water and electricity connections outside the 'lal dora', Mr Rakesh Singh clarified that about 1,800 houses had been identified outside the 'lal dora' during a survey and these houses would get the necessary connections.

To augment the drinking water supply in Mauli Jagran village, there was a proposal to install a tubewell. For opening a post office, postal authorities had been approached by the administration.

Similarly, funds had been allotted from the MP Local Development Fund for construction of a boundary wall of the village graveyard. Rs 30 lakh would be spent under the Awas Yojna Scheme for allotment of houses to the homeless in the village, the Finance Secretary said.

Mr Rakesh Singh said estimates had been prepared for making arrangements for proper drainage of water in Khudda Ali Sher village and the work would be completed by December. Responding to the demand of construction of an inn in the village, he said there were no funds during the current year and the demand would be considered next year.

He also directed the Chief Engineer to visit the site at the Mullanpur-PGI road and make arrangements for proper drainage of water. He also stated that the repair and desilting of a pond in Sarnagpur village would be undertaken in May and June next. Similarly, repair of the circular road in Kajheri village would be undertaken by the Engineering Department immediately after the monsoon.

The meeting lasted for about three hours. It was attended by panches, sarpanches and senior officers, including Mr M. Ram Shekhar, Deputy commissioner, Mr R.K. Jain, Chief Engineer, and Mr K.A.P. Sinha, Joint Secretary, Finance.

SNIPPETS

‘Faulty transformers not replaced’
From Our Correspondent

KHARAR July 6 — The Bhartiya Kisan Union, Kharar block, has alleged that the Punjab State Electricity Board had not replaced faulty transformers for two to three months. As a result, farmers were facing a lot of problems.

Mr Shamsher Singh, President of Ropar district unit, and Mr Mehar Singh Theri, Secretary of the unit, have in a press note issued here today, alleged that the board was not replacing these transformers. They wondered why the transformers were not purchased before summer.

Then board claimed that there was no shortage of electricity in Punjab but villagers were getting electricity only for 10 hours, they alleged.

Chahal expelled from SP
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH July 6 — The President of the local unit of the Samajwadi Party (SP), Mr Shivi Jaiswal, has expelled Mr A.S. Chahal from the primary membership of the party for six years for indulging in anti-party activities.

In a written statement, Mr Jaiswal said the action against Mr Chahal had been take as he had declared himself the president of the local unit and constituted a parallel executive body. The President of the party, Mr Mulayam Singh, had earlier expelled Mr Chahal from the national executive for indulging in anti-party activities.

Mr Chahal, a former president of the District Bar Association, had unsuccessfully contested Lok Sabha elections on the party ticket in 1998.

AIDS Hotline to get boost
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH July 6 — The Servants of the People Society today held its meeting to revise the functioning of Chandigarh HIV-AIDS Hotline, at Lajpat Rai Bhavan, Sector 15.

In a press note issued today, Mr Onkar Chand, Secretary of the society, said that during the past six months, the AIDS Hotline, which could be accessed free of charge at 1097, received 47,636 calls (23,137 in Hindi, 13,836 in Punjabi and 10,664 in English).

The meeting, in which it was also decided to initiate effective steps to popularise this facility further, was presided over by Dr J.G. Jolly, member of the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO). Among those present included Dr N.N. Wig, Mr Santosh Kumar, Gp Capt P.S. Soni, Dr N.M. Sharma, Ms Amrita Ahluwalia and Dr Avnish Jolly.

Three held for rape
From Our Correspondent

DERA BASSI July 6 — The local police has arrested Rattan Singh, Hamid Khan and Pradeep Singh for allegedly raping a girl of Tharua Majri in Ambala district, who was employed in a thread mill near Lalru.

Earlier the victim, a teenager, had lodged an FIR with the Lalru police station on July 1, stating that Rattan Singh of Ambala and Kamaljit Singh alias Pinka had lured her, saying that they would get her employed on better salary in some other factory. Then they took her to an abandoned industrial unit near Janetpur, where Pradeep Singh and Hamid Khan were present. The four discussed something among themselves and took her inside a room, where they committed the crime.

According to Mr H.S. Bhullar, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Rattan Singh and Hamid Khan of Ambala and Pradeep Singh of Ranchi, Bihar, have been arrested by the police but Kamaljit Singh is still absconding. A case under Sections 363, 366, 376 and 201 of the IPC has been registered.

Chain snatched

The police has arrested two women — Palo and Devo — for allegedly snatching a two-tola gold chain from a woman while she was boarding a bus in Zirakpur on Sunday.

According to police sources, Palo lives in Grain Market, Bhadson. A case under Section 356 of the IPC has been registered against the two accused.

'Special chance' for PSEB candidates
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR July 6 — In view of the Khalsa Panth tercentenary celebrations, the Punjab School Education Board has decided to give a 'special chance' to 'reappear' and 'compartment' candidates to clear Classes X and XII examinations during supplementary examinations to be conducted in September.

According to Mr Jagjit Singh, Secretary of the board, this 'special chance' has been given to all candidates who appeared in examinations from March 15, 1995, to March 1998, and were unable to clear these in their two 'reappear' or 'compartment' chances, as required under the board regulations.

Such candidates could submit their forms without late fee by July 20, with a late fee of Rs 100 by July 31, with a late of Rs 300 by August 7 and with a late fee of Rs 500 by August 15, he added.

M.P. Singh may head civic body
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH July 6 — The Punjab Government has placed the services of Mr M.P. Singh at the disposal of the Chandigarh Administration for appointment as Commissioner, Municipal Corporation. He is of the 1986 IAS batch.

The state government has also placed the services of Mr D.S. Saroya and Mr Tejinder Pal Singh Dhaliwal, both PCS, at the disposal of the Chandigarh Administration for appointment at suitable places.

Mr Vini Mahajan in addition to her present assignment will also be Chief Administrator of the new town Planning and Development Authority for Anandgarh.

These orders were passed by the Chief Secretary of Punjab today

Engineers' arrest flayed
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh July 6 — A meeting of representatives of the Association of Power Engineers, the Electricity Junior Engineers Association and the UT Powermen Union, held today, criticised the arrest of engineers J.C. Gilhotra, C.J. Rai and Jagdeep Gandhi.

They also demanded the immediate release of these engineers to avoid any crisis. A press note issued tonight expressed shock at the status of power engineers and an alleged indifferent attitude on part of the Chandigarh Administration. The association said it had been forced to discuss the issue and resolved to take a joint action.

It said the action of the Chandigarh Administration had demoralised the entire work force resulting in paralysed functioning.