Sunday, July 25, 1999
|
N E W S Sunday, July 25, 1999 |
|
| weather n
spotlight today's calendar |
‘Captain
Amol Kalia led from front’ CHANDIMANDIR, July 24 — “We want to know all the details, including the injuries, suffered by my son and how his end came”. This information was sought by parents of Captain Amol Kalia from Havildar Sudesh Kumar, who not only fought along with the gallant soldier, but also retrieved his body from Point 5203. Havildar Sudesh Kumar is at present convalescing at the Command Hospital following injuries suffered during the retrieval of bodies from Point 4812 on July 8. A story about his being injured and instrumental in the retrieval of the bodies from both peaks was carried in these columns yesterday. Mr Sat Pal Sharma and Mrs Usha, parents of the Batalik martyr, were in the city after some of their relatives told them about Havildar Sudesh Kumar. They rushed to the city anxious to know more details of the last moments of their son, lovingly called Vippu. Mr Sharma, who broke down many times while talking to the Havildar, was told by the latter that “ Captain Sahib was a brave man who not only inspired his men but also led from the front. His men had been pinned down by heavy and accurate enemy fire but he did not lose heart, rallied round the remaining men and engaged the enemy. Narrating the chain of events that day, he said they had engaged the enemy at about 3 a.m. on June 8, but had been stopped in their advance by the well-entrenched enemy. The men had taken cover and it was very hard to make out anything in the dark . It was in the morning at about 9 a.m. that the Captain was hit by shell splinters. The only visible injuries apart from small ones were that one side of his head did not have any hair, the Havildar revealed. We went to retrieve the bodies in the night and due to shortage of time had to put them in sleeping bags and drag them down some distance so as to escape detection by the enemy. The mother of the hero was however very composed and asked about him manning the MMG before he died. To this, the havildar replied that as the jawan manning the gun had died, it was taken over by the Captain who was only a few feet away. Mr and Mrs Sharma later went round the ward and enquired about the well being of the other injured jawans. Mr Sharma was very critical of the attitude of the Punjab Government which had deleted the name of his son from the list of martyrs from their roll of heroes on the plea that the ex gratia amount had been given by the Himachal Pradesh Government. When he was born, educated and enrolled in the army while living at Nangal in Punjab, how can he belong to HP ? , he questioned. Is it just because that I am employed in HP that his claim on being honoured by the state has been done away with. I do not care about the ex gratia and am willing to forsake it for the cause of others who have made the supreme sacrifice, he said with indignation. They had earlier called on Colonel Shakti Parshad, N Area Commander, who also belongs to the same regiment as Captain Kalia. Captain Kalia of the 12
J and K LI, was killed in the Batalik sector on June 9.
His body could not be retrieved for more than 12 days as
the area came under direct shelling from enemy guns. It
was only after the area was cleared of the infiltrators
that the body was retrieved and handed over to his
parents on June 20. |
Water-borne
diseases on the rise CHANDIGARH, July 24 — With the onset of monsoons, the pressure on health services in the city is evident. A large number of cases of water-borne diseases are being reported in dispensaries run by the health department, bordering labour colonies. Besides, out door patients departments (OPDs) at the PGI, the GMCH, Sector 32 and the General Hospital, Sector 16, have been daily receiving cases of gastroenteritis, diarrhoea and malaria. Private practitioners are handling the rush in their own way. Cases of routine infections like fever and influenza are also on the upward swing, a doctor in the PGI Internal Medicine Department said, adding that cases are also being reported from the surrounding areas. Sources said these infections take place either due to poor quality of drinking water, while malaria occurs due to mosquito bites. The infections have increased five fold in the past one month, the doctor said. The PGI doctor also said that acute dehydration in cases of gastroenteritis and diarrhoea can also lead to failure of the kidneys. Prevention against this is of prime importance. Once the sun is out after a few days of rain, the chances of infection also rise, a doctor at the GMCH explained. During the monsoons drinking water gets contaminated, said another doctor. Last year, water samples of Palsora and Maloya villages had failed tests. Results of the samples taken this year are not yet known. The health department has also organised its monthly meeting on water-borne diseases and drew up a plan in association with the public health authorities to chlorinate the water and check its quality. Besides, the shallow handpumps were to be coloured red in an effort to inform people not to drink water from there. Dr M.P. Minocha, Director, Family Welfare, said some private practioners had been prescribing antibiotics for diarrhoea cases. This should be avoided, he added. The only idea should be to replenish the water in the body. Once a patient stabilises, lemon water, soups, fruit juices, among other items should be given immediately. The authorities have
also distributed packets of oral rehydration salts (ORS)
in the slum colonies. The local health authority (LHA),
Dr G. Dewan, said water should be boiled before drinking. |
3 school
buses impounded CHANDIGARH, July 24 — The State Transport Authority (STA) today impounded three school buses and challaned eight others for flouting various norms of the Motor Vehicles Act,1988. This was done as part of the ongoing drive, which was started earlier this month to ensure that school buses ply in accordance with the recent directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The drive was conducted by a special team of the STA from 12 noon to 3 pm without putting the students to any inconvenience. According to sources, of the three buses which were impounded today, two are being used by Carmel Convent School and third one in the name of Tagore Niketan School was being used to transport children of some other school. These buses were challaned for various other offences such as drivers and conductors not wearing proper uniforms, drivers without licences and required five years driving experience, first-aid boxes lacking requisite things and buses plying without conductors. The STA had in the circulars issued to various schools directed them to comply with the guidelines issued by the high court and to submit a compliance report within 15 days of their implementation. While the inspection team today found that most of the schools had complied with the direction pertaining to the signing of longterm lease agreement with the bus owners, the compliance reports have not been forthcoming in the wake of their not fulfilling few other conditions. However, one or two schools which are reluctant to sign such an agreement have been given a warning and the authorities may even not allow them to ply their buses. The inspection team also found that most of the school buses were carrying a board showing the name of the school, route and timings displayed conspicuously in front of the bus. The authorities, which are taking a serious view of those schools which are trying to shirk from the responsibility of safe transportation for children, have decided to intensify the drive with effect from Monday by keeping a strict vigil. A fortnight ago the STA had challaned 21 buses including those being used by St John’s School, Sacred Heart and St Kabir, for similar offences. Sources reveal that no
excuses would be entertained, for the schools have been
given sufficient time to comply with the directions and
the courts are taking cognisance of the matter on a
day-to-day basis. |
Pole
endangers lives PANCHKULA, July 24 — A family living in the Housing Board Colony in sector 10 here is living under constant fear. The threat comes from an electricity pole just two feet from the wall of the drawing room. The pole has been there for many years. almost all its wires are uncovered. Wires stretch above the terrace and keep hanging dangerously. The residents of the house and others have often watched with horror sparks flying from these wires. A tubewell in front of the house, which became functional on July 9, also derives its power supply from the pole. This has added to the danger as a high voltage cable serving the tubewell passes from near the house. The residents have sent many applications to the authorities concerned but to no avail. They allege that officials of the Electricity Department have demanded Rs 10,000 as the cost of removing the pole from the site. The tubewell has been set up in an open space used as a park. Some residents allege that the tubewell has been set up to serve the needs of a hotel in the sector. Mr Dilbagh Singh,
District Town and Planning officer, says there is a
provision in the Zonal Plan of the town to use open
spaces for essential services. These services include
public and community services, education and landscaping,
he says. |
‘Raining
tree’ inspected CHANDIGARH, July 24 — After the report on a 'raining tree' in Chhat bir Zoological Park appeared in Chandigarh Tribune, the Director of the park, Dr Vinod Sharma, invited a team of senior entomologists from Panjab University for a critical inspection of the tree under reference. The team, comprising Dr H.R. Pajni and Dr P.K. Tewari, found that four trees of erythrina indica were severely attacked by the young ones (nymphs) of a small bug of the family amphrophoridae, belonging to super family cercopoidea of sub-order homoptera. The nymphs prepare a mass of froth around their bodies while feeding on the host plant. The froth, commonly referred to as 'cuckoo-spit', is prepared from a material produced in the anterior parts of malphighian tubules (excretory organs of insects), from where it is pushed into the hindgut and ejected through the anal aperture. Another secretion is added from the glands on the abdomen. Air is gushed into this mixture from a cavity on the underside of the abdomen, into which open the spiracles or air tubes of the insect. In this manner, the mixture is converted into a mass of bubbles surrounding one or more nymphs. the foam-like mass of bubbles perhaps serves to protect the nymphs from heat and desiccation and also from their predators such as wasps, ants and birds. The curious protective behaviour has given this bug the common name of 'cuckoo-spit' or 'spittler'. In the case of severe attack, when thousands of nymphs inhabit the foliage of the tree, the coalescence of air bubbles results in collection of liquid, which drops in the form of a fine drizzle. Hence the raining property of the attacked tree, the entomologists said. They further said the adults laid batches of eggs in the axils of the leaves, which hatched in May or early June. The nymphs took about 10 weeks to develop into mature adults. The adults laid eggs in
September or October, which remained in diapause till May
or June, after which the cycle was repeated. Occasionally
seen forming froth on grasses and wild bushes, severe
attack on a tall tree was observed for the first time,
they added. |
Tributes
paid to martyr KHARAR, July 24 — Rich tributes were paid to Bikram Singh of 8 Sikh Regiment who sacrificed his life in the Kargil sector at a “Shardhanjli Samagam” organised in his native village Kubhaherri of Kharar subdivision, near here, yesterday. A large number of persons belonging to all sections of society paid homage to the departed soul. Mr Ravi Inder Singh,
MLA, and former Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Mr
Kulbir Singh Sidhu, Deputy Commissioner, Ropar, Brig
Kuldeep Singh Kehlon, Director, Sainik Welfare, Punjab,
Mrs Satinder Kaur Dhaliwal, former MP Ropar, Mr
Maninderjit Singh Bitta (Congress), Mr Jagmohan Singh
Kang, former Punjab Minister were among those who paid
homage to the departed soul. |
Students
display Army ethics PANCHKULA, July 24 — Bhavan Vidyalaya in Sector 15, here dedicated its annual project day today to the national martyrs. The theme of the project day was “For a better tomorrow”. Students of each class made projects on alarming issues of concern to the country and their solutions and possible alternatives. Students comprehensively explained to the visitors the projects prepared by them. Children dressed in olive green uniforms demonstrated the determination and courage of our brave soldiers defending the frontiers. Professional ethics of the Indian Army including honour and respect for the bodies of the enemy was demonstrated by the tiny-tots. The project topics included “pollution free earth” , “stress free humanity,” “moralistic and tolerant society”, “value-based education system” etc. An art and craft exhibition was also organised by the children .The Principal, Ms Shashi Banerjee, said students had planned not to celebrate Diwali this year in order to pay homage to our brave martyrs. Instead they would contribute the money to an orphanage. The Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan management, students and staff members of Bhavan Vidyalaya have contributed Rs 1.5 lakh towards the” Shaheed Parivar Raksha Nidhi” fund. Besides the teachers and staff of the school have donated one day’s salary to the National Defence Fund. The management has also offered to provide educational facility to the wards of Kargil martyrs . Mr Alok Mittal, SP,
Panchkula was the chief guest on the occasion. |
SDO
remanded in police custody KHARAR, July 24 — Mr Sanjay Agnihotri, Judicial Magistrate, Kharar, today remanded Gurjant Singh, SDO, Punjab State Electricity Board, Malerkotla, in police custody till July 26. Gurjant was arrested by a flying squad of the Punjab Vigilance Department yesterday at Malerkotla while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 8500 from one person. Mr K.S. Brar, Assistant Public Prosecuter, and Mr Harjab Singh, DSP, Vigilance who appeared in the court, informed the court that the accused had demanded Rs 15,000 from one Mr Avtar Singh for extending the load of a factory and the matter was settled for Rs 8500. They said the accused had demanded Rs 5000 for himself and Rs 3500 for one senior officer. The accused was arrested and Rs 8500 was recovered from him, they informed the court. They said the police had
registered a case against the accused under the
Anti-Corruption Act at Mohali. They informed the court
that some important papers were yet to be recovered from
the accused and another co-accused was yet to be
arrested. |
Protest
against helmet drive CHANDIGARH, July 24 — The protest over the compulsory wearing of helmets by both women drivers and pillion riders continued for the eighth day today. The local unit of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) took out a procession here this morning where a large number of people, mostly women without helmets and driving two-wheelers, joined. It started from Sector 46 and moved through Burail, Labour Chowk, reached The Tribune office before moving towards Transport Chowk and then to Sector 16 from where it turned towards Sector 24. The procession was stopped in the Sector 24 market where protestors sat in dharna. After a while the dharna was lifted. Mr Gurpartap Singh Riar, President of the local unit of SAD, strongly condemned the action of the police in stopping the procession in Sector 24 without any prohibitory or other orders and demanded that the compulsory helmet order should be withdrawn immediately. Members of the Sikh Nari Manch, led by Councillor Mrs Harjinder Kaur, also joined the procession. Besides a large number of women, wearing traditional robes, and led by Mrs Tripat Kaur, and President of the Sector 46 Gurdwara, Mr Kehar Singh, assembled at the Sector 46 Gurdwara. It was decided that the
next protest march would be taken out from the Sector 19
Gurdwara on July 26 to the Sector 17 Plaza. |
Breach in
nullah damages road PAPPRI (SAS Nagar), July 24 — Breaches in a nullah here, crossing many villages, have damaged the road and cuts have developed in the road. This has made the road unsafe for traffic. The situation has caused alarm among the residents of the area. The sewer nullah had developed a breach near Pappri village, five km from Industrial Area, SAS Nagar, about a month ago. Residents complained that the authorities had been told about the danger much before the monsoon. Mr Darbara Singh, said the villagers had brought this matter to the notice of the authorities at a public grievances meeting at Manauli last month. The road connects a dozen villages. It had started caving in as water from the nullah had eroded the berms. Many buses plying in the area were withdrawn because of the condition of the road. The residents complained that the damaged road had cut them off from from the rest of the area. The suspension of bus services had created a problem for students and teachers. A teacher in a government school said she had to walk for more than four km through muddy fields to reach Phase XI to catch a bus. Mr Amarjit Singh of Chilla village said the persons working in Chandigarh and other adjoining areas were also facing difficulty in reaching their places of work. Meanwhile, sources said
the Punjab Public Works Department had deployed a team of
workers for maintenance work on the road. The sources
added that some farmers had cut temporary channels to get
water for irrigation, which had further damaged the road.
On deputation for long PANCHKULA, July 24 — A number of technocrats continue to work on deputation with the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) for a long period, in violation of the directions issued by HUDA authorities regarding the period of deputation. Demanding repatriation of those on deputation to their parent departments, the HUDA Junior Engineer Welfare Association said some superintending engineers (SEs), executive engineers (Xens), subdivisional engineers (SDEs) and junior engineers (JEs) were working on deputation from other state government departments like the PWD, Public Health, and Irrigation. The association, in a representation to the Chief Minister, said that 30 persons were working on deputation with HUDA, though an order issued by the Administrator (headquarters) in 1998 stipulated that no official should remain on deputation for more than one year at a time and the period should not be extended beyond three years. Highlighting the issues,
a spokesman of the association said at least 28 posts of
subdivisional engineer (SDE) were lying vacant in HUDA.
The posts lying vacant are to be filled through direct
recruitment. He said the direct recruitment quota posts
should be filled by appointing qualified degree-holder
JEs of HUDA on the same pattern as had been done in
February 1992. |
Bansal
flays Administration CHANDIGARH, July 24 — Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, a former MP, has assailed the Chandigarh Administration for harassing traders of the city and causing panic amongst them by issuing various notices alleging violation of building bylaws. In a written statement issued today, Mr Bansal said on numerous occasions, the Administration had ostensibly accepted the genuine needs of the occupants of commercial buildings to inter-alia partition the same but surprisingly its moves now seemed to be guided not by a just public policy but unhealthy profit considerations. Mr Bansal said people were being asked to pay from 10 per cent to 15 per cent of the present value of the buildings as the fee for effecting a partition in any bay-building. This is wholly unjustified as the present value has risen manifold, while the shop concerned may be fetching only a very nominal rent at the rate it was let out decades back. Traders have been
unfairly affected by the Administration’s move and
Mr Bansal has urged the Administration to stop harassing
the people and undertake a realistic review of the
building bylaws. The Administration must not forget that
traders contribute significantly to the state revenue, so
necessary for the development of the city, he said. CAPE function on environment CHANDIGARH, July 24 — The Children’s Alliance for Protection of the Environment (CAPE) in collaboration with the Chandigarh Social Welfare Advisory Board organised a function on the theme "Monsoons and environment’’ at the Sanatan Dharam Senior Secondary School, Sector 24 today. The function was organised under the Chetna Parv Programme of the Central Social Welfare Board. Mrs Kamla Sharma, chairperson of the Central Social Welfare Board who inaugurated the function led the children in planting 200 saplings in the school campus. Dr K.K Garg, joint director of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest gave a talk on vermi-composting. Mr Raghbir Arora, Municipal Councillor inaugurated the paintings drawn by schoolchildren. CAPE presented cash award of Rs 1000 each to all the four students whose paintings were adjudged best. Mr Kanhaya Lal Sharma, Deputy Mayor, MCC inaugurated the programme of folk singers of Gugga Vir party of 12 artistes from Rajasthan. Earlier, Mr S.K Sharma,
president, Environment Society of India led the children
and teachers in uprooting congress grass from the school
campus. CAPE has adopted this school under its arts,
heritage and environment conservation programme. |
Walk in
aid of Kargil heroes CHANDIGARH, July 24 — The staff and students of St Xavier’s Senior Secondary School, Sector 44-C, today took part in a “sponsored walk” to raise funds for the families of martyrs, who laid down their lives in the Kargil conflict. As many as 700 volunteers led by the Chairman, Mr Andrew Gosain, walked a distance of 7 km from the school to the city centre in sector 17. Carrying placards and banners with messages expressing their solidarity with the brave jawans, they walked via Sector 44 roundabout, down the main road passing sectors 34/35 roundabout, Aroma traffic junction, ISBT roundabout before turning in the Sector 17 city centre from the traffic lights. The walk began at 7.30 am with a prayer. According to Mr Gosain, the aim of the walk was to encourage students to get themselves sponsored for every kilometre and contributing that money for the welfare of the wounded jawans and their families. Moreover, this will also help in inculcating a spirit of patriotism. A sum of Rs 1,76,200 which has been collected from this walk along with the contribution of a day’s salary made by the staff will be given for the Army Central Welfare Fund. Boxing for a cause CHANDIGARH, July 24 — The Chandigarh Boxer Player Welfare Association (CBPWA) today held more than eight bouts for the Kargil relief fund at the Sector 17, Plaza stage. The special attraction of the day was a bout of women boxers. The association raised Rs 15,250 for the cause. A special function and kirtan darbar, to pay homage to the martyrs of Kargil, was organised today at the Gurdwara Sri Guru Teg Bahadur, Sector 34, in collaboration with the Guru Granth Sahib Sewa Society. The injured soldiers and airmen were also honoured by presenting utility gifts at Command Hospital, Chandimandir, by the gurdwara. The officers, staff and workers of Kandhari Beverages Ltd, Chandigarh Plant, Industrial Area, contributed their one day’s salary, an amount of Rs 30,600 for the cause of the Kargil heroes. A sum of Rs 4,016 has been contributed by seven retired officers from their provident fund. These people are Mr K.C. Sharma, Mr O.P. Verma, Mr T.L. Sharma, Mr B.L. Chopra, Mr M.L. Chhabra, Mr O.P. Gulati and Mr A.S. Dua. Blood donation camp for Kargil
heroes PANCHKULA, July 24—The Friends Social Services Society organised its fifth blood donation camp here today in support of the Kargil heroes at Sri Guru Ram Das Bhavan in Sector 15 . The occasion was marked by a cultural programme in which students of nearly 10 schools performed . Families of martyrs Major Sandeep Sagar, Deputy Commandant Joy Lal were invited on the function . The General Secretary of the society , Mr Mahavir Singh, said the sacrifice of the martyrs would not go unrewarded. students sang patriotic
songs and staged plays on national integration.They
conveyed a message of unity , universal peace and
harmony. Brig Satya Dev, Secretary, Rajaya Sanik Board
Haryana, was the chief guest . |
SNIPPETS Engg seats filled PANCHKULA, July 24 — All seats in the general category for admission to various courses in Punjab Engineering College, the Chandigarh College of Architecture and the Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology have been filled, according to the in charge of admissions, Mr D.K.Vohra. The second counselling would take place from August 17 to 19. School offers to admit martyrs'
wards PANCHKULA, July 24 — The management of Shri Jainendra Gurukul School, established in 1929, has offered to admit 55 male wards of martyrs and heroes of Kargil. The students, who should be in between 7 and 14 years of age, will be provided free education, boarding and lodging facilities. Disclosing this here today, Mr Ved Parkash, President of the school, said he had made this offer to the Chief Ministers of Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. He had also written to the Prime Minister in this regard. Moved by the sacrifices of soldiers, the management of the school decided to admit their children. The school offered to admit only boys as it did not have any arrangement for housing girls. In 1947, the school admitted 800 children who had lost their parents in the riots. During the days of terrorism in Punjab, the school admitted 50 children. Ms Sudha Babbar, Principal of the school, said terrorist victims were admitted through 'Punjab Pidhit Seva Parkalap Samiti', a social organisation. At present, 25 students are receiving free education at the school. Contest for kids on July 28 CHANDIGARH, July 24 — Nearly 7,000 children from 22 schools in Chandigarh, SAS Nagar and Panchkula will participate in the Coca Cola written contest on July 28. The students have been divided into six groups. Students of classes XI and XII are in Group A and those of classes IX and X are in group B. Students of classes VII and VIII, V and VI, III and IV and I and II have been put in groups C, D, E and F, respectively. Since there is no upper age limit to the number of students a school can send, schools have sent in as many as 1,000 entries. The response has been the maximum in groups D and E. The questions in the contest will be of multiple choice, single answer and fill in the blanks types to test the general awareness and intelligence quotient of students. The objective behind organising such a quiz is to give more students a chance of participation, especially those who are shy of going up on the stage for such contests. The exposure not only helps students test their ability but also enhances their self-confidence. Ms Anoop Michra is the programme co-ordinator for the contest. Students can look forward to attractive prizes, besides participation certificates. Electricity Dept removes 'kundis' CHANDIGARH, July 24 — A team of the electricity department, accompanied by the police, removed more than 300 'kundis' today from Deep Colony complex near Hallo Majra. The team was led by Mr V.P. Dhingra, Executive Engineer. The incidence of illegal 'kundis' was mainly in the colony, which surrounded the village from three sides along the Chandigarh-Ambala National Highway. For the first time, the sarpanch of the village accompanied the Electricity Department. Other panches also accompanied the team to make the operation a success. CRPF trainees call on Chhibber CHANDIGARH, July 24
— A batch of 15 trainee Assistant Commandants of the
Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) called on Lt-Gen
B.K.N. Chhibber, the Governor of Punjab and Administrator
of Chandigarh, at Punjab Raj Bhavan here today. The batch
was led by Commandant P.M.S. Khurana.The Governor said
the force had a big role to play in anti-insurgency and
anti-terrorism operations due to the changed security
scenario. He called upon the officers to develop
professionalism and serve their motherland in
insurgency-infested areas. He said the CRPF would have to
develop two to three crack battalions for the purpose.The
officers said they had completed 29 weeks' training after
their induction and that they were on a study tour to
various parts of the country.The batch also paid a visit
to the Police Headquarters and were explained the nature
of duties of the force. Mr Ajay Kashyap, SSP, HQ, met the
officers and gave a presentation on the local police.
Thereafter, an interaction session was organised.They
were shown the police control room, where the working of
the dual deck recorder was explained to them. |
 |
 |
| Nation
| Punjab | Haryana | Himachal Pradesh | Jammu & Kashmir | | Editorial | Business | Sport | | Mailbag | Spotlight | World | 50 years of Independence | Weather | | Search | Subscribe | Archive | Suggestion | Home | E-mail | |
