Uncovered manholes dot city
By Gaurav Sood

CHANDIGARH, June 11 — To be a good driver is not enough to be safe while driving within the city. There are numerous uncovered manholes which have virtually become death traps and are dotted all over the city.

These uncovered manholes become all the more dangerous on the scarcely-lit streets of the city at night. They are generally situated on either side of the road and drivers of two-wheelers, including bicycles, are their common victims. Such uncovered manholes, measuring 2 feet by 3 feet and almost three feet deep, have been held responsible for many accidents leading to serious injuries and at times even deaths.

According to Chandigarh Traffic Police officials, the exact number of people killed is not known but a senior official recalled that they often received complaints from people who were badly injured due to these traps. The officer stated that the condition will worsen during the approaching monsoon.The uncovered manholes assume a serious threat when they are covered with leaves and broken branches and also due to water-logging.

Mr Manmohanjit Singh, SE (Public Health), Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, refused to comment on the issue.

Mr Swaran Singh Kanwal, Executive Engineer also did not wish to comment on the issue but admitted that manhole covers were missing due to regular thefts.He said a regular check was not possible due to lack of staff. He also expressed his helplessness in case of thefts as it was not his department's job but he promised to replace the missing ones as soon as possible.

Although the department had switched over to heavy cement covers, most of them were either broken by the passing heavy vehicles or stolen for the iron rods inserted in them.

Mr Sanjay Sharma of Sector 37 recalls that while driving home last week, he nearly landed in an open manhole due to an overtaking bus. Mr Sharma said that he was lucky as his scooter stopped on the very edge of the 10 to 12 feet deep manhole on the road dividing Sectors 30 and 27.

Mrs Jyoti Chawla, who has recently recovered from a multiple thigh fracture, recalled that she did not notice the open manholes due to while learning to drive her new scooter and fell in the uncovered manhole. She strongly criticised the MCC and even decided not to vote for anyone in the next corporation election.

There are at least five uncovered manholes in Sector 29. The situation is no better on the road dividing Sectors 27 and 28 where a number of storm water gully chambers are without covers.

In other sectors, too, many storm water drain chambers are without covers. On the prestigious Madhya Marg, one finds a number of such manhole covers "vandalised" and damaged by the offenders who try to look for pieces of steel rods from the covers.

Earlier, theft of manhole covers used to be because they were made of cast iron. After that, the authorities went in for cheaper but effective reinforced concrete jaalis. But even these are stolen and broken.

Getting started young
By Harvinder Khetal
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 11 — "If children in the West can do it, why can't I?" Taking on this challenge, 12-year-old Pahul Ahluwalia set about utilising her summer vacation to earn a little pocket money for herself. And dance it would be, she had no doubt. Having learnt bharatnatyam from the famous Suchitra Mitra, during her holidays last year, she wanted to pass on the skill to her neighbourhood kids. The fact that Pahul had taught dancing casually to her sisters and cousins as also choreographed a dance in school clinched the matter.

Thus, while parents of most children Pahul's age were busy scouting for summer workshops to keep their wards constructively occupied during the vacation, Mr and Mrs Ahluwalia sat back to see their eldest daughter get going.

The spunky Sector 16 youngster made an invitation for a "Join the dance masti class", got photocopies of it and distributed them in Sectors 16 and 15. And soon, she had six seven-to-12-year-old boys and girls eager to dance to her tune. Pushing the dining table up to the wall, and lo the dance floor was ready.

Vigorous one-and-a-half hour foot-tapping sessions to the latest numbers blazing on the stereo earned Pahul the nickname of ''Didi no. 1'' from her little students. Why not? Their confident teacher tries to bring out the essence of the song not only through the foot movements but also hand and facial expressions. Most important of all, she has been able to break the barrier of inhibition of the kids in a her own ''kiddy'' manner. They are raring to come on stage in their school functions.

They enjoy dancing the most to ''Vengaboys'', ''Tunak tunak...'' and ''Sexy eyes''. Pahul even has had feedback from the parents of her students who want her to teach Punjabi bhangra and giddha, too, besides the Western style.

The experience has been great for Pahul even though she has had to forgo the trip to visit her relatives in Jaipur, where her sisters have gone. On the other hand, the perky girl has with her first earning, bought gifts for her proud parents and sisters and deposited the rest in a bank.

Would she want to pursue this as a career later? "No. This is just a hobby. Something that I will remember fondly when I grow up and become an IFS officer and a model," beams Pahul, a Class VIII student of Sacred Heart School, even as her parents indulgently say that she is free to choose her vocation.

Phone 'dying' regularly
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 11 — Can a phone remain "dead" for 62 days stretched over a period of almost 12 months? Well this is actually happening to a telephone installed at the SAS Nagar residence of Sqn Ldr Ravel Singh (retd).

The retired Air Force officer says from June, 1998, to June 8, 1999, his phone has been "dead" for 62 days in total. "Each time we lodge a complaint, the phone is set right," says Sqn Ldr Ravel Singh, adding that he lodges a complaint through the computerised complaint number or the Junior Telecom Officer concerned. He met even the Divisional Engineer (Phones) but nothing has worked out.

He claims that only his phone in his locality goes out of order. If there would be a major fault or a fault in the exchange, then other phones would also be affected, he said. "It is surprising that in this era of advanced computerised telecom technology that a telephone remains out of order so frequently. This needs proper investigation," he demanded.

The telephone has not been functioning at irregular intervals since 1996 when it was installed.