City water supply not hit by breaches in Bhakra
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 15 — Breaches in the Bhakra mainline canal at Shatrana in Patiala district notwithstanding, water supply to the city has not been affected.

During a visit to the Kajauli waterworks today, TNS found that though the water level had gone down by about 3 ft in the main canal, the Bhakra Beas Management Board, which is entrusted with the functioning of the Bhakra mainline canal, is maintaining the water levels to its previous mark of 11.5 feet.

In fact, the water level at Burji no: RD - 1 lakh 400, from where Chandigarh gets its main supply of water, was maintained at this normal level.

The city gets about 62-63 mgd of water daily from Kajauli, while 42 million gallons per day (mgd) is pumped in by the Punjab Public Health Department, the remaining 20-21 mgd is supplied by the UT Public Health Department. The Junior Engineers on duty there said the water level on the mainline was affected two days ago following the breaches, but the inflow of water to the Kajauli waterworks (240 cusecs) was maintained shortly after by regulating it through the gates, which are situated about 3 km downstream.

The Superintending Engineer, Public Health, Municipal Corporation, Mr Manmohan Jit Singh, when contacted, said situation was under control as we are getting our daily requirement of water from these waterworks. Hence the supply at the Sector 39 waterworks is normal and we have also stored some water to meet the emergency requirement. He explained that public notice was issued as a precautionary measure so that people use water judiciously during the next two days and are prepared for an emergency, so that even if they decided to stop the water supply for some time till the breaches were repaired, the supply is not adversely affected. The Army authorities are already busy plugging the breaches and they are likely to be repaired shortly, he said.

Meanwhile, a quick survey in the city revealed that the water supply in most parts of the city was normal, but those residing in some sectors like 7, 11, 21, 22, 23 and few southern sectors complained of low-water pressure during the day, especially those on the first and second floors.

Kiran gives proof of ‘interference’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 15 — The Inspector-General of Police, Dr Kiran Bedi, today reiterated that the "intervention" being referred to by the Chandigarh Administration and the former Adviser, Mr Jagdish Sagar, was actually "interference".

The IGP, while handing over documents to support her viewpoint of "interference", said that it was not just "intervention", but gross violation of all rules. The IGP was not allowed to exercise any powers. The IGP has the powers to appoint, transfer or pass orders to inspectors, sub-inspectors and ASIs. In the case of other ranks, it is the SSP.

However, the administration has been behaving like an SHO by even transferring constables, she added. Even SHOs can inquire into the conduct of constables.

"For the same reason, I have demanded an inquiry so that all facts are placed before the inquiry committee and all sides are heard," the IGP added. Rules have to be followed whether you like the IGP or not, Dr Bedi added.

“All records indicate at interference and not intervention and we want and early inquiry into the matter,” she added .

The Administration has been directly holding inquiries, calling for explanation and the lower staff, after bypassing the the IGP or the SSP, she alleged.

Bulk power supply for housing societies
By Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 15 — The electricity wing of the Engineering Department of the Chandigarh Administration will make bulk supply to those Chandigarh Housing Board Cooperative House Building Societies who are prepared to take the supply at one point and recover the electricity dues from their members instead of insisting on individual connections.

According to a decision taken by the Chandigarh Administration, the domestic tariff as applicable from November,1998, would be extended to the cooperative societies. Accordingly, the tariff applicable would be:

First 10 per cent of total monthly consumption: 146 paise/unit

Next 70 per cent of total monthly consumption: 215 paise/unit

Next 20 per cent of total monthly consumption: 262 paise/unit

In such cases, the electricity wing of the Engineering Department would allow 15 per cent rebate on the “sale of power” by such cooperative societies. The “electricity duty” shall, however, be payable on the total energy consumed at the usual rates applicable for domestic supply.

The Administration has also stipulated that no cooperative society can recover charges for power supply from its individual members higher than the charges which any other domestic consumer in the city is paying.

The above tariff for bulk supply has reportedly been worked out on the basis of tariff worked out for various societies in Delhi under the Delhi Vidyut Board.

Under the provisions for the allotment of chunk of land to individual societies, the societies would be required to provide for the indoor substation or pole-mounted substation as well as the local distribution system inside their respective complexes for receiving the bulk supply even if individual connections for members are to be provided.

The electricity wing would provide 11 KV line or supply system up to the premises of the society.

The cooperative societies have been given various options about the construction of substations and internal distribution systems. One of the options is that initially, the society concerned at its own level under the supervision of the electricity wing can construct either indoor or pole-mounted substation and hand over the same to the wing for its maintenance and release of individual connections to the members of the society.

In such a situation, the department would recover 5 per cent supervision charges for ensuring execution of work by the society as per the department designs and norms. Further, 16 per cent of the estimated cost would be recovered for the maintenance of the local distribution system since individual connections are to be released for which the responsibility for maintaining the system would also lie with the department.

The second option would be that the work on the erection of the substation and local distribution system inside the society complex is carried out by the department on behalf of the society as deposit work and subsequently taken over for its maintenance and release of individual connections by the department.

The department, in turn, would carry out the work as deposit work for which 24 per cent departmental charges would be leviable and further, 16 per cent of the estimated cost would be recovered as maintenance charges of the system laid by the department.

The third option, of course, would be the bulk supply to the society.

Ducks to adorn lake
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 15 — With a view to attracting more birds and enlivening Sukhna Lake, the local Environment Society of India (ESI) has decided to release ducks into the water body on World Environment Day, falling on June 5. The ESI will also organise a hawan on the same day near the old pipal tree at the lake.

The move is aimed at purifying the environment, to appease the rain Gods and to pray for the success of the ongoing conservation measures, including shramdan."In fact, besides offering a soothing sight to the visitors, the ducks, if released in the lake would attract more birds, particularly during summers, when migratory birds desert the water body," said Mr S.K. Sharma, President of the society.

It is not for the first time that the lake is going to have ducks. They adorned it during the early sixties, and had been released in the lake at the behest of the then Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Partap Singh Kairon, who took a keen interest in the development of the lake.

But the birds reportedly perished due to lack of care on the part of the authorities concerned, soon after the city acquired the status of a Union Territory, the sources said.According to Mr Sharma, the society would bring 50 ducklings, for this purpose, from Uttar Pradesh.He said the hawan would be performed by Swami Pitambar Nand of the Ramakrishna Mission. It would be followed by shramdan at the lake, he added.

Paper from outside syllabus
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 15 — Students who took Vocational Course Paper-I test of advertising, sales promotion and sales management, in Panjab University BA II Examination, were surprised to find most of the questions in the question-paper, out of syllabus, here today.

The students were required to attempt any ten questions out of the given 15 but were surprised to find that very few conformed to the prescribed syllabus of Panjab University. They alleged that most of the questions were based on the course they had studied in BA I.

Parents donate blood
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 15—Ravtej Singh, a student of the kindergarten class, continually tugging at his mother's sleeve, led her to the blood donation camp being organised at St John's High School, Sector 26, here, today. She says he insisted that she donate blood at the camp like the parents of other children of the school.

The camp was organised by the St John's Old Boys Association for the Thalassaemic Children Welfare Association where over 200 parents of students of the school came to donate blood, patiently waiting for their turn to contribute for a noble cause.

The blood donation camp is an annual feature of the school and is held to coincide with the last parent-teacher meeting of the school before it breaks for the summer vacation. "This year, we have received an overwhelming response from the parents,'' Mr S.P.S. Ghai, President of SJOBA, opined.

The Thalassaemic Children Welfare Association, represented by Mrs Ginny Barth, will organise lectures and adopt other means of creating an awareness among students and society and work on motivating schools to screen students for thalassaemia to identify the number of those suffering once the schools reopen after the summer break.

Role of security agencies "will change"
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 15 — The role of private security agencies in the next millennium will not be the present stereotyped one but they will play the role of risk management and not just patrolling or guarding, opined Mr A.K. Sanyal, Managing Director of a private company, while speaking during the concluding day of a conference on fire, safety and security at the CII here today.

Mr Sanyal said that the role of security agencies in the next century would l be to prevent loss, personal security, IT security (security of information), fire control, work place safety and environmental safety. Increase in poverty, unemployment, organised crime, terrorism and theft of valuable information were the threats in the near future, he opined.

During the next millennium public services would be more stretched and would not be available even to the public sector thus forcing the insurance companies to put pressure on their clients to improve their securities or pay more premium. The work of security personnel would become specialised, complex and complicated.

Also speaking on the role of private security agencies Mr Pawanjit Ahluwalia , Managing Director of another private agency, said the role of security was to protect people, life and information, keeping in view the national trends like rising population, increasing urbanisation, unsatiated aspirations and the nexus between criminals, politicians and business.

Mr Ahluwalia said there was need to lay down policies and procedures for security management and develop higher level of security manpower.

Meanwhile, speaking on health safety and environment, Dr S. Sivaramakrishnan, Chief Medical Advisor in a multinational company, said the challenge for the 21st century in health would be stress and stress related diseases. Deviation in safety would lead to accidents, which in turn would effect health and environment. So, to achieve excellent results it was very necessary that health safety and environment should work together.

Earlier speaking on "Corporate Expectations from Service and Equipment Providers", Brig Joginder Singh, General Manager of a private company, said that the security function was not punitive, but was essentially protective, preventive, and precautionary through the systematic organisation of normal operating relationships.

He said that honest appraisal of security had revealed great strides achieved and that the management and other personnel were becoming more security conscious. Stating the specific requirements of the corporate sector he said the security personnel had to be of military bearing, should be medically fit, educated and ,should also know how to handle weapons and fire-fighting equipment and also possess rudimentary knowledge of the law.

Speaking on "New Developments in Fire Protection Technology", Mr P.N. Panchal, President, Institution of Fire Engineers India , said in the last decade the fire which had occurred had been an eye opener for the fire fighting industries. He stressed that each company should pre-plan and should have a modern design approach in fire safety.

Seizure of big quantity of fabric ordered
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 15 — Mr Inder Raj Soni, Commissioner, Central Excise Commissionerate, Chandigarh-II, has ordered the confiscation of processed fabric valued at Rs 2.12 crore. This fabric was cleared without payment of the Central excise.

Mr Soni told newsmen that based on specific information that processed fabric was cleared clandestinely without the payment of Central excise duty and was booked through two transport companies — Gagan Freight Carriers and Delhi Punjab Goods Carrier — on fictitious and fake coded language both in numerals and alphabets and without complete addresses besides being not accompanied by any valid documents, invoices, bill or GR.

The fabric was seized in transit from the seven godowns of two transport companies. In the course of verification of huge stocks, which lasted over 12 days, no one came forward to claim the fabric. A total quantity of 22 lakh metres of processed fabric valued at Rs 4 crore was seized or detained.

Mr Soni said as no claimant was coming forward to claim the seized or detained fabric, wide publicity was given in regional and national media, inviting lawful owners to come forward with documentary evidence and claim the seized goods. However, a few came forward to file their claims.

The Commissioner said that an opportunity was given at the show cause notice stage to claim the seized fabrics with documentary evidence before him. Of 183 persons who filed their claims, cases of 53 claimants on examination were found to be bogus and not genuine. At the adjudication stage, the claimants were asked to furnish documentary evidence in support of their claims and letters were sent to their given addresses and the same were returned by the postal authorities from Surat and Amritsar with the remarks that "addressee premises is not locatable and hence these are non existent."

The Commissioner on careful examination of the claims filed released three lakh metres of the fabric of the value of Rs 55 lakh to the lawful owners who produced documentary evidence in support of their claims.

Mr Soni said it had been ordered that the confiscated fabric of over 11.40 lakh metres should be auctioned at Amritsar within a month and the sale proceeds should be apportioned to the exchequer. The lawful owners still had an opportunity to claim the fabric on the payment of a fine of 50 per cent of the value of confiscated fabric within a month, Mr Soni added.

Heat wave may revive in North

CHANDIGARH, May 15 (UNI) — The tormenting heat of summers is on its way back.

According to the meteorological office here, the pleasant weather that punctured the month-long spell of heat wave in the northern India would soon be over as ‘upper air cyclonic conditions’ over Pakistan and Rajasthan, has disappeared.

The atmospheric disturbance had triggered thunder squalls in many parts of northern India. High velocity winds in its wake on Wednesday uprooted trees and claimed many lives in house collapses. A feeder canal of the Bhakra main line (BML) near Patiala suffered a major breach.

The forecast today was mainly dry and clear skies in the North-West region of the country for the next two days.

The day temperature rose in many parts of the North-West region today. Srinagar recorded a high of 27.2°C, three degrees above normal, while the maximum temperature rose to 24°C in Shimla.

Delhi had a high of 36.3°C, while Hisar recorded 39.2°C. Ambala in Haryana and Patiala in Punjab had a high of 35.4°C and 36.3°C respectively.

Stipend announced for folk artiste
By Sonoo Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 15 — In order to revive the lost and forgotten arts of Punjab, Lieut-Gen BKN Chibber, Governor, Punjab, and Administrator UT, had announced on April 24 that old masters of folk traditions would be appointed as “Gurus” or “masters” in certain schools.

As a result, on the inaugural day of a photographic exhibition put up by the Chandigarh Administration in collaboration with the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi, “Dhadi” performer Sharif Idu was identified as one such artiste.

According to Mrs Anuradha Gupta, Home Secretary, Chandigarh, Sharif would be paid a stipend of Rs 5,000 a month, by the Department of Cultural Affairs, Chandigarh, for teaching his art to schoolchildren. Though the modalities of the scheme are yet to be finalised, this “Dhadi” singer has already been promised the monthly allowance and a place to stay.

Sharif Idu was traced by TNS at Mani Majra town, living virtually in penury in a two-room set , along with his wife, three sons and two daughters. “I have a lot of visitors like you from the press, poets and officials related to the cultural departments. Obviously it would help if I am given a respectable place to stay”, he said. Delighted about being recognised by the Chandigarh Administration, Sharif showed his medals, trophies and newspaper clippings stocked in his house.

But would schoolchildren of today, fed on a diet of MTV etc., be interested in “Dhadi” singing? “Why not?”, said a confident Sharif, and broke into an old forgotten tune that seemed to come from lostlands. “When a student of mine would enter into a competition and sing an old traditional “Heer” along with a sarangi, do you think it would not draw crowds?”.

Interestingly, while his own three sons sing along with him, they harbour dreams of settling abroad. This self-taught singer, draws his lineage from Bhai Mardana, companion of Guru Nanak Dev. Sharif laments, “My family has lived off functions that I have been attending all these years. For one function we are paid something between Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000. How do we survive on that? Singers like Hans Raj Hans who touch my feet, command lakhs for one concert. I have even driven a “thela” to survive and my wife works as a mid-wife at the Indira Colony dispensary for just Rs 50 per month. Even the instruments that I have with me have been donated by various people”.

Later, Sharif sang a song in his full-throated voice.

Controller of exams denied increments
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 15 — Even as one year has passed since one of the senior-most Deputy Registrars of Panjab University, Mr Ashok Raj Bhandari was re-designated as the Joint Controller of Examinations by the Board of Finance, Panjab University neither has there been any change in his job profile nor has he been given two additional increments as per the rules.

The issue has come up in the senate and syndicate meetings of the university but without any significant outcome. The statutory bodies had earlier cleared his appointment to this post.

Mr Bhandari, Deputy Secretary (Secrecy) who was re-designated as Joint Controller of Examinations in March 1998 alleges that though the post was created “on the basis of the work load on the examination side’’, he has not been given any additional responsibilities nor the two additional increments which he is entitled to both as per the Punjab government and university rules.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof M.M Puri when contacted clarified that no new post had been created, only one of the existing post of deputy registrars was re-designated as Joint Controller of Examinations. The Controller was directed to assign duties to him since he was required to work under him. Dismissing his allegations as baseless, Mr Puri said subject to his approval, Dr Sodhi Ram has already assigned him the additional duties in December last year. The senate has also been informed of this. This is also clearly stated in his appointment letter. He admitted that though he is entitled to the increments, and said that he would inquire as to why the same have not been given to him so far.

Mr Bhandari on his part maintains that as per the clause in PU calendar I, his new duties should be assigned by the Syndicate and not the Controller of Examinations. He is of the view that since the upgraded post is higher than that of a Deputy Registrar, it is expected to carry additional responsibility. He has demanded that the area of responsibility should be clearly defined and the additional increment.

PUTA members demand leave encashment
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 15 — Members of the Panjab University Teachers Association (PUTA) have resolved to express their resentment against the delay in implementing certain demands and withdrawal of some facilities.

At a general body meeting here today, the members decided to withdraw support to the university in evaluating examination answer papers and conduct of examinations if the withdrawal of the leave encashment is not restored. This facility has been withdrawn in their case only, they said.

The delay on part of the Administration in implementing the revised grades for college teachers in the UT and the decision to invoke the principle of no-work-no-pay was condemned by them.

Mr M. Rajivlochan, secretary of the association, said other resolutions passed include urging the government to penalise those bureaucrats who were responsible for the delay in implementing the revised grades for teachers.

The gathering also condemned the confusing clarifications issued by the UGC which had resulted in delays in career advancement opportunities for them.

The teachers said they resorted to strikes only as a last resort because the government was adamant on denying them their rightful demands.

Kids dress up for prizes
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 15—`Lecma' 3 BRD, Air Force Station, was the melting pot for nearly 200 students of Mt Carmel School, Sector 46, where an inter-house fancy dress competition was organised today.

They came dressed in a variety of attires to vie for the prizes. They came as stoic sages and starved beggars, brides and grooms, dancers and fairies, dacoits and politicians, drunkards and lepers and it was a treat to watch them rattle out the few lines they had learnt to describe themselves.

Barbie dolls and Ricky Martins provided quite an entertainment to the crowd which supported them with clapping throughout their performance. The popularity of Daler Mehndi among children was evident from the fact that quite a few of them came dressed like him and two of them managed to get a prize for their performance on stage.

An investiture ceremony for the school cabinet was also held on the occasion. Comprising 30 members, the cabinet took oath to work for the progress of the country, the school and the welfare of society. Members were appointed for the four houses of the school, namely Milton, Wordsworth, Keats and Shakespeare.

The Principal of DAV College, Sector 10, Mr R.C. Jeewan, was the chief guest at the function. He pinned badges on to the shirts of the cabinet members and addressed the gathering. He said that children were not "careless but were only cared less by their parents''. Referring to the three angles of a triangle, he said each of the three angles represented the child, the parent and the institution and that each has a crucial role to play and all three must work in tandem for all-round development of the child.

Earlier, the Principal of the school, Mr Charles Samuel, welcomed the chief guest and the parents of the students.

The results of the fancy dress contest are as follows : Kindergarten : Rushil Vasudev (1), Nishant Chattwal (2), Rishab Bhanot (3); consolation : Raghav Bhardwaj and Sahil. Sub-Junior : Sukanth (1), Sujay Raina (2), D Neha (3), Consolation : Jasmine Bedi.

Junior : (Group II) : Nikita Thapar (1), Tanweer Hussain (2), Joanna D Samuel (3), consolation ; Harminder Singh. (Group I) : Karandeep Singh (1), Jonathan Charles (2), Judith Samuel (3), Consolation ; Inderpal Singh.

Senior : Group II : Bhavdeep Vashishth (1), Stanley Chaudhary (2), Gurpreet Singh and Manleen Kaur (3). Group I : Martin Taran Roy (1), Aarti Gill (2), Anubhav Chatterjee and Ashish Sharma (3), consolation : Jasmine Paala.

SNIPPETS

Quiz contest concludes
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 15—The Pepsi Countdown 2000 Quiz Contest concluded at Bal Bhavan, Sector 23, here today. Finals in the sub-junior, junior and senior categories were held, with all teams unable to answer most of the questions based on "Astronomy and Space''.

Umang and Tejvansh from Yadavindra Public School won in the senior category. Sumit and Prashant from St Annes School were a close second, followed by Indraneil and Nishit.

Shivanant and Varun from St Kabir School wrested the first position in the junior category. Akashdeep and Amna from Yadavindra Public School came second and Anjana and Nidhi of New Public School came third. There was a tough competition among the three teams.

Krithi and Bharat of Hansraj Public School were declared winners in the sub-junior category. There was a tie for the second position. Neehar and Ankita of Sacred Heart School clinched the second place by spelling the word "psychology'' correctly and Arjan and Manu of New Public School had to be content with third place.

The quiz was followed by the prize distribution function. The winners were awarded a cash prize of Rs 800, while those securing the second and third positions were awarded Rs 600 and Rs 400, respectively. All participants were also given entry coupons for a local bowling centre.

Notice issued to Administration
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 15 — Mrs Vani Gopal Sharma, Civil Judge, Junior Division, today issued notice for May 25 to the Chandigarh Administration through the in charge of the licensing branch of the Estate Office on a suit filed by Mr Ajay Jagga, President of the local unit of the Janata Party, seeking directions to the defendant to clear the backlog of driving licences and registration certificates within 15 days and issue new licences and registration certificates at the earliest.

In his suit filed in public interest, Mr Jagga also sought directions for providing water and toilet facilities for the general public.

Referring to a news item carried in a local newspaper, he stated that the public was suffering due to the inefficiency of the branch. He brought to the notice of the court that applications for driving licences and registration certificates had been piling up since December 1998, much to the chagrin of the public.

He alleged that the unorganised system was encouraging touts and there was a feeling in the public that officials were conniving with touts. This was evident from the fact that a tout could get the licence, even when the applicant was refused.

Cross-examination of witness ends
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 15 — The Sessions Judge, Mr B.S. Bedi, who held court at the high-security Burail jail, today concluded the cross-examination of Mr G.D. Achint, PA to the Assistant General Manager of the Central Bank of India.

Mr Achint was witness to the search conducted in the house of human bomb Dilawar Singh at Patiala.

He told the court that on September 5, the Chief Manager of the bank had deputed him to go to the CBI office. Later he was taken to Patiala.

Mr Achint said although he was told that he would a witness to some search, the details were not told to him until they reached the house of Dilawar Singh at Guru Nanak Nagar.

He said the CBI had also contacted a karyana merchant of Patiala named Raghbir Chand who also became a witness to the search. He informed the court that the searching party had searched only one room of the house of Dilawar Singh.

Gatka display at Plaza Carnival
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 15 — An enthralling display of Gatka, a martial art sport of the Nihang Sikhs, was the main attraction of today’s Plaza Carnival.

A team from Baba Deep Singh Akhara at SAS Nagar performed the Gatka.

It was followed by an evening of qawalis by Itrshad Rehmat Qawal and his group from Malerkotla.

The other usual attractions, including sketching of portraits and mixing of carnival costumed characters with the public and distribution of sweets, also featured in this weekly programme.

Kabaris flay ban on entry
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 15—The Chandigarh Kabari Union has criticised the move of the local police to ban the entry of kabaris in sectors of the city. A statement issued by Mr Rama Shankar, President of the union, alleged that for the past 20 days beat officers had been manhandling kabaris.Some of them were being detained during the day and let off late in the evening, it alleged.

The statement claimed that some of them went to meet the IGP. They could not meet her but a memorandum was submitted for further action.

The union threatened that if the problem was not solved, they would hold hunger strikes and stage dharnas before the office of the IGP.

Employees demand withdrawal of hike
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 15 — To protest against the alleged anti-employees policies of the Punjab Government, members of the Punjab Government Employees Residents Sangharash Committee organised a 'Jago' in Sector 39 here today.

The protesting employees were demanding withdrawal of the hike in the rent of government accommodation. They were addressed by Mrs Kulwant Kaur Grewal, Mr Nishan Singh Uppal, Mr Daulat Ram Mall and Mr Sucha Singh Mattu. They threatened that if their demand was not accepted, they will resort to a mass agitation.