Eight held for assault
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 28 — The local police has arrested eight persons for assaulting four residents of Colony No. 5 last night.

According to the police, Teja, Babu, Ashok, Amarpal, Ramu, Munna, Mithilesh and Birpal, all residents of Colony No. 5, were arrested for assaulting and beating up Ram Phal, Mohan, Shiv and Bant Ram over a minor issue with sticks, iron rods and a sword. Gabbar and Neeraj, two other accused, are still at large.

A case has been registered under Sections 307, 147, 148, 452, 324 and 506 of the IPC at the Sector 34 police station.

One attacked
Rashid Khan, a resident of Mani Majra, was assaulted and injured by Gurpal Singh, also Mani Majra resident, over a minor issue. While the former was admitted to the PGI, a case has been registered against the accused.

Jewellery stolen
Arvin Sapra, a Sector 15 resident, has reported that jewellery and cash were stolen from his house while he was away. A case has been registered.

Tomato tumbles, peas follow
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 28 — Prices of a number of vegetables have come down in the local market in the past four days.

After a survey of the local market, it was found that a kg of tomato, priced at Rs 20 two days ago, could be purchased today at Rs 15 in the retail market. Its wholesale price has come down from Rs 80 to Rs 60 per 5 kg. Turnip has also become cheaper in this period as its price has come down from Rs 5 to Rs 3 a kg in retail and from Rs 20 to Rs 15 a kg in the wholesale market, due to enhanced arrivals in the market. Carrot's price has also decreased from Rs 12 per kg to between Rs 8 and Rs 10 a kg in this period. Its wholesale price has decreased from Rs 50 to Rs 35 per 5 kg.

Brinjal has also become cheaper as its price has come down from Rs 6 to Rs 5 a kg in retail and from Rs 24 to Rs 18 per 5 kg in the wholesale market. The price of bittergourd has come down from Rs 20 to Rs 16 a kg in retail and from Rs 80 to Rs 60 per 5 kg in the wholesale market.

There was no change in the prices of lemon and ginger as these could be purchased in the retail market at Rs 30 a kg and in the wholesale market at Rs 130 per 5 kg. Garlic was priced at Rs 50 a kg in retail and at Rs 200 per 5 kg in wholesale market. The price of peas has come down from Rs 15 to Rs 10 a kg in retail and from Rs 60 to Rs 40 per 5 kg in the wholesale market. According to traders, the fall is an outcome of more arrivals from Punjab and Haryana.

Gourd's price has come down from Rs 10 to Rs 6 a kg in retail and from Rs 40 to Rs 24 per 5 kg in the wholesale market.

Cabbage and cauliflower were priced at Rs 5 a kg in retail and at Rs 15 per 5 kg in wholesale market. Radish was the cheapest at Rs 2 a kg in retail and at Rs 8 per 5 kg in the wholesale market. Potato and onion were priced at Rs 5 a kg and Rs 8 a kg, respectively.

A nearly empty pandal marked the two ceremonies held at Punjab Raj Bhavan on Saturday last. The occasion was farewell to outgoing Governor-cum-Administrator of Chandigarh, Lieut-Gen B.K.N. Chhibber (retd), and swearing-in ceremony of his successor, Lieut-Gen JFR Jacob (retd).

Conspicuous by their absence were leaders from all opposition parties of both Punjab and Chandigarh. In fact, none of the leaders of the local unit of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) attended either of the two ceremonies.

Only a handful of Punjab bureaucrats turned up at Raj Bhavan for these ceremonies. The seats earmarked for MPs of both Punjab and Chandigarh also remained unoccupied. The only exception was the new Union Minister for Poverty Alleviation, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa. Only a handful of members of the Council of Ministers of Punjab also showed up for these ceremonies.

Even MLAs belonging to the ruling SAD-BJP alliance were conspicuous by their absence. The seats reserved for them were occupied by members of the personal staff of Raj Bhavan.

The attendance was a little better for the swearing-in ceremony as the Press gallery was nearly full, though for the earlier farewell ceremony, only a handful of newsmen and cameramen were present. One of the reasons was that perhaps the invitation cards did not reach the guests in time. Some of the newsmen complained that they received invitation cards only for the swearing-in ceremony and not for the farewell ceremony.

General Jacob becomes the 29th Governor of Punjab and 13th Administrator of Chandigarh.

Mega event

The Sector 17 Parade Ground has virtually become a trade fair centre. After the mega event in October, the Confederation of Indian Industry (Northern Region) is all set to organise the Textech ’99 and Woolex ’99 at the same venue. In fact, the special structures raised for the October show were never dismantled and have rather been preserved for the five-day show starting December 2.

Textech ’99 will bring together the world of textile-related technologies. It will showcase national companies with international collaborations from Switzerland, UK, Taiwan, Japan, France, New Zealand, Italy and Germany. The event will offer enormous opportunity to tap the multibillion dollar textile industry.It will also provide a forum for the Indian textile business to display their products, services and technologies as also strike joint ventures, collaborations, marketing and technical tie-ups. Participation by companies from several states, including Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir at Textech is the other highlight.

On the opening day, i.e. December 2, there will be an impressive fashion show to showcase the development of fashion in the 20th century. The show will feature top models of the country, including Madhu Sapre, Manpreet Brar, Nayanka Chatterjee, Ujawala Raut, Bipasha Basu and others.

Woolex’99 will be a concurrent event.

Carnival

Country’s top Bollywood stars, singers and others will all be here on December 4 and 5 for the City’s own carnival, the Millennium Dhamaka.

Among those who will be performing here while the Textech ’99 and Woolex ’99 will be on at the adjoining Sector 17 Parade Ground will be stars like Anupam Kher, Mahesh Bhatt, singers like Jasbir Jassi, Malaika Arora, Anamika and her troupe, Veronica and her troupe, besides the popular TV and film star Jaspal Bhatti.

The venue of the carnival will be the Sector 10 Leisure Valley where the Chandigarh Carnival Society, the organiser of the event, plans to raise a carnival village. The work on the carnival village has already started. There will be a "Hasya kavi sammelan" featuring poets like Surendra Sharma, Shail Chaturvedi, Ashok Chakradhar and Manik Verma besides others.

In fact, those who plan to visit Chandigarh in December must plan it for the first week as they would be able to visit both the Chandigarh Carnival and Textech’99, a rare opportunity to mix business with pleasure.

Chandigarh Tourism, too, is keen to promote the event so as to market the city as a transit tourist centre.

The carnival will offer an opportunity to all sections, children to senior citizens. There will be a walk for senior citizens and a painting competition, too. Then there will be a plethora of events for children. For the teenagers and youth, the carnival will have a lot to offer in Malaika Arora, Veronica, Anamica and Jasbir Jassi of "Kudi Gujarat di" fame. Then for children, it will be Kamaljit Neelon. And for entertainment of all, Jaspal Bhatti will have a surprise.

There will be a Rajasthani food festival. The entry for the carnival, as usual, will be free.

Nominated

Dr (Mrs) Kamal Anand, who has the distinction of being the first woman to have received the degree of Doctor of Literature from Panjab University, has been nominated to the governing body of the Delhi Sanskrit Academy. The nomination comes in wake of her contribution in popularising Sanskrit as an important thread of the texture of Indian culture.

Dr Anand has been directing Sanskrit plays and ballets in the direction of "rediscovering the variegated hues, poesy and prosody in the originals." The attempt was abled to portray that Sanskrit was not a prerogative of an erudite scholar. Instead it could reach out to the masses.

Dr Anand’s work, "Kathasaritasagara ki Suktian" (with Hindi sayings from Kathasaritasagara) is one of her valuable contributions. Dr S.D. Sharma, a former President of India, released her two volumes of "Sanskrit Sanskriti Sadhna" in March this year. She is currently working on modern short stories in Sanskrit.The Delhi based scholar has five books to her credit.

Sitting ducks

The migratory and resident ducks at the marshy area opposite the regular end of Sukhna lake have added charm and beauty during this season, a stark contrast to how we treat this water body.

With the influx of population from other states members of various communities come to the lake to celebrate their festivals and dispose of their leftovers: marigold flowers and earthen lamps that spoil the beauty of the lake. During this month some groups ignored the policeman’s advice and burst crackers in the evening hours on the promenade of the lake.

Plastic bags and ice cream kegs are seen on the banks. Despite ban poachers continue to catch and kill the ducks. The hapless ducks fall an easy prey and are also chased by stray dogs. The disappearance of 24 resident ducks from this waterbody clearly shows that poachers are on the prowl surprisingly.

The wildlife department, Chandigarh administration, which protects the migratory ducks, does not take responsibility to protect the resident ducks. One of the 12 commandments on the notice boards at the lake proclaims: "Use of loudspeakers and loudplaying of music is prohibited."

It is better to teach people to hear the songs nature sings for us — the sigh of the winds, the gentle lapping of the waves and the calls of the migratory birds than to play music at the lake.

To welcome the migratory birds, the CAFE, an outfit of the Environment Society of India, is holding a function to "welcome the Asian guests "on Saturday (December 11) from 10 a.m to 1 p.m near the regulator end of the lake.

Shivika, Rohit best cyclists
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Nov 28 — Shivika Arora of St Anne's Convent School, Sector 32, among girls, and Rohit Sharma of DAV College, Sector 10, among boys were adjudged best cyclists in the one-day Chandigarh state cycling meet for various age groups held at Government College, Sector 11, here today.

Dr S.N. Singla, Principal of the college, inaugurated the meet. Ms Manpreet Chhatwal gave away the prizes.

Results: 1000 m time trial: men: Rajesh Dalal 1, Amitinder Singh 2, Ravgun Singh 3; 4000 m individual pursuit: men: Vitul Kumar 1, Amitinder Singh 2, Pamvir Singh 3; 5000 m massed start: men: Amanjit Singh 1, Rajesh Dalal 2, Amitinder Singh 3; 1000 m time trial: women: Kirandeep Kaur 1, Pooja 2, Chetna 3.

Under-18: 1000 m time trial: boys: Rohit Sharma 1, Ravgun 2, Vaibhav 3; 4000 m individual pursuit: boys: Rohit Sharma 1, Ankur Kaul 2, Ravgun 3; 5000 m massed start: Rohit Sharma 1, Vaibhav 2, Ravgun 3; 1000 m time trial: Kirandeep 1, Gurpreet 2, Chetna 3; 2000 m massed start: Kirandeep 1, Gurpreet 2, Ruhani 3.

Under-16: 500 m time trial: boys: Harsimran Brar 1, Ankur Kaul 2, Vivek Sharma 3; 2000 m individual pursuit: Harsimran Brar 1, Ankur 2, Ajit Singh 3; 3000 m massed start: Ankur Kaul 1, Harsimran Brar 2, Ajit 3; 500 m time trial: girls: Shivika Arora 1, Gaganpreet 2, Ruhani Sood 3; 2000 m individual pursuit: Monika Sharma 1, Aprajita 2, Simerdeep Kaur 3; 2000 m massed start: Gurpreet Kaur 1, Monika Sharma 2, Chetna 3.

Under-14: 500 m time trial: Vivek Sharma 1, Gurbir Gill 2, Siddharth 3; 1000 m individual pursuit: Gurbir Gill 1, Vivek Sharma 2, Siddharth Syal 3; 1000 m massed start: Vivek 1, Gurbir 2, Siddharth 3; 500 m time trial: girls: Shivika Arora 1, Gaganpreet 2, Amandeep 3; 1000 m individual pursuit: Shivika Arora 1, Amandeep 2, Ruhani Sood 3; 1000 m massed start: Shivika 1, Ruhani 2, Amandeep 3.

Hansraj, Blue Bird win
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Nov 28 — Hansraj Club, Sector 6, and Blue Bird Club, Sector 16, Panchkula, shared honours in the roller hockey event in the fifth Panchkula district roller skating championship which concluded at Blue Bird School skating rink, sector 16, Panchkula, today.

They won two golds each. The three-day meet had events organised in speed, road and roller hockey. Mr K.K. Khandelwal, chief guest, and Ms Dheera Khandelwal, guest of honour, gave away the prizes.

The other results are: rink race: girls: above-14: Priyanka 1, Meenu 2, Rayasha 3; 12-14 yrs: Pallavi 1, Amrita 2, Neha 3; 10-12 yrs: Geetika and Sulabh 1, Suruchi 2, Shivani 3; 8-10 yrs: Ambar 1, Naveeta 2, Isha 3; 6-8 yrs: Neha 1, Nupur 2, Deeksha 3; below-6: Aishwarya Singh 1, Nourin 2.

Boys: above-14: Navdeep 1, Kamal 2, Vishal 3; 12-14 yrs: Daksh 1, Sahil 2, Pankaj 3; 10-12 yrs: Ankit 1, Pulkit 2, Gopal 3; 8-10 yrs: Karan 1, Arjun 2, Mayank 3; 6-8 yrs: Manjit 1, Abhishek 2, Sidharth 3; below-6: Mudit 1, Naman and Jatin 2, Amrit Pal and Suraj 3.

Roller hockey : team championship: boys: above-14: Hansraj Club 1, Manav Mangal Club 2, Blue Bird Club 3; under-10: Blue Bird Club 1, Hansraj Club 2, Manav Mangal Club 3; girls: under-14 yrs: Blue Bird Club 1, Hansraj Club 2; above-14: Hansraj Club 1, Manav Mangal Club 2.

Sport meet concludes
By Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, Nov 28 — The two-day annual sport meet of St Xavier's Senior Secondary School, Sector 44, ended at the school grounds here today. The chief guest, Ms Rose Bell, a social worker and educationist from Melbourne in Australia, praised students.

Anubhuti in girls and Harpreet Sekhon in boys were declared best athletes. The day started with track races involving all houses of the school. It also included individual races, relays and obstacle races.

Athletics meet
Sakshi Sharma of Government Model School, Sector 20, bagged the gold medal in the shotput event with a throw of 9.14 m in under-16 girls' section of the Chandigarh state sub-junior, junior and senior athletics championship at the Sector 7 Sports Complex. Veena Yadav of Sarvhitkari School, Sector 40, raced to victory in 800 m under-16 girls' section. Mohinderjit Kaur of SAI,STC, Sector 18, finished second and Suman of SAI-18 secured third place.

In boys, Lakhbir Singh of DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, won the 200 m race in under-18 section. Ajit Chaudhary of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 40, came second.

In under-18 boys' section, Hari Narain of New Public school, Sector 18, won 5000 m race. In same event for under-20 years, Bhajan Singh of DAVC-10 won gold.

The three-day meet was inaugurated by Mr Ramesh Krishan, Secretary, HUDA. About 300 boys and girls from different schools and colleges of the city are taking part.

Sport day
The annual sport day of Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School, Sector 40, was held at the school grounds. Taekwondo and fencing were demonstrated.

Mr Brahmjit Kalia, DEO, UT, inaugurated the meet. Mr D.S. Saroya DPI (S), UT gave away prizes to winners of various events.

Girls' cricket
IS Dev Samaj Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 21, scored an eight-wicket victory over Government Model High School, Sector 28, in the UT inter-school cricket tournament for girls. Batting first, GMHS-28 scored 128 for 8 in 25 overs with Tript scoring 31 and Swati 21. Amit and Sunita took 3 wickets each, while Sheetal and Anuradha claimed 2 wickets each.

In reply, Dev Samaj girls achieved the target in 20.3 overs. Nitasha remained unbeaten on 38 and Sunita scored 33 runs.

Need to make cops efficient

Former SSP of Chandigarh CSR Reddy had a spell of more than five years in the city. In his last press conference, his observations about the Chandigarh Police were quite alarming and correct.

He has rightly concluded that the Chandigarh Police is efficient only in challaning people and has totally failed in many important areas. Its main objective seems to be to look for the people driving without helmet and driving by adolescents. Even at the points where traffic lights are out of order or roundabouts having huge traffic, these policemen, instead of controlling and directing the traffic, stand as mute spectators, looking for violators. Not only this, near traffic lights they hide themselves behind trees and bushes to catch the violators. Traffic management is no more their concern now.

Cops’ transfer policy is the biggest handicap of the system. In the event of any punishment, they are either transferred to another police station or the police lines. Certain transfers are effected by SSP and later cancelled by IGP. Their province being Chandigarh only helps them settle their personal scores with their opponents/ rivals.

The existing system of policing in the city calls for total overhauling. The transfer policy should be changed, making transfer compulsory after three years in other union territories of the country. In case of serious allegations, immediate transfer, followed by strict action against the cops should be taken. The feeling among the masses prevails that action against the guilty policemen is taken only when the aggrieved person is an influential personality or is backed by political bosses. Common man has no respite from police harassment and torture; false cases are registered against innocent people to settle personal disputes.

Cops should be exposed to modern techniques of behavioural sciences, discipline, time management, stress & strain management, development, yoga etc. For this, crash courses can be conducted under the guidance of experts drawn from various fields.

Kavita Bhardwaj
Chandigarh

Building bylaws

The Chandigarh Administration has invited suggestions from citizens and professionals in connection with the proposed amendment of Chandigarh building bylaws. The exercise is in order in the context of the changed socio-economic conditions. The idea to involve general public in this is praiseworthy.

Chandigarh has grown faster than envisaged. The situation has gone bad due to lack of vigilance and control through misuse of commercial and residential buildings, encroachment of open spaces and packing of verandahs and corridors with goods, resulting in congestion and traffic hazards.

There has been an unprecedented influx of migratory labour. Cycle-rickshaws block traffic and are a source of nuisance for pedestrians. This needs to be checked and managed through licensing of rickshaws and limiting the entry of such labour.

It is also necessary to conserve the limited supply of water by prohibiting raising of plants on berms in front of private and other residential buildings. Any violations of this type, or otherwise, can be dealt with under the West Bengal Prevention of defacement of Property Act, 1976, made applicable to Chandigarh since January 1995.

As regards the clearance of garbage and deposit of Malba by citizens at public places, some kind of regulation is required to deter defaulters from this kind of act. The privatisation of sanitation also needs to be given due consideration and tried in some sectors.

An effective enforcement agency needs to be created, armed with powers to levy penalty or demolish illegal and unauthorised structures raised anywhere. This agency should be operative all the time to deter people from indulging in unlawful activities.

Let Le Corbusier’s ‘Radiant City’ and Nehru’s symbol of resurgent India not lose its lustre.

KASHMIR SINGH
Chandigarh

Ban loudspeakers

It deserves appreciation that even in this scientific era, religious practices and Nobel traditions of India are going strong with fervour and devotion. India is a land famous for its religious tolerance, peace loving ideologies and non-violence.

Our saints had spread their holy messages in soft and sweet voice which was well received by audience by maintaining absolute silence. They never used high-pitch oratory or loud speakers to address the masses during spiritual discourses.

It is now a matter of grave concern that religious priests have started preaching by using loud speakers at full volume. Dedicated followers of various religions are visiting places of worship to listen to the sermons inside temples or Gurdwaras. Why do we force these sermons on everyone else in the area by using loudspeakers?

Many persons may not like listening to religious recitations because they are busy in their studies preparing hard for examinations or are indisposed when loudspeakers are blaring from all possible directions.

Frequent ‘‘jagrataas’’, on loud speakers force people to spend sleepless nights. Damage caused to brain or ear drums is immense.

I request the authorities to impose a total ban on the use of loudspeakers. Restricted use of loudspeakers may be allowed with a written permit on rare occasions when the message is to be conveyed to the entire community in specified area.

Sqn Ldr Rawel Singh
SAS Nagar