22 quintals of crackers seized
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 24 — The police has arrested two persons and seized a large quantity of crackers from their possession.

According to the police, the accused have been identified as Sanjiv Bansal, a Sector 23-D resident, and Anil, a resident of Golpura village in Panchkula district, whose tractor-trailer was being used to transport the consignment of crackers.

The tractor-trailer carrying crackers was stopped by a naka party on suspicion in Sector 26 last night. The search of the vehicle led to the seizure of 22 quintals of crackers which were being transported to the residence of Sanjiv Bansal who was allegedly going to store crackers without possessing a licence for selling these on the black market during the festival season.

Held with liquor: Jagtar Singh, a resident of Sector 40, was arrested for carrying as many as 100 pouches of liquor near the Sector 24 and 25 crossing here today. A case under the Excise Act has been registered against him.

Injured: Mr Chaman Parkash Jain, a Sector 23 resident, was admitted to the PGI after he received injuries when hit by a scooter on the road dividing Sectors 37 and 38. A case under Sections 279 and 337 of the IPC has been registered.

Baby found: A new-born baby, apparently deserted by its mother, was found lying outside the Sector 23 Mother Teresa Home last night. Further investigations are on in the case.

PANCHKULA

Two hit: Two persons were injured when the scooter in which they were riding was hit by a truck near Kalka here today. The injured persons were Mangat and Suresh. A case has been registered against the truck driver.

Dil Da Mareez released
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 24 — "Dil Da Mareez", an audio cassette of upcoming Punjabi folk singer Satwinder Bitti, was released at a function at a Sector 35 hotel here last night.

The cassette of Bitti, also a known hockey player, was jointly released by Hardip, a Punjabi singer, and Shamsher Sandhu, a punjabi lyricist.

Addressing a press conference on this occasion, Bitti said music had always thrilled her, but she never realised that it would become her profession one day. "Actually, I was even not acquainted with recordings and public functions before I entered the world of Punjabi music," she added. Bitti also rendered "Dil De Mareez", the title song of the number on this occasion.

Fruit prices stable
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 24 — Despite strike by truckers', there has been no fluctuation in the prices of commonly used fruits in the local market during the past four days.

During a survey of sector markets, it was interesting to find that prices of some fruits even dipped during the period. A dozen of 'mausambi', priced at Rs 60-70 a week ago, could be purchased today for Rs 50. In the wholesale market, the fruit price has come down from Rs 140 to Rs 120 per 3 dozens. According to traders, though no fresh arrivals were there, the existing stock was more than sufficient and they were trying to clear it.

Similarly, pomegranate has become cheaper during the period. A kg of the fruit priced at Rs 50 in retail and Rs 150 per 4 kg in wholesale market could be had today after paying Rs 40 and Rs 130, respectively.

Pineapple witnessed a steep dip in its price during the period. A piece of the fruit, available for Rs 30-35 last week, was priced in Sector 20 today for Rs 20. The fruit was available in the wholesale market for Rs 15. According to traders, the fruit price has declined as it had been dumped in the market by Maharashtra traders before the onset of the strike.

Delicious variety of apple was available at its old price of Rs 25-30 a kg in retail and for Rs 350 per 17 kg in wholesale market. The Kinnaur variety was available at Rs 40 a kg in retail and for Rs 600 per 17 kg bag in wholesale market. Golden variety could be had for Rs 30 in retail and for Rs 450 per 17 kg pack in wholesale market. There was no change in the price of banana as it could be had between Rs 15 and Rs 20 a dozen in retail and for Rs 100-110 per 100 pieces in wholesale market.

Indian National Theatre annual festival

The one lament of Indian National Theatre, the organisers of the Chandigarh Sangeet Sammelan, over the years has been that audiences are more inclined to be impressed by big names than the intrinsic calibre of the fare that it presents year after year in its relentless pursuit of its objectives. And to tell the truth, those who yearn for big names are unable to recall more than three names beyond Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Jasraj and Pandit Ravi Shankar! There is an impressive array of outstanding talent in other parts of the country represented by young men and women who were living up to their promise but have somehow not received attention here. It is largely to introduce these bright young stars that Indian National Theatre has drawn up its list of artistes for its 22nd annual festival to be held on October 29, 30 and 31 this year at Jaisukhlal Hathi Sadan, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.

There will be some novel features like a young lady tabla-player who is a pupil of the legendary Zakir Husain, a harmonium and sarangi duet, and a tabla duet by Suresh Talwalkar and his son. Among the established singers Shrimati Padma Talwalkar deserves special notice. She has polish and style that combine technique and aesthetics effortlessly.

In keeping with tradition, the sammelan will be open to all without charge.

Parking loot: Off late local newspapers have been giving importance to various shortcomings at the local railway station. The most written about issue has been the overcharging, or rather an organised loot, being carried out by the parking lot contractor

Various warnings issued to the contractor by the railway authorities have not yielded any result. Car owners , who come to the railway station just for few minutes to drop or pick up someone are forced to shell out Rs 10 for a short visit.

Actually the notice board indicating the parking fee has been taken over by an advertisement asking the public to keep the railway station clean. The notified parking charges that are Rs 4 for the first 4 hours, Rs 6 for the 12 hours and Rs 10 for 24 hours have been mentioned on the board but one has to make an effort to find them. The charges are mentioned more like a footnote in very small letters on the board.

With more and more people using the Shatabadi Express to reach Delhi the arrival of cars at the station is estimated at 2000 a day. Estimatedly 90 per cent of the travellers are dropped or picked up in four wheelers. On an average the overcharging works out to Rs 5 for each car as some may even prefer to park 12 hours or 24 hours.

In such a scenario the contractor is pocketing Rs 10,000 everyday , or Rs 3 lakh a month or Rs 36 lakh a year. All this is over and above the profit margin listed in his contract.

Fashion shows: The city has been flooded with fashion shows. Only some of these shows are well and professionally organised. Others at different restaurants or commercial establishments are not only amateurish and poorly managed shows but are also lacking in the basics of a glamour show.

Of late, a number of Mega Event organisers have sprouted up in the city. To announce their launch, most of these event management groups start with a fashion show. To make sure that they are known in the city, they organise a series of events in the name of competitions for subtitles.

Seldom these events start in time. Unfortunately, the city, though a well known name in the glamour world, has not been able to put up a good, credible and regular show on the lines of Femina Miss India contest.

The National Institute of Fashion Technology, a Punjab Government undertaking, organised its last show very well. The Institute is planning to organise its second show next month by inviting the top brass models, including Mehar Bhasin, Madhu Sapre, etc., etc. for the show. Other show organised professionally and some time ago was by Amritsar based group.

Telephones: For a number of applicants of Daria village for new telephone connections, it has been an exercise in futility. Though the advice notes for installation of new connections at their residences had been issued for periods varying between six months and two years, none has got a telephone connection as yet.

Mr Bhagwant Rai Kalia of H.No 482 and Parveen of H. No 464 say their advice notes for new connections were issued on March 19,1997. But even after more than 30 months, they have not got their telephone connections. Mr Mohinder Singh (H. No 401) and Mr Sardara Singh (H. No 259) had their advice notes issued on March 26, 1997. But again there has been no progress since then. The advice note in case of Mr Shyam Lal (H. No 381) was issued on March 31. But, he too, has been in the same boat.

In a joint representation made to the Principal General Manager of Chandigarh Telecom, all these 15-odd applicants have sought his intervention on the plea that officially the department has cleared the entire waiting list up to May 31, 1999. They maintain that besides the new DPs, some old DPs have also been made available because of shifting of some existing telephone connections.

Honour for orthodontist: Dr Gautam Munjal is among the first 12 orthodontists to have been declared a "diplomate" of the Indian Board of Orthodontics set by the Indian Orthodontics Society in 1999. This honour has been earned on the basis of an all-India examination conducted by the society at Bangalore.

A total of 16 orthodontists had appeared and Dr Munjal is among the successful ones.

Having done his graduation from Patiala (1987) and MDS from the PGI (1993), Dr Munjal has set up his private practice in Chandigarh. His main job involves setting right the "mal-aligned" or "crooked" teeth in order to enhance the beauty and make the face more presentable.

The September 29 examination was the very first to have been conducted in which a majority of professor-rank and head of the department dentists and surgeons from various parts of the country appeared. A formal ceremony was held to give away the "diplomate" honours at Bangalore on October 2 last.

The primary objective of the board, set up by the society, being "recognising excellence in the practice of orthodontics by elevating the level of standards of clinical orthodontics on an all-India basis".... It is to function as a national resource of quality professional competence in orthodontics", according to the board bulletin.

Countrywide, there are more than 30 recognised postgraduate departments of orthodontics where from over 100 MDS graduates pass out annually.

Chairperson: The days of political correctness, on the issue of genders, seem to have finally arrived, with most women these days being referred to as Ms and not as Miss or Mrs.

But imagine the surprise of theatre-person Mr G.S. Chani, who was recently appointed 'Chairperson' of the Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademi. He is getting all his mail addressed to "Ms Chani"! Obviously if a man is a 'Chairman', only a woman would hold the position of a 'Chairperson'. But what's in a name anyway?

Thirsty tree: The visitors to the Technical Area of the Chandigarh Air Force Station are greeted by an unusual sight. A dry tree with a regular water tap at its root (see picture) stands at the entrance. Though the water tap has been quenching the thirst of hundreds of visitors to the Air Force Station and others, the tree at whose base it stands has not been able to benefit from its presence. The tree has dried up and is virtually dead and may collapse any time. The picture was taken by Parvesh Chauhan during his recent visit to the Air Force Station.

Fine bowling by Arjun of St John’s
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Oct 24 — Arjun Talwar of St John's High School, Sector 26, bowled well to beat New Public School, Sector 18, by nine wickets in the under-14 section of the Blessed Edmund Rice Cricket Tournament being played here at St John's School, Sector 26, today.

Brief scores: Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 35, b St Anne's Convent-32 by 17 runs (GMS-35 — 139 for 4 in 25 overs, Siddharth 54, Keshav 25, Amikul 20, Varun 12; St Anne's-32 — 122 all out in 24.4 overs, Gaurav 45, Herman 25, Rahul 17, Mohit 4 for 22, Anupreet 2 for 28).

Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, b St Xavier's-44 by 46 runs.

St John's b NPS-18 by nine wickets (NPS-18 — 79 all out in 18.5 overs, Gaurav 16, Yuvraj 10, Asim Gupta 4 for 16, Arjun 3 for 9; St John's — 81 for one in 9.2 overs, Harneet Arora 38, Gauhar 16 n.o.).

YPS SAS Nagar — 138 for six in 25 overs, Ragav 50, Nischal 19, Sukhmani 15; Little Flower School-14, Panchkula — 116 for nine in 25 overs, Nipun 32, Nitin 27, Anshul 4 for 24.

All the winners have reached the semi-finals which will be played on October 26.

Cricket tourney: A superb performance by Punjab Ranji player Munish Arora who scored 45 unbeaten runs and claimed three wickets for 18 runs helped Mohali Gymkhana Cricket Club beat JAL XI by ten wickets today in the third JAL Cup Cricket Tournament being played here at the PGI grounds.

JAL XI scored 91 runs in the allotted 25 overs. In reply, Mohali Gymkhana Club achieved the target in the 14th over without losing any wicket.

Brief scores: JAL XI — 91 runs all out in 25 overs, Harpal 25, Dinesh 17, Munish Arora 3 for 18, Vikram Sharma 2 for 13; Mohali Gymkhana — 92 runs in 13.1 overs, Munish Arora 45 n.o., Sukhwinder Tinkoo 35 n.o.

In another match of the day, LIC XI Cricket Club beat BBMB XI by six wickets (BBMB XI — 74 for nine in 25 overs, Subhash 29, Pawan Kumar 16, Dharamvir 3 for 12, Lalit 2 for 10, Ravi 2 for 14; LIC XI — 78 runs for 4 in 13.5 overs, Ravi 23 n.o., Prabhjot 21, Pawan 3 for 18).

Basketball meet: On the opening day of the Chandiagrh Sub-Junior Basketball Championship which was played here at DAV Senior Secondary School in Sector 8, Government Girls Model School Coaching Centre-16 beat Dev Samaj Junior Model School-21, 16-6, with the halftime score of 12-2.

In the boys' section, Government Model High School, Sector 26, beat MRA Senior Secondary School, Sector 27, 36-13, with the halftime score of 16-7. Tomorrow, the matches will begin at 7 am.

Migrant labour bane of city beautiful

oVER thee past few years, the city beautiful has witnessed a spurt in the number of migrant labour. The claims made by the Chandigarh Administration to check their influx into the city notwithstanding, an estimate shows that as many as 500 migrants descend on the city every day. Ill-educated and ill-trained, most of them are unable to work in any formal sector. To make ends meet, most of them settle for employment in non-formal sectors, while many turn to illegal activities.

The law and order situation in the city seems to be deteriorating and it is evident who is responsible for this. Incidents of swindling, duping, chain snatching, theft and murder have become quite common. Steps by the authorities to counter these activities mostly remain futile. They settle in unauthorised colonies which have the blessings of local political leaders for their petty vote bank. They live in filth and unhygienic conditions. Considering this, would it be possible for the authorities to cherish their dream of making Chandigarh a model city by 2002?

Hemant and Parminder Singh
Chandigarh

Adult channels

The Indian society is in for a serious catastrophe in view of the increasing number of near-adult channels on satellite television. These channels seem to have been introduced with the sole aim of profit earning at the cost of moral values and character.

The latest addition is Fashion TV channel, which I think is projecting a devastating theme of using a few millimeter of cloth tagged on Indian females.

I request the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to wake up and impose strict restrictions on such character-degrading channels. Society in general is bound to be adversely affected by these channels. Immediate corrective measures by the authorities concerned are the need of the day.

The least the ministry can do is to impose very heavy taxes on such cable networks so that an average Indian family is unable to afford these for viewing.

Sunita Pandit
Panchkula

Stray dogs

The Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh has ordered in an official notification that every dog in the limits of the corporation must be registered with the Medical Officer of Health.

It is a fact that the general public is feeling highly disturbed over the alarming increase in the population of stray dogs in every nook and corner of the city.

If we assume that there are 100 stray dogs per sector, the figure comes to about 5,500 stray dogs in the city. These dogs spread skin diseases, pollution, rabies, etc. They also pose a threat to pet dogs. The authorities should take some hard steps and save people from this nuisance.

Nachhattar Singh
Chandigarh

Public nuisance

Residents of house nos 2850 to 2860 in Sector 22-C, Chandigarh, behind showrooms, are facing many problems. Some of these are as follows:

there is a dual carriage road in front of the houses which is blocked to a great extent by rickshaw-pullers, making difficult for car owners to cross one side of the road. The road becomes very congested making it difficult for children to cross it.

Rickshaw-pullers create nuisance in front of the houses by playing cards. Garbage is thrown behind showrooms making the place unhygienic.

Some dhaba owners have made their kitchens on the roof of their booths by putting up tents. Employees of these dhabas bathe and change clothes and throw the waste material which makes the place more worst. Carpeting of roads has also not been done for long.

Mukesh Kumar
Chandigarh

Weapons for cops

THE request of the Chandigarh police for the latest weaponry to combat crime in th city from the Chandigarh Administration smacks of something fishy. There is no room for believing that any public interest would be served by providing the police with the latest weapons and infrastructure for containing crime rate.

With cases of police highhandedness, custodial torture and misbehaviour with people under the influence of liquor reported everyday in the press what the Chandigarh police needs urgently is training in public dealing and human rights education. Police kidnapping, torturing people, falsely implicating them in criminal cases, keeping victims in illegal detention, subjecting them to third degree treatment and misbehaving with people in a drunken condition have become a routine affair in the city.

In my view, it is not the latest technology and weaponry which the Chandigarh police needs, what it needs is discipline, respect for humanity and adoption of stringent punishment rules.

Arunjeev Singh Walia
Chandigarh