The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

Karmapa’s tests normal: PGI
By Poonam Batth
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 11 — The 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorjee, was today admitted to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGI) for a thorough medical check-up and treatment. Attired in maroon robes, 15-year-old Karmapa arrived at the hospital amid tight security.

Tibetan doctors treating the Karmapa at Delek Hospital, Dharamsala, referred him to the PGI following ill health during the past month.

Accompanied by security personnel, he walked into the hospital at 8.30 a.m. along with a horde of personal attendants, including his doctors. He was received by the Medical Superintendent and his team and taken to the VIP room on the fourth floor of Block A. City police personnel deputed for security soon cordoned off the corridor leading to the room.

PGI Director Dr S.K. Sharma said a five-doctor panel was constituted for the spiritual leader’s general medical check-up, (board members are: Cardiology Department Head Jagmohan Verma, Endocrinology Department Head R. Muralidharan, Pulmonary Medicine Department Professor D. Behera, General Surgery Department Professor J.D. Wig and Department of Internal Medicine Head S.C. Verma.

Communicating with the Karmapa through interpreters, the team of doctors examined him during the day and conducted several tests including blood tests, X-rays, ultra sound and ECG. The doctors attending upon him have in their report observed: “The test reports are fine and he is in normal health.’’ However, since reports of certain tests were yet to come, he would be discharged in a day or two only after the doctors were satisfied about his health. Meanwhile, he is receiving a normal diet supplied from the PGI kitchen.

Meanwhile, a handful of local Buddhists, who came to know about the presence of the Karmapa here, were seen waiting in front of the fourth floor corridor of the hospital. But the wait was futile as they were not able to have a glimpse of the spiritual leader.

Sources reveal that it is for the first time that the Karmapa has left Dharamsala since he had arrived at the headquarters of the Tibetan Government-in-exile on January 5.

According to a doctor attending on him, the Karmapa wanted to walk in the Sector 16 Rose Garden in the evening but was denied permission for security reasons. A team from Dharamsala had arrived yesterday to work out his security and stay arrangements.

N.K. Jain’s bail plea rejected by CBI Special Judge
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 11 — CBI Special Judge S.S. Lamba (also presently officiating as the UT District and Sessions Judge) today turned down the anticipatory bail plea filed by UT Home Secretary N.K. Jain. The Judge dismissed the petition, observing that the charges levelled against the petitioner were of a serious nature. The Judge also held that fear of the petitioner that he was sought by the CBI to be harassed was without any reason.

Mr Jain filed the anticipatory bail plea in FIR number 3 registered against him by the CBI on April 6 following the statement made by Mr K.B. Goel, Superintendent, UT Administration, wherein he confessed that he used to collect money on the behalf of Mr Jain for getting the works of various officials and private individuals done. Mr Goel had been accepting bribes from people earlier also and he had been chargesheeted by the former UT Home Secretary Anuradha Gupta. During Mr Jain’s tenure, however, he was taken back on work after a simple warning.

It may be recalled that the CBI raided Mr Jain’s house on Saturday after Mr K.B. Goel made a confession before sub divisional magistrate Ashish Kundra that he was acting as a middleman for Mr Jain.

Arguing Mr Jain’s case, the defence counsel submitted that the confessional statement of another accused in the same case could not be treated as a piece of preliminary evidence. He added that Mr Jain’s arrest would only serve the purpose of those who are envious of his bright career. The CBI counsel, however, opposed the contention of the defence stating that a thorough custodial interrogation was a must in this case.

The Judge, while dismissing Mr Jain’s plea as non maintainable, held that the court had to take care that people don’t lose faith in the Administration.

Vivek Principal directed to promote students
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 11 — The case concerning alleged illegal detainment of three Class XI Vivek High School students by their principal took a significant turn today with a city court directing principal, Mrs P.K. Singh, and class teacher, Mr Mushtaq Ahmad, to promote the three plaintiffs to class XII on the basis of detailed marks secured by them.

The order was passed by UT Civil Judge (junior division), Mrs Jitender Walia, after the defendants failed to turn up in the court despite notices being issued to them.

The Judge based her directions on the CBSE rules which clearly state that qualifying marks for promotion are 33 per cent. The Judge observed: “The three plaintiffs have secured more than 33 per cent in class XI.”

Interestingly, the defendants failed to turn up in the court today even after they were issued notice for 12 noon and then for 3.45 p.m.

Following their absence, the Judge held: “As the defendants have failed to comply with orders of the court it is presumed that they have nothing to say in this regard.” She added that the plaintiffs be admitted to class XII on a temporary basis and their final admission would be subject to decision of the main suit which is still pending for a written reply by the two defendants.

Four dead in road accident
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, April 11—Four persons, two women and two children, died on the spot and 18 others were injured when a tractor-trolley, HR03A, 7617, turned turtle on the Panchkula-Barwala road in the evening here today.

The dead include Manjit Kaur (30), Nirmal Kaur (25), Balwinder Kaur (9) and Harjit Singh (5). According to sources, another two-year-old child whose identity could not be ascertained since the villagers took off with his body from outside the Sector 6 General Hospital itself died on his way to hospital.

The trolley, carrying over 35 persons, was on its way to Raiwalli village after paying obeisance at the Mata Mansa Devi shrine. Most of the injured admitted to the hospital belong to Madanpur village.

Four persons, Satinder, Roopinder and Sukhinder along with a child, seriously injured in the accident, were referred to the PGI, Chandigarh. Those admitted to the General Hospital, Sector 6, include Sandeep Kumar, Kulwinder Kaur, Sukhwinder Kaur, Tehal Singh, Balbir Singh, Rajinder Kaur, Satvir Singh and Paramjit.

Though no other vehicle was involved in the accident, sources said that the trolley driver, seeing a car coming from the opposite side on the road, swerved to his left. Unfortunately, the hook holding the trolley to the tractor gave way and the trolley, carrying men, women and children, turned over. The Barwala police post was the first to get the information of the accident which was passed on to the SHO, Chandi Mandir, Mr Satish Mohan, who along with ASI Kehar Singh, arrived and despatched the injured to hospital

Fire Department’s deep slumber continues
By Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 11 — A major fire in the Industrial Area notwithstanding, the Fire Department of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation is yet to initiate action on getting fabricated four chassis it purchased almost a year ago to “augment its fleet and replace the old fire engines”.

The new chassis, purchased last year, at a price varying between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 6 lakh each, have been gathering dust at the Sector 17 Fire Station. Though the budgetary provision was made to get the new chassis fabricated and functional during the last financial year, the file over award of work on the basis of tenders invited after several days last year, has been moving from one office to another without any concrete decision.

It is not only fire engines but several other important projects, including construction of new fire stations in the Capitol Complex and the Sector 26 Transport Area, which have been hanging fire for more than two years now.

Though sources in the corporation maintain that the file for getting the work on fabrication of new fire engines has started moving and formal orders are likely to be placed with the shortlisted companies in a few weeks time, so far no responsibility has been fixed for this inordinate delay in getting the “engines belonging to an essential service commissioned even after more than eight months of their purchase.”

One of the new engines to be fabricated from the purchased chassis will be a multipurpose engine with facilities for fighting chemical fires, retrieving of people trapped inside smoke-filled or gas-filled chambers or buildings, besides other fires.

Some of the old engines are long overdue for replacement.

Though the proposal for constructing two new fire stations was mooted some years ago, work was expected to be expedited after a major fire broke out in the record room of the High Court early last year. The reason advanced for the delay is non-availability of land for the project as some of the security personnel are camping at the site where the new station is planned to be constructed.

In case of the second new fire station, the proposed site is still not clear from encumbrances. At one stage even invitation cards for the foundation stone-laying ceremony were printed but the function was cancelled at the last minute in April last year. Since then, the proposal has been virtually shelved as no new dates have been announced.

Sources point out that some of the special grants and sanctions for upgrading fire services in the Union Territory have either lapsed or could not be utilised fully for want of proper attention and supervision at the top. Perhaps the authorities are waiting for a major mishap to take place before they wake up from their slumber.

COMMUNITY

A park at a heavy cost
From Bipin Bhardwaj

ZIRAKPUR, April 11 — Zirakpur is getting a park ... but at a heavy cost. Hundreds of eucalyptus trees now standing on the land earmarked for the recreation area will face the axe.

The soon-to-be-created park is a 3.5 acre field at the tri-section of the Chandigarh-Ambala and Zirakpur-Panchkula highways; formerly Punjab government land under possession of the Punjab Public Works Department (Buildings and Roads), it has recently been transferred to the Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat. The Finance and Planning Minister of Punjab, had laid the park's foundation stone here yesterday.

As the highway junction at Zirakpur represents he gateway not only to Punjab but to Chandigarh, and lies on the road to Himachal, Haryana and Delhi, the Punjab government is keen to beautify this triangle of land at the highway junction.

Punjab Chief Architect P.R. Luthra has prepared a design for the park that features pathways, fountains, lights benches and trees and ornamental plants in a fenced and landscaped setting. The Nagar Panchayat also proposes to plant trees along the Chandigarh-Ambala and the Panchkula-Patiala roads here.

But all this will take time. Meanwhile, the 150 eucalyptus trees now standing on the land will have to go. According to sources, Nagar Panchayat authorities.

The plan sounds grand but not everyone in Zirakpur is enthusiastic about the scheme. Many residents and the shopkeepers are determined to save the trees. They argue that the air-quality in the area is already bad and if panchayat cuts the trees it will become worse. They say they have no objection to a park but they would prefer it at another place for several reasons. The land earmarked for a park could be better used for a bus stand, they feel.

According to local resident Krishan Pal Sharma, "The authorities propose to construct a bus stand near the Lohgarh police post which is just away from the main road. the park should be developed at the proposed site for the bus stand. ‘‘ Long-route buses will not bother to turn in to a bus-stand at that place so the commuter’s bus-catching problem remain as it was. It would be better if the panchayat authorities reconsider the siting of both the bus-stand and the park. Put the bus stand at the proposed site for the park and create a park on the area now mentioned as the future bus-stand."

Sunehri Lal, a local shopkeeper, also argues against the proposed park's siting: "A park with highways on all three sides of it will mean chaos on the roads and increased risk of accident. The authorities should think about the lives and the convenience of public.

Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat Administrator Surjit Singh, the panchayat has deposited the required tree-felling fee with the Forest Department. However, he also admitted that a proposal to shift the park to another site could not be ruled out.

Training for wireless operators
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 11 — A week-long specialised training programme camp for wireless operators got underway at the Sector 23 Children’s Park here today.

The camp will provide intensive training on radio procedures and discipline to all police control room staff posted on static sets in police stations. The participants will be given extensive exposure to the radio procedures to be maintained while communicating on the wireless.

According to SSP, Hq, Mr Ajay Kashyap, 26 head constables, 101 constables and eight officers will be imparted week-long training in phases. The syllabus has been drawn up by the Inspector (technical) and the Inspector (communication) and is based on the guidelines prescribed by the Directorate of Coordination and Police Wireless, Delhi.

The Governor had desired that extensive training be imparted to radio and wireless operators to ensure high level of discipline and greater familiarity with procedure. This programme in compliance of the orders of the UT Administrator, Lt-Gen J F R Jacob (retd).

Meanwhile, the PCR has also established direct communication with all police stations in the city using a dedicated network, comprising a control set and 11 static stations. The Administrator had desired the net for emergency communication and collective calls.

This net will ensure that emergency calls involving the city can be passed on to all police stations in the city through a single message conveyed by the control room or in any of the 11 static nets. This will considerably reduce the response time of the police while dealing with any incident.

‘Involve’ children in Red Cross work
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 11 — The Punjab Governor, Lt-Gen J.F.R. Jacob, (retd), yesterday stressed the need to involve schoolchildren in Red Cross movement to broaden its base in the state.

Presiding over a meeting of managing body of the Indian Red Cross, Punjab State branch at Punjab Raj Bhavan here this morning, attended by Deputy Commissioners and representatives of the Indian Red Cross Society, the Governor said that the Red Cross movement has to evolve its role according to the changing needs of the time. He said that movement should focus on rural areas as 80 per cent of the population lived there.

Gen Jacob said that the Red Cross should raise funds from the public for mobile dental vans which should go to villages to provide dental care to the rural population. Care should be taken to provide artificial limbs and vocational training to all such persons whose limbs are amputated.

The Deputy Commissioner should set up homes for the healthy children of the lepers in each district and provide them free education, boarding and lodging. He expressed concern over spread of tuberculosis, especially in the congested areas.

General Jacob said that the Red Cross should also involve itself in setting up orphanages for destitute and abandoned children and seek the help of NGOs in adopting these unfortunate children.

Nagar kirtan procession
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 11 — A colourful nagar kirtan procession was taken out by the Hindu Parv Mahasabha to mark Ram Navmi celebrations in the city today.

The procession started from the Sector 23-B Shri Sanatan Dharam Mandir and moved through Sectors 22, 21, 20, 19 and 27 before terminating at the Sector 28 Sri Khera Shiv Mandir. The entire route of the procession was decorated with colourful arches. Chabbils of sweetened and cold water and refreshments were organised for the processionists. The police made elaborate security and traffic arrangements for the yatra.

Meanwhile, all temples in the city have been spruced up for the Ram Navmi celebrations tomorrow. Most of the temples have been illuminated.

Felicitating the people on the eve of Ram Navmi, the Administrator of Chandigarh, Lieut-Gen JFR Jacob (retd), said the ideals of love, brotherhood and sacrifice as propagated and practised by Lord Rama were more relevant today, when society was crumbling due to unregulated modern day life and degradation of social and moral values.

‘Sanskrit college near Mansa Devi soon’
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, April 11 — The Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, said the new education policy of the state would come into force from July and computer education would be introduced from Class IX in an effort to vocationalise education.

Mr Chautala was addressing mediapersons after paying obeisance at the Mata Mansa Devi shrine, here today. He added that a committee under the chairmanship of the Education Minister had been constituted to formulate the policy and that views of educationists would be sought to make it more comprehensive.

Replying to a question, Mr Chautala said a Sanskrit college would come up in the next session near the shrine. He said negotiations were on with the Department of Archaeology to preserve the ancient murals drawn on the walls and ceiling of the temple.

Also, with the elections to the local bodies over, he said panchayats, municipal committees and zila parishads would be made more effective.

Evading a direct reply to the question of 25 acres around Nada Sahib for the SGPC demanded by the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, while flagging off the Khalsa march recently, he said his government was open to demands of all religious organisations and public welfare bodies.

Earlier, he performed a havan and planted a maulsari sapling at the venue. He was accompanied by the Minister of Health, Mr M.L. Ranga; the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Board, Mr R.S. Chaudhary; and other officials of the local administration.

Kanjaka without kanjaks
By Arvind Katyal

CHANDIGARH, April 11 — According to the pandits Durga Ashtami began at 8 a.m. today and continues until 6 a.m. on Wednesday ... and according to tradition, this is the day to assemble a bevy of little devis and feed them halwa-puri-chole.

The "rite" way to observe Kanjaka, as it is colloquially known, is to assemble three pre-ten-year-olds -- an odd number of girls and one boy. The problem with this charming custom is that little girls are not what they used to be, namely idle and at home.

Sector 7 residents Pritpal and Sandeep are proud parents of two sons and no daughters so Kanjaka means they have to "import" little girls from the neighbourhood. Sandeep had the whole menu nicely prepared this morning but it took her husband Pritpal more than an hour to find scour the lane for little girls.

"They were all in school -- I could manage to round up only two," he said apologetically. The via media was to send packet to the houses of the other girls so they could eat and bless when they got home.

"It's all the fault of the nuclear family ideal," grumbled two another kanjak-scouts, Krishna and V.P. Kataria. But R.C. Sharma pinned the blame on the high cost of living and male-child bias: "Nobody can afford a large family any more; it's two kids. Bas. And we know what people do to get sons ..."

Anjum Handa and his wife had prudently "reserved" their kanjaks days in advance of the festival... all students of a Panchkula school which had declared today a holiday in honour of one of their students winning first position in an all-India exam.

Finding no locally available kanjaks, the S.K. Bhatia family had decided finally to take the halwa and stuff to a nearby temple where the pujari assembled some girls for them at the precious moment.

''Everyone knows that Navratras comes twice in a year once in September-October and then in March-April. Luckily due to the general holidays in schools on autumn occasion, it had been always easy to find the kanjaks on Durga Ashtami but this with one falling in mid-April it's not so easy. Also Ashtami combining with Ram Navmi further complicated the problem," said Ms Smriti Jindal, another housewife.

Housewife attempts suicide
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, April 11 — A woman of Guru Nanak Colony in Phase X here, allegedly, doused herself with kerosene here past evening. She was rushed to the Sector 32 Government Hospital. The victim, Sangeeta, had married Rakesh four years ago and had a child.

According to the information available, the husband of the victim used to assault her after boozing with friends. On April 9, he came home in an inebriated state and bashed her up. On April 10, when she was again bashed up by her husband, she went to the kitchen and poured kerosene on herself. The local police has registered a case under Section 306 of the IPC.

Kidnap conspiracy: The Phase I police station has registered a case against members of two families for allegedly hatching a conspiracy to kidnap the wife of a retired Superintendent of Punjab police. The family members of the woman have also been named by the former SP, Mr Balbir Singh Randhawa.

According to the information available, the former SP, in a complaint lodged with the police, said he had married Bhupinder Kaur. Since he retired in 1998, he had been working at Ludhiana and used to visit his residence in Phase II twice a week. Rest of the days, the woman used to stay with her parents at Bharungian near Mullanpur.

In his complaint, the police officer said the family members of the his wife — Hardeep, Surjit and Surinder — hatched a conspiracy to marry her to a person named Haramanjit Singh. Charges of adultery have also be levied by the former SP.

The father and mother of Haramanjit have also been named in the First Information Report (FIR) registered by the police under Sections 342, 363, 366, 494, 495, 497, 506 and 120-B of the IPC.

Two killed: Two scooter-borne persons — Hakam and Mhinder Singh — died on the spot after being crushed by an unidentified truck on the SAS Nagar-Kharar road near Ballo Majra near here today. The police has registered a case under Sections 279 and 304-A of the IPC.

CHANDIGARH

Sodomy attempted: The police has arrested a resident of Bihar on the charges of attempted sodomy.

According to the police sources, a seven-year-old boy, who was playing in a ground, was enticed by 25-year-old Kali Charan and taken to a part of the service land behind the houses which was covered with wild vegetation. Constable Ravinder Kumar, posted with the Central police division, happened to pass by and sensing that something was wrong, went to investigate.

He saw that the boy had been disrobed and caught hold of the accused who, reportedly, confessed to attempting the crime. He was arrested and sent to the judicial remand by a city court.

Eve-teaser held: The police has arrested Subash Chand, a resident of Sector 25, on the charges of eve-teasing from the dividing road of Sectors 24 and 25. A case under Section 294 of the IPC has been registered.

Mobike stolen: A Sector 19 resident, Jagir Singh, has reported that some one has stolen his motor cycle, CH-01-W -795, from the Sector 10 DAV College. A case under Section 379 of the IPC has been registered.

Gamblers held: Khalil Ahmad, Mohammad Shahid, Mohammad Salim and Jagdish were arrested from near the Housing Board roundabout on the charges of gambling. A case under Sections 13, 3 and 67 of the IPC has been registered.

Assault alleged: A Sector 20 resident, Ajay Kohli, reported that Vicky, Happy and five of their friends assaulted him at his residence, besides threatening him with dire consequences. A case under Sections 147, 149, 323 and 506 IPC has been registered.

Shopkeeper attacked: A Mani Majra resident, Dina Nath, reported that he was assaulted by Rajinder Singh while he was at his shop. A case under Section 324 of the IPC has been registered.

PANCHKULA

Poppy husk seized: In a raid conducted by the Sector 19 police team, led by the SHO, Mr Rajiv Deswal, 20 kg of poppy husk concealed in a plastic bag was seized from Sita Ram and Malkiat Singh.

Both have been booked under the NDPS Act.

Ex-cop convicted for assault
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 11 — A city court today convicted a former constable of the UT police for causing grievous injury to a sub-inspector and criminally intimidating his wife while she was attempting to rescue her husband from the assault.

Holding the dismissed UT police constable, Parveen Kumar, guilty of inflicting serious injury on the rib of SI Siri Bhagwan and also of intimidating his wife, the UT Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr H.S. Madaan, today, directed him to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 18 months and pay a fine of Rs 500. The accused was also directed to undergo a further rigorous imprisonment for two months in case of default of the payment of fine.

The Complainant, SI Siri Bhagwan, had got a formal FIR registered against Parveen Kumar here on May 29, 1996, following the manhandling by the accused. In his complaint, Bhagwan had said that on the day of the incident, when he had entered his house in the police lines at about 2 pm, Parveen Kumar had come from behind and dragged him outside. He had also alleged that Parveen had also given him fist blows, besides intimidated his wife when she had tried to save him.

Following the quarrel, Siri Bhagwan and his wife were both taken to the hospital. Bhagwan's medical report confirmed that his rib had been damaged.

The defence counsel, stated that the complainant had falsely implicated the accused. He added that the injury suffered by the complainant was on account of his having fallen from the scooter.

BUSINESS

Experts favour joint Sino-Indian development
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 11 — Current trends in Indo-Chinese relations and further development in bilateral relations were discussed between Chinese and Indian experts at an interface organised by the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development here today.

The visiting Chinese delegation was led by Mr Lu Zhongwei, President of the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), who holds the rank of a minister in the Chinese establishment. The CICIR is a major think tank in China, with a strength of about 400 scholars and authority to award Ph.D degrees.

While giving an overview of the relations between the two countries, the Chinese delegation shared with the Indian delegation their thinking about the impact of economic liberation and their assessment of a multi polar world as well as the world situation in the information age.

Though they saw some favourable trends, at the same time they conveyed their apprehensions about the risk of intervention in internal politics and new colonialisation by economic means as was the situation when multinational showed interest in acquiring assets in South East Asia.

The general thrust was that both countries must seize opportunities for joint development as there was a great scope in expanding ties and trade. At the same time, the Chinese looked for a multi-polar world, with India as one of the centres.

Some obstacles in bilateral relations remain, like the border dispute, which is hard to solve, but both sides maintained that efforts must continue. An innovative idea put forth was cooperation in ocean development and management and joint exploration of the Antarctica.

There was also considerable discussion on the inter-relationship between India, China and Pakistan. It was pointed out that Chinese support to Pakistan in terms of weapons, missiles and nuclear technology could create problems in the region and ultimately for China itself, but the Chinese delegation maintained that appropriate steps have been taken in this regard. The Chinese said that they wanted to see good relations between India and Pakistan

and hoped that the two countries would solve thing out by themselves.

It was agreed that confidence-building measures are required at every level. Relations had turned sour after the Indian nuclear tests in 1998, but that was a bad past and the Chinese said that they would like to change the Indian perception that China is a security threat.

In reference to a notion prevailing in some circles that India and the United States join hands to contain China, it was conveyed to the Chinese delegation that such a step is not possible as the Indian policy does not call for teaming up with a third party.

Common problems and experiences in the field of agriculture, economic reforms, population and issues involving the World Trade Organisation were also shared.

This is for the first time that a high-powered Chinese academic delegation has visited the city. Other members included Mr Wang Zaibang, Vice-president of CICIR, Mr Dao Shulin, Director of Division for South and South-East Asian Studies, Mr Wei Zonglie, Research Fellow of Division for North American Studies and Mr Fu Xiaoqiang, Assistant Research Fellow of Division for South and South-East Asian Studies. The meet was chaired by Mr Salman Haidar, former Foreign Secretary and Ambassador to China.

The Chinese delegation also called upon the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, and the Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University, Dr M.M. Puri. The delegation is also scheduled to meet other senior functionaries tomorrow before leaving Chandigarh.

Mixed response to traders’ bandh call
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 11 — There was a mixed response to the bandh call given by the Sector 17 Traders Association here today in protest against the proposed amendments to the building bylaws (commercial).

Many traders, especially in Sector 17-C and E defied the bandh call and kept their establishments open.

The association, however, maintained that the Bandh was a complete success as it was supported by the Chandigarh Beopar Mandal. In a press note issued in the evening, the association said in consultation with the Beopar Mandal, the future line of action would be decided soon.

The note further said that to avoid direct confrontation with the Administration and undue harassment to the traders, the Traders Association and Beopar Mandal want the Administration to reconsider the bylaws by constituting a committee by taking five members of the Association to recommend and implement need-based changes in the bylaws.

The association also wanted that all buildings should be regularised on “where is as is basis” and the buildings already resumed should be restored to their rightful owners. All the buildings which had been sealed should be unsealed and restored to the original occupants without any delay.

Earlier, the traders who assembled near the Sector 17 traffic lights moved in a procession to the Piazza where they held a rally which was addressed among others by Mr Subash Kataria, Mr Kamaljit Panchhi, Mr Subash Chawla, Mr Inder Lal Batra, Mr P.L. Mahajan, Mr L C Arora, Mr Joginder Singh Deep and Mr Charanjeev Singh.

Grapes flood markets
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, April 11 — A delicacy among fruits, grapes have flooded the local markets with the vendors displaying the item in all possible packs. The other variety of the fruit, black grapes also priced at Rs 40 a kg, was also sought after by customers. In the past one week the prices of the fruit have hovered between Rs 40 a kg and Rs 50 a kg.

A seasonal fruit, orange, were selling at Rs 50 a dozen by a vendor in Phase 4 market. A visit of local markets revealed a better quality of the fruit was available at Rs 60 a dozen. A vendor in Phase 7 market was offering two dozen oranges for Rs 95.

Another attraction at local markets was cherry packed in transparent square boxes. One kg lose pack of the fruit was available at Rs 15 a kg. The prices of different varieties of apple in the past few weeks have remained almost same. Varying between Rs 30 a kg and Rs 50 a kg, the Kinnaur variety of the fruit was being sold at Rs 50 a kg. The other varieties of the fruit was selling at Rs 30 a kg and Rs 35 a kg.

A fruit symbolic for summers, Mango had also arrived in the local markets. An early variety (safeda) was being sold by a vendor in Phase 3 B2 market at Rs 50 a kg.

A number of seasonal fruits like melons and watermelons have also hit the markets with the melons (small sized) being sold at Rs 30 a kg. The watermelon was available at Rs 10 a kg.

Pomegranate priced at Rs 35 a kg was also available in the local markets. Ber and chicku was being sold at Rs 20 a kg and Rs 25 a kg, respectively. Bananas were being sold at Rs 20 a dozen.

ATM operational on campus
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 11 — The local circle of the State Bank of India made operational an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) at the Panjab University branch here today.

Prof M.M.Puri, Vice Chancellor, inaugurated the machine, accepting his personal card on the occasion .This is the second branch of the SBI in the city along with the existing branch in the main branch in Sector 17.

Mr Prabhakar Sharma, Chief General Manager( Chandigarh circle), highlighting future programmes of the “ any time money” facility, said that there would be 1000 ATM banks in the country by March, 2002.

Mr Sharma said that ‘ networking’ was another move on the bank’s agenda. This would facilitate customers to draw money from any branch in the country.The SBI has a network of 9002 branches, including 2116 fully computerised branches. In the Chandigarh circle 147 out of 665 branches have already been fully computerised.

The bank has initiated extension of its banking hours in all its computerised branches till 4 p.m.

Mr Sharma talked about the recently introduced ‘personal loan scheme’ . Under this scheme, any salaried employee with a minimum salary of Rs 6000 per month can avail a loan from Rs 24,000 to a maximum of Rs 1.50 lakh.

Mr K.K.Mehra, a deputy general manager of the bank, disclosed that 20 out of 23 SBI branches in Chandigarh had been computerised.The rest expect completion by June end this year.

Mr D.L.Manwani, general manager ( Pb and D), underlined the benefits of the bank’s housing loan scheme.The Chandigarh branch last year alone extended finance to 3200 individuals aggregating Rs 68 crores.

Prof M.M.Puri, Vice Chancellor, said that the banking had undergone a significant change with coming of speedy methods. “ I think that personal touch existent in the old scheme will be a sufferer”, he said.

Prof Puri, however, emphasised the importance of the university bank unit ‘ without which the university would find it difficult to run’.

National seminar
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 11 — The Centre for Industry Partnership Programme, Panjab University, will organise a national seminar on Microelectronics — current R and D and industrial scenario on April 12. The seminar is being organised in collaboration with Semiconductor Complex Ltd, Mohali; Central Scientific Instrumentation Organisation with the support of the All-India Council for Technical Education, New Delhi.

Eminent microelectronics experts from reputed national institutions, multinational companies, and solid state physics laboratories will deliver lectures on current status and trends in microelectronics industry and research and developments.

According to Prof K.N. Pathak, Honorary director of CIIPP, it will not only provide one-to-one linkages with microelectronics industry but also expose students in this area to the current status of the subject. An exhibition of industrial products/information will also be arranged at the seminar.

Designers need more exposure
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, April 11— Commenting on the lack of commercialisation in the fashion industry in India, Aanchal Kumar, Gladrags Megamodel for 1999, said though the country could boast of a lot of designers, they needed more exposure and recognition.

She was speaking to mediapersons after inaugurating a clothes store in Sector 11, here today. She opined that during shows in Milan, Germany and Dubai, the commercial attitude stood out which was lacking here, though fashion networks would provide the fashion industry in India the much-needed fillip.

With two music videos under her belt, Aanchal is all set for the release of another couple of them.“While one of these is with Piyush Soni and slated for release on April 10, the other is a Punjabi number and will be complete by the end of this month,” she disclosed. She is also busy with ramp shows.

On her graduating to the silver screen after having worked in a number of advertisement campaigns ranging from soaps to clothes, she said she was not in a hurry. “I do not want to jump into anything and regret it later. Being paired opposite well-known actors is not what I am looking for. I will act only if I get a good director selling an interesting script and in tune with my taste,’’ she added.

Having joined an acting school for a crash course, she claimed that these schools primarily polished up hidden talent.“Emotions flitting across your face should be natural and nobody can teach you that. They cannot teach you to emote but do tend to rid you of your shyness and infuse confidence in you. Hence, a little formal training is essential in a way,’’ she explained.

Reflecting on her preference between ramp shows and advertisements, she contended, “One is better than the other though for different reasons. Ramp shows are more interactive and the response of the audience is instant.” She added that while ramp shows were for a select audience, advertisements helped them reach out to people all over the country, which gave them the much-needed exposure.