CHANDIGARH CALLING

School-residents impasse continues

THE residents of Sector 45 (Burail) and the authorities of St Stephen’s School are in a Catch 22 situation because of certain problems that are not their creation.

A small lane is the only entry to the school campus ever since the Administration closed the entry to the school from the main road dividing Sectors 45 and 33. The commotion created during the period the school opens and closes is to be seen to be believed

After closing entry to the school from the main road, the Administration imposed a one-way traffic rule on the narrow lane that leads to the school as also to the Dev Samaj College for Girls. To start with quite a number of cops were sighted regulating traffic. But this exercise lasted barely a few days. Then the school had to put their staff and students on regulating the traffic. But how long could this arrangement last. Soon the residents of the narrow lane which has flats on either side started protesting against the school staff cars and buses passing through the lane to enter the school premises.

The parents would not allow their wards to catch the buses parked on the far end of the road.Besides it could have exposed the students to the risk of road accidents. To demonstrate their protest the residents of the lane started parking their cars in such a fashion so that it was difficult for the buses to pass that way. The things came to such a pass that one of the residents parked his car slam in the middle of the road not allowing the school buses to enter the school. The school authorities had to call the police to restore order. The two policemen who reached the spot had a difficult time convincing the residents to remove the car parked in the middle of the lane.

But what is the remedy to the situation. The one-way traffic sign put up at the entrance and exit of the lane has been uprooted by the residents. This leads to traffic jams with horse carts and auto-rickshaws zooming in from the no entry zones. That no major accident has happened goes to the disciplined students of the school who take out their cycles only when the school rush has subsided

“It is a virtual torture”, said one of the students, The Tribune talked to. And this situation was observed when The Tribune team visited the school during the opening and closing hours of the school. The ball is now in the Administration’s court. It will have to come to some conclusion if it wants the area to be accident free and give the residents some respite.

Making a fast buck: Urchins from the Dadu Majra colony adjoining the newly constructed Chandigarh Housing Board complex in Sector 38 (West) have devised a novel way of making a fast buck. They approach house owners with the offer of clearing the “malba” on their carts at nominal sums. After taking the money from the house owners, they load broken pieces of bricks, mud and waste material on their carts and speed away in no time.

The house owners heave a sigh of relief on seeing the area outside their house clean once again. But later many of them are seen fretting and fuming as the cartload of malba has not travelled far. It has been dumped right on the main road only a few metres away from their houses. Hence when they are approached again with a similar offer, they are chased away as the residents do not want to spoil the surroundings further.

Excise website: A web site on the Internet has been created by the Central Excise Commissionerate, Chandigarh-I to provide easy access to the information which may be needed by the tax payers and the general public, and also to facilitate more transparent functioning of the department.

The site can be accessed at www.glide.net.in/~cexchd1. It was inaugurated earlier this month by the Chief Commissioner, Central Excise, Delhi, Mr Someshwar.

The web site gives in detail, the adminstrative set-up and the jurisdiction of various officers. The telephone directory of gazetted officers posted in the commissionerate has also been appended and a complete list of members of the Regional Advisory Committee and the Grievances Committee has been provided so that members of the trade and industry can represent to the department.

The full text of all trade notices issued by the commissionerate, Citizen’s Charter and the standards of performance required to be compiled by the departmental officers have also been provided.

Theatre waves: ‘Mousetrap’ by the Chandigarh Amateur Dramatic Society (CADS) on April 8 at Tagore Theatre sent fresh waves of hope for theatre lovers in the city.

The most famous storyline of Agatha Christie’s murder mystery was a recommendable show particularly with reference to the stage arrangements. The single room designed to cast separate identities needs a space with distinct features.

The living room was charming with distinct curtain marks for about four eateries and also marks for windows. The back door when ever opened showed a ‘ real like’ snowfall.

The director also made noticeable impact with the distinct but naturally different identities to separate characters.

Engineer honoured: Zeal towards work has made Er K.K. Guru to win the Jawahar Lal Nehru Birth Century Award. He was given the award by the Central Board of Irrigation and Power, delhi, at its third International R and D conference held at Jabalpur recently.

The award carries a tax free cash prize of Rs 15,000 and a citation. It has been given in recognition of Er Guru’s outstanding contribution in the field of R and D, especially transmission and distribution of energy.

At present working as Executive Engineer(Xen) in the Punjab State Electricity Board, Research Cell. Er Guru joined the PSEB as a lineman.

He improved his qualification while in service to join the officers’ cadre. He has nine research papers to his credit. Of these two were given the best paper award in 1993 and 1994 respectively. He has authored a “lineman training manual” for the PSEB. The PSEB Engineers Association has felicitated him for his achievements.

Green cover: Improving the green cover in SAS Nagar means erecting steel railings and over stuffing open spaces and parks with iron tree guards if one goes by the planning of the horticulture wing of the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA).

So much so that the horticulture wing appears to be going all out to exhaust its funds of the last financial year by carrying out development works in the green spaces being maintained by it. On the other hand hundreds of shrubs planted on the road dividers and trees in parks throughout the town die each year for want of care.

Celebrations: It was Baisakhi Day with a difference at the house of Mr H.S. Bhatti, Secretary-General of Punjab Arts Council.

He had invited selected litrary and artistic guests. He celebrated the victory of Mr Amrik Singh Pooni, former Chief Secretary of Punjab, who was elected unopposed President of the Punjabi Sahit Academy, Ludhiana. It was also the occasion to honour the ‘Court Marshal’ team which completed 75 shows of the play.

Mr R.D. Kailey gave lyrical colour to the evening with some soul-touching songs of Mr Sham Singh.

Navratras: For seven days during the Navratras, it was all festivity that marked the celebrations at the Mata Mansa Devi Mandir in Panchkula. There were streams of people from all sections, walking or rushing on scooters and cars to the temple. But then those who came doing “dandot”, lying straight on the road, getting up and then repeating the same exercise as part of their vows, commanded the attention of the devotees. It is clear that over the years, people disillusioned and unhappy have taken to temples and places of worship in a big way.

But one thing that marked this festival where some 25 lakh devotees donated generously was the arrangement of langar, clean roads and discipline. Ever since the Haryana Government took over the management, there had been an improvement in the arrangements. One could listen to classical singers and also to the kirtan almost round the clock. Is it not strange that the government which is not able to set its house in order is able to show a great deal of concern and efficiency when organising religious functions and managing shrines, may be Mansa Devi Temple or Kurukshetra.

— Sentinel

READERS WRITE

Name public place after Vij

THIS is with reference to a news item printed in Chandigarh Tribune on April 13 under the title ‘School named after martyr’. The Punjab Government is to be lauded as a middle school in Jangpura village, near Banur in Patiala district, will be named after martyr Hawaldar Jai Singh, who recently laid down his life during anti-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir.

The State Finance Minister made this announcement at the bhog ceremony of the martyr held in the village. Besides, it was announced that a gate will be named after the martyr at the entrance of the link road leading to the village to commemorate his bravery and sacrifice. He also gave a cheque of Rs 2 lakh as ex gratia payment to the martyr’s family.

In contrast, a great freedom fighter, philanthropist, social reformer and founder President of the Northern India Photographers Association, O.P. Vij, passed away at Chandigarh on March 21. The death of O.P. Vij was condoled by the Punjab Cabinet Minister for Public Relations, Mr Natha Singh Dalam.

O.P. Vij was also the President of the Freedom Fighters Association, Chandigarh. It is a pity that no condolence message on his death was released by the Chandigarh Administration.

To perpetuate the memory of O.P. Vij, the Chandigarh Administration should name a public place or a public park etc. after him.

Narinder Singh ‘International’
Chandigarh

Stray dogs

There are about a dozen stray dogs suffering from various skin diseases and roaming about freely in 34 Sector of Chandigarh. These dogs even enter houses. They move around in parks where children play. May I, through your esteemed daily, attract the attention of the authorities concerned to look into the matter and do the needful.

Wg Cdr S.S. Randhawa (retd)
Chandigarh