UT denying IT assessees sugar quota from May itself
By Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 26 — The Union Territory of Chandigarh appears to be jumping the gun in denying income tax assessees their quota of levy sugar from this month onwards though Union Government wants this to be discontinued from July this year.

In case of Chandigarh, investigations reveal, one of the circulars issued by the Union Government to discontinue supply of levy sugar from July, instead of May has been either missed out or it did not reach authorities concerned. As such, there is total confusion.

Gargs allege the police has turned the heat on them
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 26 — Apprehending inaction on his compliant and subsequent sabotage of investigations by the police, Sunny Garg, who was reportedly abducted by Ranjit Bajaj, a son of a senior Punjab IAS couple, today met the UT Administrator, Lt- Gen J F R Jacob (retd), here today.

Accompanied by his parents, an uncle besides Mr Gian Chand Gupta, a former Mayor, Sunny met the Administrator at about 11 a.m. for about 15 minutes and is said urged the General to get the matter investigated in an impartial manner. The Gargs have expressed their reservations about the matter being reportedly hushed up at the behest of the Bajajs.

Alleging that the police was pressuring them to reach a compromise, the complainant said the police was calling them at odd hours and asking them not to proceed against the accused. Even the statement given by Sunny was being doubted.

Not only this, whenever they are called to the police station, they are kept standing for a long time while the accused’s father and relatives are allowed free access. Mr B R Bajaj, father of Ranjit, allegedly meets him regularly. Besides this, he is not being lodged in the lock-up but is being held in the retiring room of the SHO and allowed an evening walk in the lawns of the station, they alleged.

Sunny is also being pressurised to retract his statement that he went to Delhi with one of the two girls said to be the reason for the entire episode and not his aunt. The police is allegedly trying to make it seem a fight over girls which is not the case. Besides this he is being told to confess that he accompanied Ranjit on his own and was not abducted, they added.

The Administrator subsequently called up the officiating UT IGP, Mr Ajay Kashyap, and directed him to get the matter investigated in an impartial manner and take it to its logical end without succumbing to pressure from any quarter.

Stressing that the police would not buckle down and would take the matters to the logical end, Mr Kashyap said the entire matter was being investigated in an impartial manner and no pressure from any quarter would be tolerated. Resting all apprehensions about sabotage of the investigations due to the high links of the accused, he added that the case would be dealt as per merit, he stressed.

Ranjit Bajaj’s police remand extended
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 26 — Ranjit Bajaj, who surrendered in court on May 24 in all three cases pending against him, was today again produced in the court of UT Judicial Magistrate (Ist Class) Mr Baljinder Singh, as his police remand ended. Ranjit’s police remand was again extended today with the SHO Central appearing in person and requesting the court for time on grounds that the accused had to be interrogated.

The request for police remand was again resisted vehemently by the defence counsel who argued that two days’ remand had already been granted by the court.

On May 24 Ranjit had been remanded to police custody for a period of two days on the request of the prosecution which sought a 10-day time to verify the driving licence of Ranjit as also the arms licence recovered from the car. it may be recalled that the case concerned recovery of a car with a fictitious number (CHI 1) from co-accused in the case Gursameep Singh.

Lessen the load on PGI, minister tells govts
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 26 — The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Mr N. T. Shanmugam, today called upon governments in nearby states to upgrade the existing medical health-care facilities in their hospitals so as to reduce the rush of patients to the PGI and ensure that only deserving cases who need specialised treatment come here. He arrived in the city today to preside over the governing body and institute body meetings to be held tomorrow.

This will not only help reduce the workload of doctors but will go a long way in improving the quality of patient care and research, the minister added. He also asked the states of the region to chip in with more funds so that the institute retains its image as an institute of excellence.

The Union Health Ministry has recently written to the states of Punjab and Haryana to pay nearly Rs 4 crore to the PGI as arrears for the last 3-4 years, he informed. While Punjab is required to pay a sum of Rs 60 lakh per year, Haryana has to pay Rs 40 lakh.

Soon after his arrival, he formally inaugurated the lithotropsy centre on the first floor of Nehru Hospital. Dr S.K Sharma, Director, PGI, explained to him the functioning of Lithostar Multiline machine, which is being used for treatment of stones in the urinary tract (kidney urator and bladder). A live demonstration of this new non-invasive, non-operative treatment of kidney stones was given to show how the shock waves were focussed on the patient to fragment the stones and how the same were monitored on ultrasound and fluoroscopy. He also visited the special labs set up for the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility or the erectile dysfunction in males.

He later went around the intensive care unit (ICU), emergency ward and operation theatres to take stock of the existing infrastructure. Seeing the patients lying in the corridors of the medical and surgical emergency OPD, Mr Shanmugam observed that there was need for more trolleys and beds in the emergency as well as the wards.

He asked the Director to send in the requirement so that the same could be made available at the earliest. Dr Sharma pointed out that even though the emergency services were augmented two years ago to meet the increased rush of patients, the same have now become inadequate.

The Minister during his round to the Advanced Paediatric Centre (APC) was apprised of the facilities in the new state-of-the-art centre and future plans of expansion. He visited the Paediatric emergency, Haematology-oncology unit, allergy immunology unit, play room, general wards, paediatric surgery and the Thalassaemic ward and interacted with doctors regarding their requirements.

The minister refused to answer any question on the recent controversy over the pay structure of the faculty members on the plea that the matter was sub judice. However, “I am with the doctors,’’ he quipped in a lighter vein.

Criminal issued arms licence from city
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 26 — The office of the District Magistrate has fished out records of an alleged criminal, who was arrested from Delhi a few days ago and was carrying an arms licence issued from Chandigarh.

The Tribune had published a new item how Delhi Police has arrested four wanted persons wanted for serious offences and were found to be carrying arms licences issued from Chandigarh, Ferozepore and Amritsar. The Delhi authorities had reportedly written to the Chandigarh Administration about the issuance of the arms licence.

Once the news appeared the local DM’s office fished out records and it was found that, Dinesh Kumar, a criminal mentioned in the news item, was issued a licence in 1997. In the records his address has been mentioned of a house in Sector 20. His address, and authenticity of it, and if he ever lived there or not are yet to be verified. And to top it all , who had recommended and cleared the issuance of the licence? All these aspects will be verified only if an official enquiry is ordered.

For this the local level departmental officials are ready with the information to reply to their seniors. However, written information from Delhi is still awaited. Sources said this will take some more time as all such communication is routed through the UT Home Secretary. And letters take more time is reaching the concerned official.

Meanwhile, in the reaction from Ferozepore, from where one of the criminals had obtained the gun licence, is that some bigwig was allegedly involved in recommending the guns licence.

Sources said in Chandigarh if some one recommends the name, it has to be on the file that is kept in the records.

Cops may lose free bus travel
By Amarjit Thind
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 26 — Free travel by local policemen in the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) buses will be a thing of the past if a circular issued by the Administration is any indication.

The Police Department has issued a circular to know the views of the personnel who enjoy the facility. It has been decided to examine whether policemen would voluntarily opt for this facility against a payment of Rs 100 per month.

The facility is given to policemen of the ranks of constables onwards till inspectors. The facility was extended to policemen from 1995 onwards on the pattern being followed in Punjab. Prior to this, it was available to them against a payment of Rs 65 per month.

According to sources, the Punjab Government has decided to withdraw this facility and deduct Rs 100 per month on this account from the salary of each member of the force with effect from November. Because the local policemen were allowed this facility on the Punjab pattern, the implementation of this decision is being considered by UT Administration.

Alternatively, it has been requested by the department that in case the facility is withdrawn, the amount may not be deducted from the salary of the employees and policemen will have to bear the cost of travel in the CTU buses from their own pocket.

All the unit heads have been asked to talk to their men and report the reaction of the personnel, following which, a decision will be taken. A performa has also been sent to all who enjoy the facility, in case they accept for the deduction of the amount from their salary or otherwise.

The payment aspect is also being stressed by the CTU, since this will ensure that it gets nearly Rs 4 lakh per month. It is expected that a majority of the employees will opt for it, since travel in the city is expensive. Given the nature of the duties, it will be economical to pay the highly subsidised amount, the sources say.

Kala Rama Chandran takes over as new SP
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, May 26 — Continuing with the idea of involving school children in the various drives undertaken by the local police, the new Superintendent of Police, Mrs Kala Rama Chandran, plans to begin where her predecessor, Mr Sudhir Chowdhary, left. She took charge at the district secretariat in Sector 1, here today, and said that the project would be extended to the schools of the entire township after the vacation was over.

“Besides educating residents of the township on traffic rules, we are contemplating involvement of students in our servant verification drive which will be relaunched in the township. The idea is to project a public-friendly image to the residents for greater efficiency. Also, I am pro-involvement of children,’’ she said.

Having come from Tamil Nadu recently, Mrs Rama Chandran says that other strategies will be worked out during the course of her tenure, once she gets the feel of things in the township. “I am new to the place and have no idea about the outlay of the township. I will have an introductory round with the police personnel on Monday initially to be fully informed after which something can actually take shape,’’ she informed.

About her immediate concerns, she contented that the crime graph was well under control in the area though traffic policing will be stepped up. “Paucity of staff is a major concern though we will try to make do with the staff we already have at our disposal”, she added. Further, she informed that easy accessibility to the public would be ensured as far as she was concerned and anybody could walk into her office with his complaint.

She takes over from Mr Sudhir Chowdhary who is on leave. Better known for his organisational skills, Mr Chowdhary initiated the programme involving school children in “police matters” which met with tremendous success. He also has the community policing scheme under which police personnel settle public matters when approached. This was initiated to give a human face to the police force and increase police-public interaction.

Dharna by municipal workers’ union
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 26 — Members of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation Roads Workers Union today staged a dharna against the “callous attitude” of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) towards their long-pending demands.

Addressing the dharna, various employees’ leaders demanded that two SDEs, who had been recalled by the UT Administration, should be relieved immediately. Besides, they demanded that the Supreme Court judgment regarding DA to all daily-wage workers should be implemented immediately.

Condemning the new economic policies being dictated by World Bank and the IMF, the speakers alleged that these would lead to unemployment and poverty. They also said that privatisation of the local Electricity Department, would adversely affect over 2000 employees.

Among other demands of employees are the regularisation of the services of the daily-wage workers, equal pay for equal work, filling of the vacant posts and an end to the contract system.

Drive: Continuing its drive against vendors selling exposed food items, the health wing seized and destroyed 15 quintals of food items during the past 10 days.

The inspection squads, while patrolling the city, seized and destroyed unhygienic food items kept for sale in the Industrial Area, Phase II, the Colony No 4, Dhanas and Bapu Dham Colonies, Rock Garden and Sectors 21,12,14,7 to 9 and 26 to 28, according to a press note.

Elected: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Public Health Maintenance Technical and Sweepers Union: chairman —Mr Matru Ram; president—Mr Ram Pal Sood; senior vice-president —Mr Mehi Ram; general secretary — Mr Ashok Kumar; vice-president —Mr Ram Chander; secretary — Mr Subash Chand; office secretary —Mr Prem Singh; joint secretary —Mr Bishan Dass; propaganda secretary — Mr Pala Ram; treasurer — Mr Ashok Kumar Bains and legal adviser — Mr OP Sharma.

Fitness centres tailor-made to keep you in shape
From A Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, May 26— A large number of fitness centres have cropped up in the city to deal with the problem of obesity. People are ready to pay hefty amounts to get rid of their extra kilos as these centres guarantee fat loss without dieting, exercise or any side-effects.

A major reason for the growing popularity of these slimming centres seems to be awareness among people regarding health affairs. When people come to know that they can loose extra fat without exercise, pain or drugs they become more enthusiastic to join these centres.

According to a woman working in one of the local slimming centres: "The whole programme is tailored to meet the demands of different individuals. An output analysis of current energy (calorie) utilisation is done, taking into account basal metabolic rate, lifestyle, current exercise habit. Based on this, a daily ‘negative calorie balance’ is created while ensuring nutritional adequacy through foods rich in protein, fibre, vitamins, minerals etc. “

“Counselling sessions are planned taking into account the convenience and body requirements for ensuring adequate, comfortable and safe fat loss. Further, to ensure ‘inch-loss and specific figure correction, body treatments such as NMS, ‘Vacuum’ etc are scheduled as part of the session,” she added.

Permanency is ensured through ‘biostat correction’ through stimulus control, bio-feedback relaxation and stabilisation. Regarding safety, the programme is closely monitored by doctors, qualified councillors and therapists in fat-loss and health management, added experts.

According to views of the daily- going customers, this method of fat loss is different. Meenu, a regular customer of local slimming centre, says,” It has really benefited a lot but I have to go strictly according to their prescribed diets and routine exercises.”

Mini, a lawyer, says, “This method is effective but not for a longer period of time. One needs to be very regular to attend various sessions and follow a strict regimen”.

Although slimming centres are sprouting the fast, natural way of loosing fat viz morning and evening walks ,exercising etc. prove to be equally beneficial.

An unexpected pleasant surprise
Tribune News Service

MASOL (Kharar), May 26 — Inhabitants of this remote and inaccessible village, located amidst the Shivalik Hills bordering Haryana, had unexpected pleasant visitors when an entourage of vehicles carrying officials of the district administration descended on the village. The officials led by the Deputy Commissioner, Ropar, Mr GS Grewal, had come to hold “sangat darshan”.

Incidentally the villagers had boycotted the last general election held in September last year to register their protest against the lack of basic amenities at their place. After hearing the plight of the villagers that there was no approach to the village, the Deputy Commissioner ordered the officials of the PWD ( B and R) to conduct a technical study to construct the road through the hills.

Mr Ujagar Singh, Sarpanch of the village, said womenfolk had to commute long distances to fetch water for their daily chores. Mr Grewal ordered the public health officials to construct an overhead tank to mitigate the problem.

Highlighting the poor state of health facilities, a villager said;” A patient has to be carried on a cot to nearest hospital to Pinjore in Haryana, located 12 km from our place. When the seasonal rivulet, passing adjacent to the village, swells we have to wait for hours for the waters to recede”. The Chief Medical Officer, Ropar, suggested that medical teams could be sent to conduct health check up of the villagers on fixed days.

The Deputy Commissioner also instructed the District Education Officer to conduct surprise checking at the primary school in the village, to ensure presence of the teachers after the villagers complained that the two teachers at the school were often absent.

Processing of the pending pension cases of the village was also ordered by the Mr Grewal. He urged the villagers to send some persons to Ropar to undertake training in administering first aid. The Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr GPS Bhullar, informed that there was free registration of cases at the police stations. The Station House Officer (SHO) concerned were asked to regularly visit the village. During the darbar as many as 20 complaints relating to water, electricity, health and education were received.

Regiment celebrates raising day
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 26 — A field artillery regiment celebrated its 35th Raising Day with enthusiasm and fanfare somewhere in the Western Sector today.

A statement issued here said the three-day celebrations were marked by a special sainik sammelan, social get-together for serving and retired officers, JCOs and other ranks as well as their families, pagal gymkhana and bara khana.

Addressing the sainik sammelan, the unit’s first Commanding Officer, Lieut-Col B.L. Khanna (retd) called upon the officers and men to uphold the glorious tradition of the regiment. He reminded them of the sacrifices made by their predecessors.

The unit’s Commanding Officer, Col V.R. Gadekar recounted the history of the regiment and said he was confident that those deeds would be emulated in the future as well.

Raised in May 1965 as a Mountain Regiment (Pack), the unit participated in Operation Rakshak in Punjab in 1991, Operation Rhino in Assam in 1992 and relief operations after the earthquake in Latur in 1993, besides a stint in Siachen. The regiment has to its credit four Sena Medals.

Power cuts, bad roads ail colony
From Our Correspondent

ZIRAKPUR, May 26 — Absence of streetlights and roads, frequent power cuts, lack of sewerage system and various other problems are being faced by residents of Saini Vihar Colony near here for the past many years.

The uneven and broken link roads within the colony often put residents to great inconvenience. Deep potholes on roads turn into death traps for the residents at night as the Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat has not installed even a single streetlight in the colony. As the colony has witnessed some burglary cases recently, its residents feel insecure due to the absence of streetlights and police patrolling at night in the colony, residents alleged.

Ms Sudesh, a resident of the colony, complained that unscheduled power cuts for days together hindered their daily routine. ‘‘Low power voltage has become a routine for us. Low voltage further forces us to bear the heat, besides flies and mosquitoes. Heaps of garbage and other waste at different places in the colony have become an eyesore for us. The problem has aggravated since the Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat has been formed,’’ she said.

Water supply to the colony is affected whenever there is a long power cut. In such a situation, they have to visit persons in other colonies as far as Sector 19 of Panchkula to fetch water.

Some parts of the colony lack sewerage system. Some residents have dug septic tanks in their backyards. The handpumps dug adjacent to these septic tanks draw contaminated water.

Because of the absence of a government dispensary, residents have to go to Zirakpur for the facility. Moreover, there is neither any bus service nor any other public transport to the colony. Residents have to travel a long distance to take a bus, says Mr N.B. Pandey, another resident of the colony.

‘Poor sanitation in the colony may cause outbreak of diseases. Though the Nagar Panchayat has installed streetlight poles in some parts of the colony, roads remain in bad shape. During rains, water accumulates in deep potholes at various spots. The dustbin placed by the civic body in the colony can be seen overflowing for days together,’’ said Krishan Pal, a resident.

Privatisation fails

Sanitation of SAS Nagar has become a headache for the SAS Nagar Municipal Council. Even after privatising sanitation in some parts of the town, the problem remains. Heaps of garbage scattered around dumping sites along the main roads is a common site in the town.

Perturbed with the situation, the new Administrator of the council has threatened to cancel the contract of the person engaged for sanitation of the town. An official said over 40 safai karamcharis of the council were serving at the residences of politicians and bureaucrats at the cost of the sanitation of the town.

Whacky, trendy hairdos in vogue
By Ambika Kumar

CHANDIGARH, May 26 — Freaky yellow, carbuncle blue, trendy burgundy. The hues are the in-thing in the summer of 2000. No, not just in denims. In hair too. The bouncing silky tresses glitter in the afternoon sun as the bold and the beautiful walk down the arcade corridors all over the city.

Henna is passe. Gone are the days it was applied on your dull dry hair. For dyeing them in those traditional colours — black or dark brown. Today, city damsels are going in for whacky and trendy hairdos. From hair-colouring and streaking to highlighting.

“Colouring is in a big way — deeper and warmer shades of brown, reds, chestnut and burgundy are the favourites,” says Ms Neelu Grewal, proprietor of a Sector 8 beauty parlour. “Other colours, including blue, green, pink, purple, are fast catching up”.

Adds Richa Agarwal, a manager with a slimming centre: “Blue is the hottest colour in our other centres, including Mumbai and Delhi. However, girls have just started to go in for blues and greens, she says.

For them, available in the market are few new products like an anti- frizz spray, volume control creme and hair gloss. Now they can get the look they want for their hair.

Girls trying to colour their hair at home can turn out to be quite a disaster. But kids better check the dough in your wallet before pushing the impressive glass doors of beauty saloons. Getting your hair coloured can dig big holes in the pocket. It’s costing anywhere between Rs 400 to Rs 1200. Parents too object.

“I would love to colour my hair blue but my mother is totally against it. I guess Chandigarh is not the right place for it”, complains Class X student, Supriya Sood.

But mom’s reaction is not the only deterrent. Swati Sharma, a plus 2 student, says, “Harmful chemicals in the products, used for bleaching or highlighting the hair, ruin the texture in the long run. I prefer the natural look”.

CRIME

Doctor booked for negligence
Tribune News Service

Assaulted
Mr Hitender Singh, a resident of Sector 44, reported that he was assaulted by three unknown persons and has been admitted in the Sector 16 hospital. A case under Section 325/34, IPC has been registered.

Another accused held in nude pictures case
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 26 — The case concerning the alleged indecent behaviour against a Sector 28 girl by her relative and his friend again came up today in court with Gurjit Singh, an accomplice of Ved Parkash (the girl’s relative who pirctured her nude), being arrested and produced in court. Taking up the case, the UT Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr H.S Madaan, remanded Gurjit Singh to judicial custody till June 9. The other accused in the case Ved Parkash is already in judicial custody. Meanwhile, the judge also declined bail pleas of both accused, holding allegations against them as those of “serious nature”. Another development in the case pertains to recovery of the negative roll, in which nude pictures of the girl are contained. The roll was today produced in the court.

100 traffic offenders booked
From Our Correspondent

SAS NAGAR, May 26 — The police booked a large number of traffic offenders here yesterday.

The DSP, Mr S.S. Gill, said between 75 and 100 offenders were challaned and two scooters and one motor cycle impounded. Nakas were laid at various points, including the Ambwala, Madanpur, Franco and Diplast chowks.

He said the vehicles of persons who did not have the necessary documents for these were impounded.

Meanwhile, Ms Jasminder Kaur, a schoolteacher, was seriously injured when a light commercial vehicle hit the scooter she was driving at the traffic lights near the Phase IIIA octroi post. She sustained a head injury and bruises. The LCV driver allegedly jumped the red light.

Jeweller’s second arm found
From Our Correspondent

SAS NAGAR, May 26 — The second amputated arm of Ashok Kumar, the jeweller who was murdered in Phase VII on May 22, has been found in a nallah near Manuali village.

The victim was first murdered and his body was chopped into parts and disposed of in different areas.

The DSP, Mr S.S. Gill, said yesterday that now only the head of the murdered man remained to be found. The search for the killers was on and the police hoping to make arrests in the next few days.