Is city ready to receive monsoon?
Open drains, silt on roads may prove to be virtual death-traps
By Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 29 — Silty roads, choked or uncovered storm water gullies and unkempt kerb channels-turned-open drains are all in plenty as the south-west monsoon is set to break over the city any moment now.

Though workers of the Engineering Department of both the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation and the Chandigarh Administration have been at work for the past few weeks, things appear to be far from satisfactory as far as containing the monsoon fury is concerned.

The work on laying a new storm water drainage line along Himalaya Marg, which has been progressing at a slow pace for almost two years, is now almost complete. But it is not without flaws. In its endeavour to beat the monsoon, the contractor as well as the Engineering Department of the civic body have been repairing the roads, cut earlier to facilitate laying of pipeline, without allowing the earth to settle down.

The results are obviously agitating the general public. One portion of the road caves in at one place on one day after some rain and at other place on the other day. This hide and seek game between the workers of the roads wing and the rain has been continuing since beginning of May when a portion of the busy traffic intersection of Aroma Chowk caved in leading to trapping of some four-wheelers and subsequent closure of the intersection for some time.

Yesterday, a road roller got stuck as a portion of a slip road near the same intersection caved in.

The gully traps constructed on either side of the pipeline along Himalaya Marg have been interlinked by wide open drains, which are at places six inches to more than one foot below the road berm level. These open drains threaten to become death traps after heavy showers on any day during monsoon.

Equally disturbing is the work undertaken by a private telephone company in laying telephone cables. The entire city, including footpaths, roads, entry to houses and plazas of shopping centres have been dug up to the great annoyance of the public.

At most of the places, the earth filling of dug up channels is far from satisfactory. The roads, footpaths and plazas have become dangerous zones because of the huge dug chambers, channels and intersections partially covered with soft earth.

As if this is not enough, there are numerous roadside gully traps, especially along Madhya Marg and Dakshan Marg, which have been either without their covers or are covered with thick vegetative growth with lurking deathtraps concealed below.

Though the Engineering Department undertook a major exercise early this year in carpeting afresh some of the busy and important roads, including Madhya Marg, Dakshin Marg, Purv Marg and other roads, no attention was paid to dig up kerb channels and bring them at appropriate road level to facilitate smooth flow of rain water into storm water gullies.

As a result, the city is now full of open drains which are choked at places with vegetative growth and the storm water gullies blocked with garbage, debris and other waste material.

These "sunken kerb channels" are "virtual death traps" for two-wheelers in general and cyclists in particular. Once forced to the brink by heavy vehicles, there have been instances when scooters and cycles got stuck in these "sunken kerb channels" leading to serious injuries to their drivers.

These "sunken kerb channel-turned-drains" become dangerous during monsoon months.

Other area of concern for residents in general and slum dwellers in particular has been the fear of electrocution, more because of "kundi connections" than because of loose power connections, wires and broken poles. One electrocution has already been reported from the Sector 25 Kumhar colony.

The Chief Engineer, Mr R.K. Jain, says that an appeal is being issued to general public not to extend the houses or dwelling units beyond the prescribed limits as most of the "unauthorised constructions" or "encroachments" remain exposed to high tension and low tension conductors of the power distribution system.

In Southern or the Phase II sectors, the general public will have to weather monsoon months without bus queue shelters. For example, the bus stops in front of the Sector 32 GGDSD College or Sector 46 Government College or Sector 42 Government College or almost all over the second phase sectors are without bus queue shelters.

Another danger area has been accidents due to silty roads. A number of busy traffic joints, including the intersection of Sectors 20,21, 33 and 34, remains heavily silty where two-wheelers skid. There are number of other such intersections and sections of roads which have the same perennial problem. A little has been done to arrest this problem. The only remedy would be to have concrete footpath thus minimising the chances of soil erosion or silting of roads.

Thousands of phones lying dead... courtesy Essar
By Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 29 — Thousands of telephones in the city are lying dead for the past several days due to careless digging allegedly carried out by Essar Communications Limited (ECL). This has led to cutting and damaging of underground cables of the department at several places.

In certain areas telephones working in an entire row or cluster of houses, flats or shops, are lying dead. Harassed subscribers of the department have been making frantic calls to lodge complaints. Those having mobile phones are forced to overuse this costly machine while staff of the department struggles to correct the faults that have occurred at several places simultaneously.

The ongoing spell of rain has only added to the problem. The trenches dug up by ECL are filled up with water, making the repair and rejoining of cables risky as well as problematic for the department staff. Joining of cables can be a cumbersome procedure while in some cases long lengths of cables have to be replaced in total.

On the other hand, residents are missing important phone calls. The trading community says most of the business is nowadays dependent on phones and they have been handicapped. Several of the traders, who deal with outstation parties, also use the Internet for their communication needs.

STD/PCO owners and cyber cafe operators are losing money while the department also continues to lose revenue on two counts. Firstly, due to lack of number of calls which would have originated from these dead phones, and secondly, the department will have to give a rebate on rental charges if the phone is dead for more than a week. The department checks the time period from the date and time of complaint, say officials .

Thankfully, the main cables of the department are within concrete ducts or else entire sectors would have been cut off, said a source in the department.

At a meeting with top ECL officials, the local Telecom Department today directed the company to stop all fresh works of laying cables and digging trenches. ECL has also promised to rectify all damage to the cables of the department within the next 3 to 4 days.

The Principal General Manager, Telecom, Mr Prithipal Singh, said the field staff is working out the details of damages to cables. The repair, rejoining and replacement of cables will be under the supervision of the department staff that will check, test and then give an okay report.

A few weeks ago ECL had started digging work to lay their own cables for providing basic telecom services, without informing the department or even seeking the maps of the cables laid by the department, added Mr Prithipal Singh. He said if the company does not follow the laid down procedures in future and the cables are not repaired within the coming days, then the department will go ahead to claim financial loss from the company.

Citizens’ Forum
Should Chandigarh have an international airport ?
By Parkash Singh Badal

The Punjab Government has been successful in getting Raja Sansi airport at Amritsar declared an international airport. Only recently, the Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr Sharad Yadav, wrote to me, conveying the decision of the Government to release Rs 79.26 crore to the Airports Authority of India for the upgradation of the Amritsar airport as per international standards.

In fact, the Punjab Government had been pressing the Union Government since 1997 for upgradation of Amritsar airport to international specifications. The Planning Commission had allocated Rs 75 crore in the Ninth Five Year Plan for this project. Somehow, the work on this project was delayed. But we are happy that now it will be taken up expeditiously.

The Punjab Government is equally keen that Chandigarh should also have an international airport. We have drawn an ambitious plan to attract multinational companies, especially the leaders of Information Technology industry, to come and set up their software production units at SAS Nagar.

We have earmarked 400 acres for the development of IT industry adjoining the Software Park which has come up at SAS Nagar. It is the connectivity which is very important for any industrial expansion. In the present day, the world has become a global village, where communication has outpaced everything else.

The connectivity, both at national and international levels, has become very important. It is also very important for the socio-economic development of Punjab as a major chunk of Punjabis, including those in the IT sector in North America and elsewhere, have been evincing keen interest for setting up their industrial ventures in the state keeping in view the attractive and liberal incentives we are offering to them.

It is not only industrial sector alone which will benefit by upgradation of Chandigarh as an international airport. It will provide tremendous impetus for the development of tourism and opening up of our region to the entire world for better trade and commerce opportunities.

We are also keen that Chandigarh should have more air connections with other major towns like Mumbai, Chennai, Calcutta, Bangalore and Hyderabad. Compared to other regions, the north has remained ignored. For example, Punjab alone contributes more than 25 per cent of the total India-rupee air traffic flying out from Indira Gandhi International Airport.

I know the hardships people from Punjab have to undergo while travelling to Delhi to either see off or to receive their relatives and friends at Indira Gandhi International Airport. It will be in the overall interest of this region that Chandigarh should have an international airport.

The Punjab Government has been taking up with the Union Government from time to time the upgradation of infrastructure, including communications, in the state. The Chandigarh-Ludhiana rail link is another step in providing better connectivity by rail.

Introduction of some international flights from Amritsar has provided a great relief to the NRIs of Majha region in particular and others in general. The response to international flights has been very encouraging.

Chandigarh being a central place and joint capital of both Punjab and Haryana, with software industry coming up in a big way at SAS Nagar, has tremendous potential for an international airport. The Punjab Government will continue to do its best to get Chandigarh the status of an international airport. We hope in the near future, the region can boast of two international airports, Amritsar and Chandigarh, which can meet the aspirations and demands of the people of this region.

City lashed by showers
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 29 — The city and its surrounding areas were lashed by monsoon showers this morning, thus bringing down humidity levels that were making residents sweat.

The present spell of rain will continue for the next two days as the monsoon system is very well organised, predicted met officials. Today’s rain — a total of 2.8 centimetres — brought down the day time temperatures to 31. 8 degrees Celsius, 6 degrees below the normal average.

The rain was preceded by dark clouds around 9 in the morning which forced residents to switch on tubelights while motorists switched on their headlights. Office goers were caught in the downpour that carried on till 11: 30 a.m. Residents standing in queues to deposit Income Tax returns — the last day is Friday — were a harassed lot.

Attendances in offices were low and as usual roundabouts were flooded. Markets wore a dull look even after the rain stopped and the sky cleared up. Roadside vendors selling corn (challis) made brisk sales while all construction activity came to a standstill.

Houses, industrial units flooded in Mubarikpur
From Our Correspondent

DERA BASSI, June 29 — Heavy downpour of the setting monsoons flooded a number of houses, shops and industrial units in Mubarikpur village, about 2 km from here, this morning.

More than eight mud-houses, seven shops, some crusher huts and other industrial units in this area were affected by the rain water. Swirling storm water of overflowing ditches along the roads entered the premises of certain industries, while water in blocked, and narrow, streets entered mud-houses in the village.

Various establishments and other household items were dipped in three-feet of muddy water, which accumulated in houses and shops, and caused heavy losses to residents and shopkeepers.

Residents had a tough time for more than four hours to flush out knee deep water accumulated in their houses, cowsheds and courtyards. Some of the residents had to make holes by breaking walls for water outlets. Some Industrialists had to use machines to pump the water out of their courtyards and rooms.

A visit to the village revealed that household items were floating on water accumulated in houses. Beds, sofa-sets, tables, chairs and other items, including foodgrains and clothing had got wet. Residents were seen collecting goods and putting them in open after flushing the water out.

The residents used buckets and other containers to sweep the muddy water out of their rooms. Children contributed by using jugs and jars to help their parents in flushing the water out.

Drains had to be dug along the Mubarikpur-Ramgarh road to make way for the water accumulated in ditches. The residents alleged that the Punjab Public Works Department did not dig drains along the road after raising the level of the roads a few months ago.

According to Mr Gur Iqbal Singh, owner of a stone crusher unit, due to the absence of drains along the road the rain water flooded the courtyard and the labourers room of his unit. ‘‘As the water level started rising within the premises of my crusher, we had to disconnect the electricity connection,” he said.

Residents of the village complain that the department concerned neither laid drains along the roads nor cleaned blocked underground stormwater-pipes, despite of the directions of Capt. Kanwaljit Singh, Finance and Planning Minister of Punjab, who chaired a meeting of different government officials at the PWD rest house at Mubarikpur about one-and-a-half-month ago.

A delegation of residents under the leadership of Mr Ramesh Kumar Gupta, former sarpanch, met Mr Sher Singh Sidhu, SDM and narrated their woes.

COMMUNITY

Seminar on polymer additive
Tribune News Service

Among those expected is the Director and four scientists of the institute, who will besides educating the delegates also organise a practical demonstration about the use of bitumen with polymer additive.

Ready with a helping hand, always
By Poonam Katial

CHANDIGARH, June 29 — The whole family of Mr Bhattacharya, whose car met with an accident with a truck, was saved by Mr Varender Sikka, a good Samaritan. His timely help at midnight hours saved them. This was not the only incident when he saved a family. He has many such instances to his credit.

He wakes up to the incessant ringing of the telephone. He gets distress calls from different areas at any hour of the day. The other day, a boy met with an accident and Mr Sikka was immediately called for. He got the boy admitted to hospital. There was a head injury with excessive bleeding. He provided the boy with two bottles of blood from the blood bank and saved him with timely help.

He renders free services to the people and helps them whole-heartedly, so that they can get their treatment done in the PGI. Mr Sikka, an employee of the State Bank of India, helps out the needy at any odd hour. “I have been doing this work for past 20 years and now at times, people approach me by sheer instinct. I first evaluate the condition of the patients and then take them to the ward concerned,” he says. He consults the doctors for them, arranges for the blood if needed, deciphers the prescription and makes the patient feel at ease.

His inspiration comes from help rendered by a stranger to his brother, who met with an accident 20 years ago. He got motivated from the incident and since then, he helps out the needy. Today, with his experience, he comes to know the extent of the injury and remedy available at hospital and the doctor to consult.

“I derive a lot of satisfaction out of this social service, even if it takes my maximum time. I think other persons should come forward to provide help, since they can as well be in the same position one day,’’ he says. He believes that the government can play its part by increasing the existing fleet of ambulances at the hospital. Today, so many persons are hospitalised or meet with accidents. But when someone unknown comes to your help or stands by you through your difficult times, he becomes a saviour.

A sector dotted with heaps of garbage
By Monica Sharma

CHANDIGARH, June 29 —As you enter Sector 44-B, you are welcomed by heaps of garbage. Almost the entire sector is dotted with garbage heaps at different spots. The residents feel uncomfortable to stay under such unhealthy conditions.

A dustbin has been placed near a public park and is not far off from the residential area. One of the residents lamented that the dustbin could be seen overflowing with garbage most of the time. She complained that the van of the Municipal Corporation usually come after four or five days to collect the garbage. She demanded the removal of the garbage daily.

Another resident said people threw garbage in a disorderly manner. Stray dogs, cows and other animals could be seen feeding on the garbage. To add to the woes of the residents stray animals move about freely in the area.

Residents have to face many other difficulties also. The stinking smell affects the normal life of people. Sometimes it is difficult to cross the road without covering your nose.

The residents had been complaining since long but nothing has been done by the administration in this regard. The polluted environment leads to many health-related problems.

In another area of the sector opposite the police post there is another heap of garbage. When the garbage pickers sorted out the garbage they throw the litter in the open, said Ms Sonia.

The corporation should earmark a specific place for the bins removed from the residential area and the bins should get them clean every day.

Dr Renu Tayal, who runs a clinic nearby, said the dirt gave birth to germs which were dangerous for the health of the residents.

57 new sites to detect HIV cases
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 29 — The National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), Government of India, has established 57 new sentinel sites in various parts of the country to ascertain the load of HIV positive cases, particularly among the rural population, both in high and low risk groups. With this addition, the sentinel surveillance round will be conducted in 232 sites from August to October this year.

According to Dr N.M. Sharma, Project Director, State AIDS Control Society, UT, the additional surveillance sites will help ascertain the exact load among high risk groups through attendees of STD clinics, intravenous drug users and female commercial sex workers, particularly in the rural areas. The data collected further helps in monitoring the progression of the HIV epidemic in India.

He further pointed out that at present, most of the 180 sites were covering the urban population only and since the sites in many states were not evenly distributed, the rural population was being ignored. But now, with a more even distribution, it would be possible to know the exact level of infection in all states.

The 3.5 million HIV infections in the country have been estimated on the basis of sentinel surveillance carried throughout the country in 180 sites in 1998. According to the figures, Punjab has 43,734 cases, Haryana has 34,287, Himachal Pradesh has 3,318 and Chandigarh has 4,286 HIV infected persons.

The state-wise sentinel surveillance data indicates that HIV infection is prevalent in all parts of the country and has spread from urban to rural areas and from individuals having high risk behaviour to the general population. Data has also brought out that more and more women attending antenatal clinics are testing HIV positive, thereby increasing the risk of perinatal transmission.

A two-day training programme is being organised by NACO on July 3 and 4 in Chandigarh to train the persons in charge of new sentinels from Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. They will be imparted training in selecting sentinel population, collecting blood samples and testing procedure.

Aero-modeling hobby clubs mooted
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 29 — To inculcate greater awareness on aviation matters among students and to give a boost to aviation-related matters, the Chandigarh chapter of the Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI) is planning to establish aero-modeling hobby clubs in city schools.

According to the AeSI chairman, Air Cdre Arvinda Agrawal, the society will provide expert counselling, guidance and assistance to schools for setting up the clubs on a cost sharing basis. The school authorities are being approached on this issue.

The society will also arrange flying display of aero-models within the school premises, conduct aviation workshops, besides organising inter-school quiz competitions on aviation matters. A visit to civil and military airfield will also be organised for winners of the competitions as well as selected students.

The AeSI secretary, Wg Cdr D. P. Sabharwal (retd), said the society had also expanded the scope of aero awareness quiz, with preliminaries being conducted in six cities in the region.

These included Patiala, Jalandhar, Karnal, Faridabad, Shimla and Chandigarh. Two teams will be selected from each centre, leading to two semi-finals of six teams each. Two teams from each semi-final round will qualify of the finals.

A debate on aviation-related issues at the college level and an essay competition for students of classes IX to XII will also be organised in addition to a painting competition.

Participants of the painting competition will be invited for aircraft display on Air Force Day and they shall be asked to paint on the spot in senior and junior categories.

As the scope of the activities has been enlarged this year, the society is also looking for sponsors for some of the events.

“I was initially reluctant to come to city”
Tribune News Service 

CHANDIGARH, June 29 — “ I was initially reluctant to come to Chandigarh for my assignment, but the past year has proved to be a blessing in disguise and has swayed my decision to settle down permanently in Delhi,” recalls UT IGP Mr S. K. Singh, who retires 30 years of uniformed life tomorrow.

“The city is a peaceful, clean and is the ideal place for pensioners like me as compared to Delhi. Initially, I plan to stay for four months. and savour the feeling of being a free bird and away from the grind of day to-day policing,” he added.

Commenting on his year-long stint here, he said it was one of the best in the country and it was a pleasure working here. “You can put across your ideas and be certain that they will be implemented in letter and spirit. Being a small and compact force, the feedback is instant and the results are for everyone to see,” he said.

An officer of the 1970 batch, Mr S.K. Singh has been instrumental in revamping the police control room, ushering in computerisation and keeping the crime rate of the city down. Besides this, he was responsible in softening the “image” of the cops in the eyes of the public.

On his retirement plans, he said he just wanted to take some time off for himself and indulge in his love for the music, besides the quench for the eternal truth. In fact, from my childhood I have been in its pursuit and always took out time for studying the scriptures and knowing about other religions.

Mr S.K. Singh said he would also use the time to write, read and indulge in his love for classical music. He not only plays the harmonium but is also proficient in playing the tabla. He, however, claims that he has no regrets in life and does not bear a grudge towards anyone. I have done my duty with utmost devotion and in doing so, I think, it is my most valuable contribution towards society, he opined.

A postgraduate in English literature from Benaras Hindu University, he also taught the subject temporarily before clearing his Civil Services examination in 1970.

He served in Delhi, Mizoram, Pondicherry in various capacities before serving as Chief Vigilance Officer with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. After this, he went to the Central Industrial Security Force before taking charge of the security of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. During this time, he accompanied the then President all over the world.

Mr S.K. Singh has also authored four books - two on the gadgets used by the police and on police public relations, besides translating two Tamil classics to Hindi. “ I picked up Tamil during my stint in Pondicherry and was paid Rs 1 lakh each for the translations by the government,” he added in a lighter vein.

For her Rotary is a way of life
By Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 29 — For Mrs Kawal Bedi, the Rotary Club is not just a club that she is a member of, it is a way of life. “ I sleep, eat and live Rotary. Whether I am at my office or home, I am all time thinking about the club. In fact, I can safely say that even when I sleep, I dream Rotary.”

For her dedication to the club and outstanding contribution to society, Mrs Bedi was recently given four individual awards including the prestigious Yugantar 2000 Award for excellence by the Governor of the District 3080, Mr Arun Sharma. “ For me this is a life-time achievement award,” says Mrs Bedi.” It is a true recognition of the work I have put in for the club during the past 11 years of my Rotary career. For me, this has also been a rather pleasant shock.”

Mrs Bedi started her Rotary career in November 1989.” I was the first woman member of the Rotary Club of Chandigarh. She also has the distinction of being the first woman President of the club. “ When I became the President, most of the members were apprehensive. At the end of my term, I was given a standing applause for the work done and the targets achieved,” she says.

The first woman President also compiled a comprehensive history of the club, during her term. “The book titled “Four Glorious Decades of Service’ was actually an idea of Mr Raja Saboo. It was he who motivated me to take up the task of compiling the club’s history,” she said.

Mrs Bedi has been presented the award for excellence at the annual assembly held at Shimla. “ It is the time when the outgoing governor recognises the work done by the various clubs under his district.”

The Rotary Club of Chandigarh, this time had the unique distinction of bagging 41 of the 150 awards. “We received the award for being the best club in the entire district. Besides this, Mrs Usha Saboo received Award of Excellence in the field of community service.”

Large number of projects were carried out by the club during the last year. “A major project was when an independent voluntary team of rotarians went to Ethiopia for giving free eye surgery. Besides this, I have been personally involved in increasing memberships, contributing dollars to the Rotary Foundation and arranging for conferences at the district level.”

Mrs Bedi, during her year as President, had started an immensely successful project called the ‘Gift of life’. “We have collected $ 1,00,000 for this ongoing project. Uptill now we have provided free heart surgery to eight children with the help of the P.G.I., Chandigarh”

The first lady president of the club says that as far as future plans are concerned, she hopes that she will become a better human being. “This public acclaim has made me more humble. As of now, I want to continue being a good human being, which I think is more important than any other achievement in life.”

Poor response to sites’ auction
From Our Correspondent

SAS NAGAR, June 29 — The response to the auction of freehold commercial sites here by the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) today was poor.

Only four of the 18 plots, including six booth sites, advertised to be auctioned could be disposed of. The sites were in Phases IIIA, VII, X and XI.

The PUDA authorities netted over Rs 1.5 crore, 10 per cent of which was deposited by the buyers as required under the rules.

All four SCF sites auctioned were located in Phase XI and were in the semi-industrial category. The maximum bid for a corner plot measuring 16ft 10½ in by 66 ft was Rs 40.05 lakh, the reserve price being fixed at Rs 36,02,610. Another corner site of the same dimensions fetched only Rs 38.25 lakh, down by Rs 1.80 lakh.

The remaining two sites, measuring 16 ft 6 in by 66 ft each, were disposed of for Rs 38.80 lakh and Rs 38.70 lakh against the reserve price of Rs 32,75,100.

In all, 13 bidders participated in the lacklustre auction.

PUDA officials said that the rainy weather adversely affected the auction.

At the previous auction of commercial sites here on March 30 the response from bidders was good.

CRIME

Notorious thief arrested
Tribune News Service

In another case, a scooter was stolen from Phase 3B1. Mr Kewal Singh complained to the police that two boxes of medicine worth Rs 25,000 were stolen from a SCF in Phase 3B2 market last night.