The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Wednesday, October 11, 2000,
Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

R E G I O N A L B R I E F S

PUNJAB

BATHINDA
IDENTITY CARDS: The Public Grievances Association has demanded identity cards for the milkmen who supply milk in the city. This was stated in a letter to the Deputy Commissioner by Mr Dharmvir Walia, president of the association. He said such a drive would help in identifying those who add water to milk or supply contaminated milk so that action could be taken against them.

FAZILKA
ARRESTED: The police has arrested Sanjiv Kumar alias Kala and Ankur Monga for looting a woman in the Kailash Nagar locality here last week. Giving details Mr Gamdoor Singh, SHO, said the accused on October 5 barged into the house of Mr Ashwani Kumar Bhateja and injured his wife, Anju Bhateja. They allegedly took away 4 gold bangles worth Rs 20,000.

GURDASPUR
THIEVES ARRESTED: The police on October 7 arrested four persons allegedly involved in stealing two-wheelers. Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, in a press note issued on Monday identified them as Sunil Kumar of Nadon, Himachal Pradesh, Gopal Krishan, Balbir Chand and Onkar Singh of Pathankot. Four motor cycles and 2 scooters were recovered from their possession. The accused used to sell stolen vehicles in other states.

Ludhiana
Workshop: The Directorate of Extension Education, Punjab Agricultural University, will organise one-day state level Fisheries Workshop on the PAU campus on October 11. The workshop will be inaugurated by Dr G.S. Kalkat, Vice-chancellor, and Dr M.L. Kaushal, Director and Warden Fisheries, Punjab, will present a paper on status of fisheries in Punjab. The objective of the workshop is to finalise the package of recommendations for fisheries in Punjab. Dr Kamaldeep Kaur; Dr P.K. Saxena, Dr Asha Dhawan, Dr H.S.Sehgal, Dr S. Virk, Dr L.S. Gill, Dr Joginder Singh Sehgal will present their papers.

MC drive: The Commissioner of Municipal Corporation, Dr S.S. Sandhu, has appealed to the citizens not to throw garbage, filth, building material and other polluted matter in streets and other open spaces and to keep their surroundings clean. After the matter was discussed at the review meeting of MC officials, the Commissioner directed the health sanitation department to issue challans and penalise the offenders.

activist: The Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) general secretary and the state delegate of the party, Mr Jatinder Pal Singh Saluja, has criticised the Congress and the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal for making “wild and baseless accusations against the ruling party after the SAD(B) victory in the Sunam byelection. He said here on Monday that the outcry of rigging through electronic voting machines (EVMs) was “rubbish” and “a sign of frustration.” Those levelling charges of rigging through EVMs must remember that the same machines were used in Patiala and Faridkot during the last Lok Sabha elections and at both places, the ruling party candidates had lost.” Mr Saluja asked the opposition parties to gracefully accept the verdict of the voters and to adopt a constructive approach.

EMPLOYEES restive: The employees of Punjab Agricultural University, under the aegis of the PAU Non Teaching Employees’ Union are still agitating against the decision of the Board of Management of the university, taken in a meeting on July 28, to abolish over 1,300 posts of different cadres of the staff. The union has been holding rallies in front of different buildings of the university. The next rally is scheduled for Wednesday in front of the administrative block of the university, during lunch hours. According to Mr D.P. Maur and Mr Amrit Pal, president and general secretary of the Union, respectively, if the university did not rescind its decision, the employees would be forced to take recourse in agitation.

strike: The students of the College of Agriculture called off their strike on Monday, after a perceptive assurance from the Vice-Chancellor, Dr G.S. Kalkat, to consider their demands. However, the students have asked the VC to give the assurance in black and white. It is learnt that the VC has assured the students that agriculture would be introduced as a subject in the schools. This decision was taken by the students collectively. The students were on strike since September 19 last, demanding better employment opportunities.

YRJD women’s wing: Ms Veena Verma has been appointed president of Ludhiana (rural) women’s wing of the Yuva Rashtriya Janta Dal (YRJD). This was officially stated by Mr Vijay Mahajan, state president of YRJD.

BAN: The District Magistrate, Mr S.K. Sandhu, has imposed a ban on the use of loudspeakers in the district to save the public from undue disturbance and inconvenience. The orders issued under Section 144 CrPC stipulated that except in cases where a permit has been issued by the district administration, the violation of the orders would be liable for appropriate punishment. The police have been directed to entertain complaints of the general public in this regard and details of the complaints and action taken, there on, to be supplied to the office of the District Magistrate on a fortnightly basis.

MOGA
WATER WASTAGE: There are certain “unatural fountains” in town from which hundreds of gallons of water is wasted every day. Water from broken pipelines at certain places has been flowing freely for a week now. Interestingly the water is going waste while in several areas people do not get regular supply of water.

STAMP PAPERS: Resentment prevails among people here over the non-availability of revenue stamp papers of Rs 3. As a result they are forced to buy stamp papers of Rs 25, causing both an additional financial burden as well as inconvenience.

RESENTMENT: Residents expressed resentment over the delay caused in the transmission of telegrams, including press telegrams, here on Tuesday. Of seven employees at the Local Telegraphic Office only one is handling the work of transmission of telegraphic messages. Fax messages are also being delayed.

UNCOVERED MANHOLES: Resentment prevails among local residents over uncovered manholes at certain places here. Several persons have sustained injuries after they fell into them. A schoolgirl recently sustained a fracture. Residents urged the local municipal authorities on Tuesday to take immediate corrective measures.

NAWANSHAHR
SCHOLARSHIP: Arvind Guru, a student of the local Shivalik Public School, has won a scholarship by passing the National Talent Search Examination (1990-2000) conducted by the NCERT. This was stated in a press note issued here on Tuesday by Dr D.S. Bedi, the principal of the school.

ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Nawanshahr Contractors Association: president — Mr Amrik Singh Panesar; vice-president — Mr Gurcharan Singh; general secretary — Mr Rajinder Kumar; secretary — Mr Avinash Kumar; and treasurer — Mr Munish Kirpal.

BLOOD BANK: Mr Jaspal Singh Gidda, president of the local Blood Donors Council, said on Tuesday that the blood bank has been fully computerised.

BLOOD SAFETY POLICY: Mr Gurinder Singh Toor and Dr Pushapraj Kalia, chairman and secretary, respectively, of the Punjab State Blood Donation Committee said here on Tuesday that the Blood Safety Policy be immediately amended to combat the menace of AIDS. He said since the policy prohibits the disclosure of AIDS, such cases are not properly reported adding to the ignorance of the people.

AWARENESS CAMP: The police organised an awareness camp at Red Rose Public School here on Tuesday to educate students about the menace of drug abuse and road safety. Mr Pritam Singh Johal, SDM, and Mr Ishwar Singh, SSP, addressed the students.

PATHANKOT
MOLESTATION CASE: Kunti Devi (60) of Makhanpur village has lodged a complaint against Karam Singh of the same village of molesting her. In the complaint she alleged that on October 3 when she went to the fields to fetch fodder she was molested by Karam Singh. A case under Section 354 of the IPC has been registered.

PATIALA
DEMANDED: The Punjabi University Teachers Association (PUTA) has condemned the circulation of derogatory pamphlets on the university campus and demanded an inquiry into the issue by a sitting or a retired judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. A general body meeting of the association was held under the chairmanship of Prof Bhupinder Singh Khaira on Tuesday. It was demanded that those responsible for circulating derogatory pamphlets should be brought to book.

statement condemned: The Punjab Agricultural Officers Association has condemned the statement of the chairman of the Punjab Mandi Board, that the agriculture department in the state should be closed down. The agriculture technocrats of Punjab have helped the state in becoming self-sufficient and capable enough to export its produce through intensive hard work said Dr Balwinder Singh Mahal, president of the association in a press note. He said the thought of closing down the department on the basis of its alleged inefficiency was uninvited and vague. He announced the department would continue to fulfil its duties and take care that all new agricultural varieties, developed by Punjab Agricultural University, reached the farmers. He blamed the government, traders and the Mandi Board, for the present miserable condition of the farmers. He said the Chairman of the Mandi Board should be aware of the fact that agriculture department of Punjab is a regular winner of National Productivity award.

SAMRALA
LAUNCHED: A humourous Punjabi fortnightly Samrala Bullittan was released here on Saturday by renowned humourist Jaspal Bhatti. The function was inaugurated by Mr D.P. Malik, Station Director of All India Radio, Chandigarh. The SDM, Mr Sandeep Hans, presided over the function. On this occasion, speakers discussed the challenges faced by the press. Among those who attended the function were Mr Balbir Singh Rajewal, Mr S.K. Sharma, Mr Anil Sood, Mr Bhupinder Singh Benipal and Mr Sushil Kumar.

CHANDIGARH

launched: The Photographic Society of Chandigarh has launched its new website which can be located at http:// PSC-photogallery.iwarp.com. The PSC is a group of local photo enthusiasts formed to promote photography. The picture of some of its members have won awards in several national and international exhibitions.

agitation: Thousands of footpath workers belonging to the Footpath Workers Ekta Samiti assembled at Labour Chowk, Sector 20, and took out a procession through Sectors 20, 21, 22 and 17 to reach the office of the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, to press for their demand. The footpath workers also raised slogans against the hike in the prices of petroleum products by the BJP led government. They burnt the effigy of the Prime Minister.

procession: Workers of Super Bazar held a procession from Super Bazar, Sector 22, to the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Sector 17, against the policy of the Chandigarh Administration on the closure of the Super Bazar, non-payment of salaries to the employees for August and September and immediate transfer of Mr R.K Kaushik, General Manager. The workers also sat on dharna from 11 a.m to 2 p.m before the Deputy Commissioner’s office.

formed: In order to provide guidance to the budding poets of the area, the Kavita Akademi was formed. This decision was taken at a meeting of the intellectuals, writers and poets of the Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu languages here on Tuesday. The following office-bearers were elected unanimously: President — Mr Gurdial Singh “Arif”; Senior Vice-President — Mr Bhag Singh; Vice-President — Mrs Sudarshan Walia; Secretary-General — Mr Siri Ram; Secretary — Mr Kadar Nath; and Finance Secretary — Mr R.S. Fraz.

report: An emergency meeting of the ITI Electrical Workers Association was held on Tuesday under the presidentship of Mr Narinder Pal Dogra. A resolution was passed unanimously to contradict news published in a newspaper a few days back regarding corruption in Electrical Division No. 1 in which U.T. Electrical Workers Union had tried to defame the Superintendent. The association condemned the action of the union.

association: The House Holders Welfare Association, Sector 8, have elected the following office-bearers: President — Mr Dalip Singh Sandhu; Senior Vice-President — Mr Chandan Singh; Vice-Presidents — Mr Piara Singh, Mr T.R. Arora, Mr Khazan Singh; General Secretary — Bawa Chandrapal Singh; Secretary — Dr R.P. Vig, Auditor —Mr Inder Singh; and Treasurer — Mr J.C. Kapoor.

Rally: Hundreds of employees and workers of the Engineering Department of the Chandigarh Administration gathered at the maintenance booth of Sector 23. They held a protest rally against the adamant attitude of the Administration towards their demands and raised slogans. The protesters demanded grant of bonus since 1997-98 and release of the DA instalment w.e.f. July, 2000, regularisation of the daily-wagers and grant of exemption from income tax.

SAS NAGAR
medical camp: A free medical camp was organised by the Health Department in collaboration with the Mohali Industries Association on Tuesday. The camp, held in the Civil Hospital, was for the benefit of the elderly and the handicapped. A complete check-up of the patients was done. Among those who visited the camp were the Director of Health Services, Dr G.S. Preet, and the Ropar Civil Surgeon, Dr Rajinder Singh. The hospital in charge and CMO, Dr Harinder Rana Brar, said 150 patients were examined at the camp.