The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

HEALTH

Patiala doctor selected for DM at AIIMS
From Our Correspondent

SAS NAGAR, Jan 4 — Dr Devinder Singh Sandhu of Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, who has been selected to do Doctorate of Medicine (Oncology) at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, was honoured by the Punjab Literary and Cultural Society here today. He is among only three candidates from all over the country and the only one from Punjab to have been selected for undertaking research work in cancer.

On getting the doctorate, he will become the first person working with the Punjab Government to acquire such a qualification.

Among those present at the function were Mr Sucha Singh Langah, Minister for Public Works, and Dr Kehar Singh, Chairman of the Punjab School Education Board.

SPORT

Kavita, Surinder are best athletes
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Jan 4 — Kavita of the MCM DAV College for Women, Sector 36, in the women section and Surinder Singh of the Central Industrial Security Force, in the men section, were declared the best athletes in the Chandigarh Athletics Meet organised by the Amateur Athletics Association of Chandigarh which came to a close here at the Sector 46 sports complex.

Mr J.P.S. Sidhu, Joint Director Sports UT, gave away the prizes.

The best athletes in different sections are: under-20 yrs: Jagraj Singh (SGGSC-26) and Rajbir Kaur (GGSC-26); under-18: Sunil Kumar (DAVC-10) and Manju (MCM DAV-36); under-16: Surinder Singh (SC-46) and Pawandeep (SAI-18); under-14: Kamal Verma (GMSS-19) and Navjeet Kaur (GHS-32).

The winners in men section are: Mayank Bhushan (DAVC-10); 10000 m: Joginder Singh (Chandigarh Police); discus throw: Surinder Singh (CISF); under-22 category: 1500 m: Amarinder Singh (GMSS-23); 200 m: Gurjeet Singh (SGGSC-26); discus throw: Bikramjit Singh (DAVC-10); 10000 m: Puran Chand (SGGSC-26);1500 m: Puran Chand (SGGSC-26); 200 m: Anil Kumar (SDPS-32); under-18 category: long jump — Sunil Kumar (DAVC-10); Discus throw: Krishan Das (KVS-29); 200 m: Amanbir (DAVC-10); 1500 m: Gurjit Singh (SGGS-26); under-16 category: long jump — Yogesh (SDPS-32); Hameer Singh (AKSIPS-41);

In women section: 1500 m: Kavita (MCM-36); under-22 category: discus throw: Kailash (Chandigarh Police); 200 m: Champa (SGGS-35); 1500 m: Nirmata (GGSC-26); 200 m: Manjit Kaur (GGSC-26); Under-18 category: 1500 m: Manju (MCM-36); discus throw: Mukesh (SAI-18); 200 m: Veena Yadav (GMSSS-20); under-16 category: Pawandeep Kaur.

Roller hockey
Nirmal Nanda a skater from Haryana and a trainee of the Hansraj Skating club recently represented India in the 34th World Roller Hockey Tournament held in London and was declared the best player in its tie with Pakistan which India won.

Yuvraj to be honoured
The meeting of the executive committee of the Chandigarh Cricket Association affiliated to the Punjab Cricket Association held at CGA golf range under the chairmanship of Mr P.S. Pruthi, President of CCA, decided to honour Yuvraj Singh the test star of Chandigarh and Dinesh Mongia, who played outstandingly for Punjab in the recently concluded North Zone Ranji Trophy league matches. It was also decided to honour the members of the UT under-16 team which lifted the Punjab Inter-district ML Markan trophy. The association will also organise under-16 tournament in addition to the under-14 tournament going to be held in April. Meanwhile, Mr D.P. Azad, India’s first Dronacharya Award winner will be the adviser to the association.

ADMINISTRATION

Ten ASIs reshuffled
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Jan 4 — The Superintendent of Police, Dr C.S. Rao, transferred a number of police personnel, here today, with a view to enhance efficiency of the police force. Those transferred include 10 ASIs, one constable and one upgraded constable.

The transfers triggered off after a head constable of the Haryana police, posted with the police control room, was transferred to guard duty outside the office of the Superintendent of Police last night with immediate effect for non-performance of duty.

Police sources said that a resident of Sector 15, Mr Surinder Chaudhary, first spotted a man lying on the pavement while he was out for a walk. Suspecting him to be dead, Mr Chaudhry thought of informing the police.

Spotting a police control room of the Sector 19 police station nearby, he immediately went there and informed them of the man lying on the pavement. "They refused to accompany me to the spot. On this, I told them that I would call up the SP and was told that they were not bothered,’’ he said.

On returning, he called up the SP, Dr C.S. Rao, in his office and told him of the body lying on the pavement and the behaviour of the personnel in the PCR. At 10 p.m., the SP, along with other police personnel reached the spot and found that the man lying on the pavement was not dead.

“He was infact dead drunk and we removed him from the place otherwise he would have died of cold. Also, I took very serious note of the negligence of duty by the personnel and had decided to suspend him,’’ Rao said.

However, the public and the complainant, Mr Chaudhary, came to the rescue of the head constable, Rajbir Singh, appealing to the SP for a lenient approach. On their repeated requests, Rajbir was transferred to guard duty outside the SP office.

It maybe recalled that Dr Rao had transferred three police personnel a fortnight back to the police lines for non-registration of a case and threatening a complainant. This had also been effected for non-performance of duty. Those transferred include — ASI Varinder Kumar goes from Sector 19 police station to Sector 5 police station, ASI Roshan Lal from police lines to Sector 5 police station, ASI Mahender Singh from Sector 5 police station to police post in Sector 10, ASI Balwant Rai from police lines to Sector 19 police station, ASI Himmat Singh from Sector 16 police post to PCR-8, ASI Gian Singh from Sector 5 police station to Sector 19 police station, ASI Onkar Chand from PCR-8 to police station in Sector 19 police station, ASI Pratap Singh and ASI Gian Chand swapped places from Kalka to escort guard and vice-versa.

Head constable Balwant Singh from police post in Sector 16 to Sector 5 police station and under grade constable Balwan Singh from Sector 6 police station to bus stand police post.

READERS WRITE
Electronic clearing of bills

The decision of the Chandigarh Administration and the Municipal Corporation to introduce electronic clearing of electricity and water bills is a step in the right direction. This scheme is similar to the one started by the Telephones Department for the convenience of consumers. The telephone scheme did not get a big response from the residents as all post offices in Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula are authorised to collect telephone bills in addition to the collection centres of the department.

A large number of dwelling units allotted to residents have been sold on the basis of powers of attorney. Moreover, a large number of tenants pay the electricity and water bills, though the bills are made in the names of the landlords. If the scheme is accepted by the consumers, the landlords will not permit the transfer of funds from their bank accounts for the payment of electricity and water bills of their tenants. In the case of houses or flats sold on powers of attorney, the electricity and water meters may again be in the names of the original allottees. The same problem will arise in their case also.

Keeping in view the harassment of the public and the loss of thousands of man-hours, payments should be accepted on all days of the week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. This can be done in two shifts. Collection centres should be established in each sector. All post offices in the city should be authorised to collect electricity and water bills.

A.P.Bhardwaj
Chandigarh

Traffic chaos

Chandigarh’s wide roads are becoming killer roads. The year 1999 saw 555 road accidents (107 fatalities and 438 injuries) while 2000 had as many as 546 accidents till December 15 (109 fatalities and 437 injuries).

A couple of months ago a 14-year- old school girl was done to death followed by a child being crushed under his own school bus. Most roundabouts in the city have no traffic lights or policemen to guide the traffic. At peak-hours the roads present a picture of total traffic chaos.

Buses must not be allowed to run on city roads as they do on highways. The speed limit has to be lowered. All CTU buses must be roadworthy with engines in tiptop condition. Rash and negligent driving should invite heavy penalties. The licences of habitual defaulters should be cancelled and the vehicles should be impounded for a considerable length of time. Underage driving has to be dealt with firmly.

There is a pedestrian path connecting Sector 15-C (market) and 15-A. The entry from Sector 15-C side used to be narrow enough not to let scooterists in. This path is used by a large number of children for going to school. The Municipal Corporation has now widened this entry point to provide a short-cut to scooterists who put the lives of these children at risk. Some months ago a little girl was badly injured by a scooterist. The municipal councillor of the ward when requested to have the entry point narrowed scoffed at the suggestion.

S.S.Jain
Chandigarh

School fees

The Chandigarh Administration’s decision to enforce in the UT the Punjab Privately Managed Recognised School Employees (Security of Service) Act, 1979 is a welcome step which will prevent exploitation of the teachers. The Punjab Government and the Chandigarh Administration should also enact law to control the fees in private schools to save the parents of students from extortions in the shape of donations, building fund etc. The fees being charged by these schools are exorbitant and a poor man is unable to give education to his children. Such a law will be a boon for the poor man.

Jagjit Singh
Chandigarh