The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

Court stays vote-counting for Chandigarh Club
By A.S. Prashar
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 2 — It was a day of anti-climax at the Chandigarh Club today. The new set of office-bearers, will have to wait for at least two months to know their fate because of a judicial intervention.

A UT court today issued directions to the returning officer of the Chandigarh Club that counting of the votes and results would not be announced for the next two months.

The polling will take place tomorrow as scheduled but a separate ballot box will be arranged for 415 newly enrolled members of the club whose eligibility was being disputed in the court. The counting and the result of the polling will be announced after two months after the court decides upon the eligibility of the newly enrolled members.

The court also ordered that in the meantime, the club management, including present set of office-bearers and executive, would continue to function as usual.

The order was handed down by the UT Civil Judge (junior division), Mr Mahinder Singh, on a complaint filed by Mr Satnam Singh and another, against the president of the club and 14 others for the grant of interim injunction restraining the defendants not to hold elections, which was due to be held on March 3 with new members enrolled with effect from May 7, 1999, to February 2, 2001.

It was alleged in the complaint that the defendants, who were controlling the affairs of the club and were going to hold elections for the next year had wrongly, illegally and without any authority made new members totalling around 1,000 during their tenure and after the expiry of their term contrary to the constitution, rules and regulations governing the functioning of the club with a view to get gain in the election.

The court order sent into a tizzy all candidates as well as members of the outgoing team. The outgoing president, Mr Chamanlal Sharma, convened an emergency meeting of the executive of the club tonight to consider the situation arising out of the court order. He also conferred with the returning officer, Mr S.C. Nagpal, to devise ways and means of segregating the new members and have a separate ballot box for them in accordance with the directions of the court.

According to insiders, one view at the executive meeting was that the polling scheduled for tomorrow should also be postponed till the fate of the new members was decided by the court. However, another school of thought felt that the club should go through the election process and hold the polling tomorrow as scheduled and follow court’s directions with regard to the new members, the counting of votes and declaration of results.

Mr Sharma announced tonight that the polling would take place as scheduled tomorrow. All arrangements had been made for the conduct of free, fair and smooth elections tomorrow. All members should bring their new membership cards with them. Those who did not have new cards could bring their old cards together with identification in the form of a passport, ration card, driving licence etc. for the satisfaction of the Returning Officer.

The court’s decision today came towards the close of one the fiercest and costliest election campaigns mounted for the Chandigarh Club in recent years. Lavish parties, group meetings, glossy pamphlets etc marked the election campaign. Some of the local hotels have been booked accommodate outstation members who will take part in the voting tomorrow.

The election aroused high interest because of the close fight for the posts of president and vice-president and involved almost the elite of the city including government officials of Punjab, Haryana and UT Administration, PGI doctors, industrialists, police officers and SDMs.

Meanwhile, the UT Civil Judge has rejected the application moved by the complainant for restraining the Returning officer of the Chandigarh Club from allowing the defendants Indejit Bajab, Gopal Gupta and C.M Munjal to contest the election for the post of executive member and stay of the election, scheduled to be held tomorrow. The magistrate also adjourned the case for April 7.

Three city residents — Mr Harpreet Singh, Mr Sanjay Goel, Mr Jaswinder Singh — had filed suit in the court. It was alleged in the suit that the decision of the returning officer with regard to allowing the defendants to contest election is totally illegal, wrong, contrary to the provision of the Chandigarh Club and against the facts and with malefic intention.

	PM to open PGI OPD on March 6 Tribune News Service CHANDIGARH, March 2 — The much-delayed new OPD of the PGI is all set to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, on March 6. Confirming the news, sources at the PGI said that an intimation regarding this from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) reached the institute in the evening here today. The date coincides with the Prime Minister’s visit to Kurukshetra. There he will dedicate Kurukushetra Panorama and Science Centre to the nation, besides, laying the foundation stone of a project of the holy Brahmahasarover. The new OPD building, completed about a year and a half ago, had been awaiting formal opening by a VVIP. While the institute authorities had written to the PMO requesting the Prime Minister to inaugurate it, due to certain reasons it kept getting delayed. In February this year a decision to shift to the new OPD by March 12 was finally taken at meeting of senior professors and representatives of the hospital administration held under the chairmanship of the PGI Director, Prof S.K. Sharma. It was decided that the formal opening by the VVIP would take place as and when it was convenient. The building, costing about Rs 20 crore, was eventually completed in December 1999. And since then it has been awaiting a VVIP to formally cut the ribbon. The building has four blocks — A, B, C and D. While the B and C blocks are five-storyed each, block A has four levels. Block D houses a massive cafeteria for the doctors, staff and the patients. The building has six operation theaters, a daycare centre, six lifts and 22 registration points. The new OPD is equipped with a 500 KVA generator and has a extensive parking area for 250 cars and 500 scooters. The 25,000 square feet covered area is fully air-conditioned and 1,25,000 square feet area is air cooled. Besides, it also has two architectural features, including a water fountain. The Physiotherapy Department has been operating from the ground level for past six months now. As per the plans, besides the special clinics departments which will be shifted include ENT, eye, orthopedics, gynaecology and internal medicine.
	Foreigners pay tribute to the untaught genius Tribune News Service CHANDIGARH, March 2 — When distinguished British artists today hailed the legendary creation by Nek Chand as the largest folk art creation in the world, many hearts smiled with pride. And they had all the reasons to do so. For here was an Indian, and specifically a Chandigarh-based folk artist, who had touched the world with his creativity. Call it an exceptionally wonderful environment or simple an elegy in trash, at the end of the day, the Rock Garden is all about courage, conviction, perseverance, and humility, the four qualities which describe its creator best. So even today when the 15 visiting delegates from the USA and the UK assembled in the first phase of the historical garden to declare their respective admiration for Nek Chand’s genius, the creator sat humbly, flanked on one side by John Maizels, Trustee of the London-based Nek Chand Foundation and the UT Home Secretary, Mr R.S. Gujral, and on the other by Tony Razer, the famous American art restorer. Even before the slated silver jubilee celebrations of the garden begin tomorrow, today’s occasion was a celebration in itself. It was furthered by the beautiful gift which the Nek Chand Foundation has brought for the garden — the 10 laughing mirrors which have been transported across the seas to be thrown open to the Chandigarh public on March 3. After witnessing the intensity with which the visiting delegates felt about the garden and its perfection, it was the city which felt more proud than the artist himself. Each delegate took rounds of the garden yesterday after the arrival to the city, and surprisingly, the grandeur of the garden benumbed everybody’s eyes. Julia Elmore, Administrator of the Nek Chand Foundation, admitted today while talking to Chandigarh Tribune, “We had only dreamt of feeling experiencing this reality. It’s amazingly beautiful. I fail to understand how the creation of such a level became humanly possible. Hats off to the man.” Not just Julia, all the visiting members, who are great artists in their own right, lauded Nek Chand’s garden as a wonderful folk art creation. John Maizels even went to the extent of calling Nek Chand as the “number one world citizen” and talked of how his foundation was engaged in raising funds from Europe and USA to implement key projects for the Rock Garden. As of now, there are six gardens on the like of Rock Garden abroad — two in France, two in Germany and two in Britain. “We are a non-profit organisation operating on low overheads and all the funds we raise go directly in helping to sustaining the environment of Rock garden. We feel indebted to be a part of silver jubilee celebrations of such a great garden,” said Maizels, adding that the foundation members would go back and work more contentiously towards ensuring that Nek Chand’s vision is realised.” The foundation has promised Nek Chand all possible help in preserving and conserving with amazing space of the Rock Garden. Prof Tony Rajer, who said that he shared a special bond with Nek Chand, appeared to be quite in awe of the creation. Though he has been to the garden earlier and has been reporting about its status to the Nek Chand Foundation, London, he said, “I can still feel the freshness. Everytime I see this space, I feel I am seeing it for the first time. It looks as virgin as ever. I am amazed.” Paying tributes to Nek Chand, Rajer often kissed the garden soil. He told of how very famous the garden was all over the world. “Art has no frontiers and this man has proved that art can safeguard friendship. We come here as ambassadors of goodwill. We will go back with memories which will be cherished for years,” he said. Tokens of admiration to Nek Chand were also given by Jane England, owner, England and Company Art Gallery in England and Chenyl Rivers from the Museum of American Folk Art, New York. There were also representatives from the Folk Art Society of America, the New York Port Authority and the Envision Art Society.
	Home Secretary’s gesture The Home Secretary, Mr R.S. Gujral, looked very happy when someone from the gathering pointed out that efforts should be made to nominate the garden for a Nobel Prize. Felicitating the foreign delegates at Rock garden today, Mr Gujral could not help praising the creator for his humility. “Ae sadi khushkismati hai ke asi vi os shehar vich rehnde haan jithe Nek Chand ji rehnde ne,” he said, while urging upon John Maizels of the Nek Chand Foundation to help in popularising the garden. He informed that Rs 66 lakh had been sanctioned to the Society for Maintenance and Development of Rock Garden for carrying out various works in the Garden. “Estimates for construction of more toilets have also been approved,” he said, adding that more souvenirs on Rock Garden will be prepared and distributed free to visitors so that the garden gains popularity.
	HC reserves orders on Anandgarh issue Tribune News Service CHANDIGARH, March 2 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court yesterday reserved orders on a bunch of petitions for quashing the notification for building Anandgarh, a new township, adjacent to Chandigarh. The orders were reserved by Mr Justice J.L. Gupta and Mr. Justice N.K. Sud of the High Court, after hearing detailed arguments on-day-to-day basis. The High Court, it may be recalled, had earlier directed the maintenance of status-quo regarding the possession of the petitioners. Yesterday, arguing before the court, counsel for the Union of India stated that the fact regarding the non-feasibility of shifting the Air Force Station at Mullanpur Garibdas to any other site was explained to the Chief Administrator of Anandgarh Development Authority by the Air Force officials during a meeting held on April 5 last year. The Chief Administrator, the counsel added, had agreed not to insist on shifting the station due to operational requirements. Giving details, the counsel stated that the station had been established in the early 60s to protect Ambala, Chandigarh and Kasauli region, besides the Bhakra Dam, during an enemy attack. He added that as per a letter issued by the Government of India, no structure of any height could be constructed within 900 metres of any Air Force installation. Earlier, during the proceedings, Punjab Advocate General, Mr Hardev Singh Mattewal, denied the allegations of the land being purchased by VIPs. He added that the government could issue a notification under the Land Acquisition Act for setting up a town for public purpose. Anandgarh, he further added, was going to be a town with modern amenities. Otherwise also, he claimed, just nine out of 30,000 people had approached the court. In their petition, Mr Supinder Singh and others had earlier stated that certain “powerful bureaucrats and politicians, who had purchased land in villages had succeeded in persuading the Punjab Chief Minister to build Anandgarh, instead of Anandpur Sahib, at the same place where New Chandigarh was to be built”. The petitioners had also enclosed a list of “influential persons” having land in the villages covered under the Anandgarh scheme. Going into the background, they had stated that the same “influential persons” had earlier “hatched a scheme to construct a new city in the adjoining villages of Chandigarh”. The purpose behind the scheme, the petitioners had added, “was that the very land purchased at throwaway prices owned by the influential nexus, should be acquired at very high price and they should be able to make loads of money as profit out of the calculated scheme”.
	Soni murder case Illicit relations led to murder From Our Correspondent CHANDIGARH, March 2 — Illicit relations of Prem Lata, a Sector 32 resident who was clubbed to death on Monday last, with a medical practitioner, may be the cause of her murder, the local police have claimed while arresting Sukhdev Singh of Burail village. Sukhdev is a brother of the medical practitioner and was pained at seeing the family life of his brother being shattered due to Prem Lata, police added. He is employed as a daily wager with the local Water Works Department. Prem Lata was done to death while she was alone at her house. The cause of the murder claims the police, was the illicit relationship of the deceased with Gurdeep Singh, elder brother of Sukhdev Singh. It is learnt that because of the relationship, Sukhdev’s family was in turmoil and he decided to put a stop to all the troubles by eliminating Prem Lata. While talking to The Tribune Sukhdev showed no remorse. He added “Prem Lata used to allege that I was having an affair with Kanta Devi, wife of my elder brother. This irritated me no end”. According to Sukhdev Singh, “I used to treat Ms Kanta as my sister”. Police sources said that after the murder, Gurdeep Singh, was rounded up for investigation. “When the police rounded up my brother, I decided to confess my crime”, claimed Sukhdev Singh. He is a BA III dropout and was working in the Water Works Department on daily wages. On February 26, at around 10.45 a.m. Sukhdev Singh, reportedly with an intention to kill the woman, reached her house with an iron rod in his pocket. It is learnt that a scooter was standing at her residence, which was that of her son. Sukhdev then went to the market of Sector 32 and only returned to Prem Lata’s residence when he was sure that she was alone. It is learnt that Sukhdev used to visit the victim’s residence. When he was ushered into the house, he was offered a cup of tea. Both of them drank tea. At this moment, Sukhdev asked for a glass of water. Prem Lata went to the kitchen for water. Sukhdev Singh reportedly followed her and when she was about to turn back ‘struck her on her head with the rod which he was carrying in his pocket’. Sukhdev Singh said, “She fell on the ground but to make it sure that she had died, I gave three to four more blows”. Then the accused reportedly walked out of the house and threw the rod on a road behind Nirman Cinema. The rod was reportedly recovered later by the police. Sukhdev Singh was booked under Section 302 of Indian Penal Code and would be produced in a local court tomorrow.

Harassment of attendants at PGI
PGI should adopt AIIMS pattern
By Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 2 — Scene One — a patient is being operated upon in the PGI. Anxious relatives wait outside the operation theatre in attention. They never know when the doors of the operation theatre will open, and some doctor, nurse or one of the paramedics would ask them to get bottles of intravenous fluid, sutures, surgery tape or a different-sized catheter etc from the nearby chemist shop.

Scene Two — the patient has been shifted to one of the wards. The same horde of relatives wait near the bedside. Every now and then, one of the nurses scream at them for adding to the crowd in the ward. They disappear for a while only to reappear for their vigil again. Quite frequently doctors visiting the patient ask the attendants of the patient to get a particular test done or hand over a list of medicines.

These scenes are repeated daily at the PGI, one of the prestigious medical institutes of the country. A patient’s relative, after of running to a chemist’s shop half a dozen times in a day pointed out: ‘‘ I wish they had forewarned that an army of relatives, trained for the relay race, should accompany the patient.’’

Whenever a patient is admitted to the PGI, along with the registration, fee amount is deposited. Thereafter, every time a medical test is conducted, the prescribed fee has to be deposited. The medicines have to be procured as and when required.

Even senior doctors, on condition of anonymity, agree to the harassment faced by of the attendants of the admitted patients and sympathise with them. They lament that they have no choice but to keep asking the relatives for desired medicines or surgical equipment. Thanks to massive pilferage in the hospitals, operation theatres lack the basic surgical equipment like gloves, masks , sutures and at times even scissors and knives. “If in the middle of an operation, the nurse suddenly informs us that sutures are out of stock or a particular number of catheter is required, we have no choice but to ask the relatives. At least this ensures that we get what is required, and in time.’’

Doctors recommend that to cut down the hassles faced by the relatives, the PGI, too, should follow the package system followed by the AIIMS in Delhi. Following admission, patients have to deposit a certain amount of money, which takes care of his entire stay in the hospital, whether medical tests, operation or medicines. Whenever required, they are asked to deposit more money which is adjusted when the patient is discharged from the hospital.

The relatives do not have to keep running to deposit fees every time a test has to be conducted or medicine purchased. This also ensures that a patient gets a clear-cut idea of the total expenditure incurred during the entire stay in hospital.

Sources add that at a recent meeting senior professors recommended the proposal for a similar package deal for the PGI. If implemented this would also take care of the alleged doctor-chemist nexus, whereby certain doctors, at times, reportedly force patients to buy expensive medicines and equipment from a particular chemist shop, besides asking them to buy medicines and surgical equipment in excess.

Moreover, with the PGI procuring the medicines in bulk, the resultant discount can, in turn, benefit patients as well, as it is also alleged that despite the pharmaceutical companies giving heavy discount to the chemists shops, the benefit does not reach the patients at all.

COMMUNITY

‘Perseverance goes into making the best gardens’
Spring Fest begins today
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, March 2 — Hardwork and constant personal supervision went into the making of the best gardens in the city, adjudged by the three-member team for the 15th Spring Fest which begins at 10:30 am tomorrow.

Manicured lawns with flowers in various hues, shapes and sizes in the well-laid out flower beds greet visitors while the landscaping in all these requires special mention. One interest common to all is that gardening has been a hobby with each one and not only they themselves but the whole family has been involved in bringing improvements year after year.

Declared first in the category of gardens in two-kanal houses and above in Sector 6, Ms Amrita Hoon, the owner, says: “I have known the names of flowers since I was five years old. Though I stay in Mumbai, I come back only to attend to the flower beds after every two months.”

Planning her garden to the minutest detail each spring, she sent the entry in the name of her gardener, Bhagat Ram. “He takes care of the garden while I am away. I wanted him to get the credit for the labour he has put in and receive the prize in case we won. He has done a wonderful job and it must be appreciated,” she adds. The second prize went to Mr Algu Ram, a resident of Sector 6.

In the one kanal category, Mr Vikas Malik’s garden bagged the first prize. “Though I am busy with my transport business, I take time off to pamper my garden with the best flowers, chosen from the Rose Festival and the Spring Fest where a large variety is available,” he informs.

While he does most of the planting himself, the gardener is assigned the regular works of deweeding it and keeping the garden clean. “I plan well in advance what I want for the next season. After this I go garden-shopping and get the plants I require,” he adds while that of Mr BS Thakur, a resident of Sector 6, was declared second.

“I knew I would win the prize and the result only proved me right. This time I have added a terracotta temple, grown marigolds all around and put up some bells. Landscaping was another strong point. Actually, my one-and-a half hours work in the garden has borne fruit,” claims Dr Sanjay Kalra, a resident of Sector 7, in the category of gardens in 14 marlas. The second place went to Ms K Jain of Sector 16 and Mr S Jindal of Sector 10.

While nobody was given the first prize in the gardens in less than 14 marla category, Ms Madhu Jain’s garden in Sector 17, was adjudged second.

The results for Chandi Mandir are as follows: Gardens in two kanal houses: Lt Gen Surjit Singh (1), Station HQ (2); Gardens in one kanal houses: Brig Ram Pratap (1); Gardens in 14 marlas: Col KK Singh (1); Gardens in less than 14 marlas: Ms Rami Sarai (1), Nb Sub SP Singh (2).

A Goan feast for jaded palates
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, March 2 — While the Goan cooks are raring to go, their kitchen neatly settled at the premises of Red Bishop, Sector 1, before the Panjim Party actually rocks guests, innovations and modifications in dishes have already begun.

“It is a simple struggle between the salt water fish, which is not available as per requirement and the fresh water fish which we hardly use in our cooking. We are in a dilemma over this and amending original recipies has become a necessity to suit the availability,” claims Seby Valadares, accompanying the cooks from Goa.

While the team has come armed with most ingredients including their very own toddy, a vinegar prepared from fermented juice of the coconut trees, coconuts, too, seem hard to find in Chandigarh markets.

“We went shopping for all our requirements last night and were surprised to find that there were hardly any coconuts. We are used to using lots of coconut in our delicacies. Sans these, half the taste of a Goanese dish is lost. These we have managed to secure one way or another,” contends Meera Santiman, while she checks on the items lying before her.

Keeping the food habits of the residents in mind, the recipes have substituted mutton and chicken for beef and pork. “Though the taste of the dishes is bound to undergo a change, we can do very little in the matter. However, we are constantly thinking of how best we can preserve the taste while keeping the taste of the public in mind,” claims Noel Braganza, working his way through the mutton.

The chefs recommend xacuti and vindaloo as must-haves in the non-vegetarian category, the vegetarians can pamper themselves with Fugaad, a dish of mixed vegetables, cooked in coconut. An essential for any marriage party, it is all put together in a pumpkin and cooked all over again to arrive at the final dish.

“The making of our sweets also is a long and tedious process. What emerges from the hardwork is definitely worth the effort, the dodoal being the choicest of dishes. We have rolled up our sleeves and pulled up our socks, ready for action when the lights come on at the beach in the Panjim party,” they say in unison.

Meanwhile, the process of initial preparations has already been completed during the night and cooking takes place during the day. “We are going to follow the same pattern for as long as we are here. This leaves little scope for a mess up,” Noel Santiman explains.

The Goan food festival will continue till March 8 at Red Bishop, Sector 1.

Concession for SCO owners
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 2 — In a resident-friendly decision, the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) has decided that coverage in the open back courtyard of SCOs in SAS Nagar may be compounded by charging a fee of Rs 500 per sq.ft.

According to an official press release here today, the fee chargeable for unauthorised basements will be Rs 350 per sq ft. However, before compounding, the allottee will have to remove any other unauthorised construction. It was decided that, in future, in the case of any encroachment/violation of the building bylaws the junior engineer concerned will be held personally responsible.

The authority also granted, in principle, approval for the rehabilitation scheme for three villages, Kumbra, Lambian and Madanpura. These villagers will be offered alternative plots at the same site or a close-by one at concessional rates. The chairperson was authorised to settle, by mutual negotiation, the rate of concession.

The relevant committee also approved the recommendations of the Chief Administrator’s sub-committee regarding the allotment of sites for schools in various urban estates of Punjab. The case of M/s Kanha Super Speciality Hospital for the allotment of one acre of land in Ludhiana was also approved. The authority also decided to allot land to Gujarat Ambuja Cement Ltd for multi-storeyed rental housing for its employees at SAS Nagar.

With a view to facilitating the introduction of information technology in the organisation, it was decided to adopt the Punjab Government pattern for granting loans to PUDA employees to purchase personal computers.

The authority also approved a Rs 444 crore budget of PUDA for 2001-2002 and the annual audited accounts for 1999-2000, which marked a record profit of Rs 25.02 crore.

Bodies of 3 Army men airlifted from Kargil
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 2 — The mortal remains of three soldiers who were killed in an avalanche while deployed along the Line of Control in the Kargil sector were airlifted here today.

According to the Army authorities, the deceased are CHM Ranjot Singh from Ropar, Naik Gurmeet Singh from Kapurthala and Sepoy Manjit Singh from Amritsar. All three belong to 8 Sikh — the battalion famous for capturing Tiger Hill during the Kargil conflict.

Full military honours were given and wreaths laid before the bodies, accompanied by jawans from the regiment, were sent to the hometowns of the deceased. A ceremonial guard reversed arms, while buglers sounded the Last Post.