Chandigarh, August 15
Distribution of uniform allowance to the PGI class IV employees today resulted in a major showdown with many employees alleging discrepancies in their accounts settlement and handing over the arrears accumulated from 1997 to 1999.

Employees alleged that a formal agreement had been drawn between the PGI authorities and employees union, where it was decided to deposit these arrears directly into the bank accounts of the employees. Now by distributing the arrears in cash they had suggested misappropriation.

It was learnt that representatives of the employees union had also approached the PGI Vigilance Department to conduct an inquiry into this complaint.

Meanwhile, sources confirmed the incident but refused that Vigilance Department had received any formal complaint over the incident. “ This was an internal matter of the Medical Superintendent’s (MS) office and distribution should not have been conducted without a controlling officer,” they, however, added.

Chandigarh, August 15
Yadavindra Public school, SAS Nagar and Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, won their respective matches on the third day of the Fanta Fiesta basketball tournament played here at Sports Complex, Sector 7. YPS outplayed Guru Harkishan Public school, Sector 38 by 36-22 with the half-time score of 20-14, while SPS, Sector 41, defeated St Stephen’s School, Sector 45, by 56-24 with the half-time score of 29-14.

Chandigarh, August 15
The Acting Mayor, Mr Gurcharan Dass Kala, unfurled the National Flag at the Municipal Corporation office building in Sector 17 and congratulated the city residents on the 55th Independence Day here today.

Speaking on the occasion, he wished the residents a bright and prosperous future. Mr Kala emphasised that no development work was possible in the city without the cooperation of officials, councillors and the public.

While expressing satisfaction at the working of the MC he said he was grateful to everyone for extending cooperation..

Later, Mr Kala also took a salute at an impressive parade by the employees of the fire wing of the civic body. In his address, he highlighted the activities of the MC in various fields during the last one year and pointed out that all major civic works pertaining to water, electricity, roads, sanitation, fire and horticulture were with the MC. Even with its limited resources, it had tried to make rapid progress in various fields.

Giving details, Mr Kala revealed that of the total 120 km of V-6 roads in the city, the MC had completed the recarpeting of 90 km and the remaining 30 km would also be completed by the end of the fiscal year. While the internal roads of Indira Colony, Bapu Dham, Mauli Jagran colony and main bazar in Mani Majra were strengthened, the maintenance work on the roads dividing the V-3 road between Sectors 31 and 32 and Sectors 46 and 47 was also completed. The work on the internal roads of Butrela, Badheri, Ottawa and Burail village would also be completed during the year. A sum of Rs 10 crore had been allocated in the year’s budget for the repair and maintenance of the roads.

He further said community centres in Sectors 8, 15, 37, 38 and 46 had been spruced up for public use and six others, which were completed out of the MP fund, had also been opened to the public. He also highlighted the budget allocation under various heads for improving the water supply in the city.

He also talked about the efforts by the civic body in improving the functioning of street lights and the provision of garden lights in the green belts of Sectors 8, 29, 30, 33 and 35.

A special emphasis is being laid on improving the sanitation of the city and the violators are being challaned. While drives are on to catch stray animals, their owners are also made to pay fines. Two new fire stations are coming up in Sectors 26 and Mani Majra. Besides, three new water tenders and one multipurpose emergency tender has also been procured for the department. He also talked about the projects undertaken by the MC under the Central Government’s Swaran Jayanti Shahiri Rozgar Yojana, particularly the vaccination camps at villages and colonies of the city. The work towards removing encroachments from various parts of the city was also lauded.

He also expressed his gratitude to the administration for its cooperation and hoped that it would continue in future.

Among those present at the function were Deputy Mayor, Mr Mohinder Singh; BJP councillors Mr Des Raj Tandon, Mr Gian Chand Gupta, Mrs Shanta Hit Abhilashi, Mr O.P Goyal and Air Marshal R.S Bedi (retd), SAD councillor Mrs Harjinder Kaur. However, none of the Congress councillors was present at the function. Besides the councillors, MC officials and other employees, including the Commissioner, Mr M.P. Singh, Assistant Commissioner-I, Mr Ashok Vashishtha, Assistant Commissioner-II, Mr Ashwani Kumar and Chief Engineer, Mr Manmohanjit Singh were present. Jain unfurls flag: Mr Satya Pal Jain, former MP, unfurled the national flag at the Modern Housing Complex, Mani Majra and Labour Colony, Palsora.

Terming the proxy war waged by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir as a crime against humanity, Mr Jain said the whole nation was behind the Central Government in thwarting the evil designs of Pakistan.

Mahila Congress function: The wife of the local MP, Ms Madhu Bansal, unfurled the National Flag at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Colony and Sector 30, at the functions organised by the Chandigarh Territorial Mahila Congress (CTMC). The CTMC chief, Ms Lalit Joshi Bhardwaj, unfurled the flag in Sector 32.

Welfare society function: Sacrifices made by the martyrs were remembered by the Residential Welfare Society, Sector 45-D. Mr Nirmal Dutt, chairman of the CHB Residents Federation, unfurled the national flag on the occasion.

A cultural programme by children was another highlight of the function.

School function: At a function in Government Model Middle School, Sector 39, Mr Bahadur Singh, unfurled the flag. A saplings plantation drive was also launched in the school, where 50 saplings were planed. Bangiya function: The president of the Bangiya Sanskritik Sammilani, Dr S.R. De hoisted the National Flag. It was followed by patriotic songs by children.