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| Monday,
January 28, 2002,
Chandigarh, India
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CHANGING PROFILE OF CHANDIGARH PROJECTED so far as City Beautiful, the focus of the Administration has now shifted towards presenting Chandigarh as the hub of information technology (IT)-related activities. It is the social infrastructure and environment, and good-quality human resource which led to the decision of focusing on IT, resulting in the framing of an IT policy two years ago, says the UT Administration, emphasising that the aim is to make the city an ideal IT destination. The year 2005 will see the city as a wired city with complete implementation of the e-governance project where residents will have easy
access to all information online and more multi-national companies
(MNCs) setting up their offices and a 104-acre IT Park near Kishangarh. The city has 45 IT companies registered with the Software Technology Park of India
(STPI) , and recorded exports worth Rs 50 crore last year. An investment of more than Rs 8 crore is being made annually towards IT-related activities by the UT Administration. While
companies like Reliance,
HFCL, Spectranet, Bharti and Power Grid have laid optic fibre cable (OFC) in 80 km of area, at least three new telecom companies are expected to start their services in near future. The Administration has earmarked 1 per cent of its annual budget towards IT applications. More than 65 per cent of the IT budget will be spent towards hardware and peripherals. While almost 2,000 computers have already been purchased for the purpose , to increase efficiency all departments have been already computerised. Residents can access information relating to the Administration on the website
www.chandigarh.nic.in. Computersised application forms for ration cards, domestic servant registration, driving licences etc can be obtained online. The Administration is currently in the process of inter-connecting with the DC office and the Municipal Corporation office. The future plan to facilitate easy access to information is to open kiosks where residents can get all information easily. We may as well engage private franchisees for the purpose, said a UT official. The IT policy envisages that all
educational institutions have computer laboratories and access to the Internet. An IT college and a digital library are also on the cards. The computer education project in government schools has already been started. An IT park project at Kishangath has been launched with the aim to attract major national and international companies to come to the city. While outer infrastructure like roads etc is already being developed, the companies for the park are yet to be finalised. The IT park will be spread in 104 acres near Kishangarh village. It will have a 66 KV power station, assured captive water supply, centralised security and facilities like ATMs, public transport hub, telephone exchange etc. “With the coming up of the IT park, we will see major companies setting up their centres in the city. Even telecom majors from abroad have contacted us for setting up of their data base centres in the IT Park”, said Mr Vivek
Atrey, DPR, UT Administration. The change in the IT scenario of the city has also witnessed growing number of IT training centres and call centres by local as well as multi-national
companies (MNCs). This is creating its impact not only on the economic scenario but also the social
environment with more youngsters from other cities coming here for education. |
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Tension
over opening of liquor vends
SAS Nagar, January 27 The issue attracted attention of the political parties as the demand for liquor has gone up with election scene hotting up in Punjab. The trouble started when members of the public called up the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Mr Jaipal Singh, about the liquor vends doing business on Republic Day. Inquires reveal that after officials of the administration failed to contact the officials of the Excise Department and the police authorities — who are supposed to act against the owners of the vends — a Naib Tehsildar went with his staff to the spot and sealed at least six liquor vends and rounded up the employees of the liquor contractors. The employees were brought to the office of the SDM. The liquor contractors reportedly approached senior officials of the district administration and the Police Department. Though the SDM, Mr Jaipal Singh, was not forthcoming about the incident, sources in the administration said “directions” were given to not act against the liquor contractors and release their employees. Meanwhile, the liquor contractors reached the SDM’s office and challenged the powers of the officials to detain their staff. A liquor contractor said , “ If anything was found wrong, the administration should have handed our employees to the police. They had no powers to detain our men in the SDM’s office”. The liquor contractors raised slogans against the administration. The liquor contractors insisted on getting an FIR registered against the Naib Tehsildar but the tension was defused this morning when both parties reportedly reached some compromise. No official of the Excise Department was available for comments. The Deputy Commissioner, Ropar, Mr GS Grewal, when asked about the action taken by the administration, said it was the duty of the Excise Department and the police to check the liquor vends on a dry day, and if both failed, the SDM had the powers to direct the both to act. He said that as he did not know exactly what had happened, he was inquiring about the matter. The Excise Department is reported to have issued challans against the erring liquor vends.  |
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Diplomas
in professional courses likely Chandigarh, January 27 A decision in this regard has been taken by a high-level committee comprising Prof Mohan Maharishi, Dean University Instructions, college principals Mr Tarsem Bahia, Prof Ramesh Kapoor, Mr A.C. Vaid, and Mr P.S. Sangha and the Joint Controller of Examination, Mr Ashok Raj Bhandari. These vocational courses include diplomas in dress designing, nutrition dietetics, clinical nutrition, pre-school education, housekeeping and reception, rural development science and office organisation and procedures. The diplomas will be for campus students only. However, colleges will be required to apply to the university, giving options for courses these would like to offer. Some colleges were already offering postgraduate diploma in computer applications and the university authorities decided that the other courses should also be introduced in colleges. The university will send inspection teams to applicant colleges to examine the facilities there before giving permission for introducing the courses. Though some diplomas were meant to be introduced on the campus only, the regulations did not bar colleges from introducing these. These included diplomas in chemical analysis of foods, management of public enterprises, forensic science and criminology, chemical laboratory techniques, population education, international trade, maintenance and services of electrical and electronic goods, marketing management, personnel management and labour welfare, refrigeration and air-conditioning, besides others. |
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Bricks come down on car Chandigarh, January 27 “The bricks came down at about 6 pm today on the car parked below,” Mr Narinder Singh, resident of 3121-A, said. The house has been alloted to Mr Ajit Singh Litt, a superintendent in the office of the Director Public Instruction of Punjab. Mr Singh said residents feared there could be casualties if bricks fell on unsuspecting sunbathing residents of these houses. Residents showed how cement binding bricks could be scratched off by hand, showing the poor quality of cement-sand mix. They said it was not the first such incident here and these things had happened before in houses 3129, 3043, 3041 and 3042. They are afraid whether the houses would be able to bear an earthquake or not. The construction of these houses began in early 1980s and these were allotted in 1984. Building material is not the only problem. Residents have been living in fear of getting electrocuted, as the houses are receiving DC power supply. Inquiries into the reports of substandard building material have been conducted, but to no avail, residents say. Officials concerned have a stock response that they do not have funds for repairs, they allege. |
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Sodhi Ram injured in accident Chandigarh, January 27 Dr Sodhi Ram has suffered injuries in his ribs and is currently lodged in the intensive care unit. Reliable sources in the PGI said that he would be under observation for 48 hours. Dr Sodhi Ram, along with his sister-in-law, was travelling back to the city following the marriage of his son when the accident occurred. His sister-in-law, Gyan Kaur, who had travelled down from the UK for the marriage, was seated in the front seat when the accident occurred. Dr Sodhi Ram was rushed to a local hospital, near Balachaur, before being referred to the PGI, family sources said. |
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CHANDIGARH CALLING WHEN two retired Generals of the Indian Army meet at a social function it becomes an occasion for pleasantries, compliments on clothes, everything but Fauji talk. And when the two happen to be among the most recognised and photographed Generals, it means more. It was no different when the Governor of Punjab, Lieut Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd) and former Chief of Army Staff General V.P. Malik (retd) met at the “ at home” function on Republic Day at the Punjab Raj Bhavan. Gen Malik, who now lives in the neighbouring township of Panchkula, was accompanied by his wife Ranjana. For the Maliks it was probably the first social engagement in the city since they preferred to make sleepy Panchkula their abode. The Governor wearing a black bandgala with his bravery medals proudly in place met Gen Malik, also wearing a grey coloured bandgala. As the two got together photographers trained their lenses to capture the lighter side of the two men. The Governor complimented Gen Malik on the bright red coloured silk handkerchief sticking out of the top left pocket of the bandgala. The former army chief smiled and the two shared a brief session. General Malik also met retired and serving defence personnel.
Passion for flowers has made an identity for her and even brought a name for her house, Gulfam. It is a great achievement for Mrs Kanta Ahuja, a resident of Panchkula who has reared different varieties of flowers and a creeper
(bel) over her three storeyed house in Sector 8. The flower plants have been grown in small pockets on the first and the second floors while vases of colourful blooming flowers have been placed at the rooftop. Mrs Ahuja claims that she devotes nearly five hours every day to the flowers. She has not taken any coaching but admits that an experience of over six to seven years has yielded the results.
‘‘I sow seasonal flowers and tend them as my kids till the plants bear flowers’’, she added. Decked with colourful flowers the house has become a point of attraction for the Panchkula residents. Because of the quality and fragrance of the flowers the inhabitants of this area know the house as gulfam.
All praise for boys Ms Neeru Nanda was quite smitten with the performance of boys during the cultural programme on the eve of the Republic Day. So when she gave her customary speech at the end of the function she did not mince words in praising the boys of government schools who, she said, "danced with an amazing energy." She was so overwhelmed by their talent that she addressed the UT Director, Public Relations, Mr Vivek Atray, telling him to arrange a function which will feature dance performances by boys exclusively. However, to appease the girls she said, "If the girls insist too much, we will reserve an item or two for them also," News has it that the UT Administration is planning to hold a series of dance recitals by renowned male dance exponents of various Indian classical dance forms. As the Adviser herself said, "We must not forget that gurus of major dance traditions have been males."
Flags are in The recent directions of the Supreme Court allowing residents of the country to put up the National Flag outside their homes, offices or even in a
miniaturised form on working tables saw city residents virtually making a beeline to buy the flag. Khadi ashrams reported unprecedented sales. Little children accompanied by their parents were the most excited. With some confusion prevailing about the hoisting of the flag and its code, sales persons were forced to become advisers as purchasers pestered them with questions. The flag most in demand was the small 9 by 6 inches ones. Costing Rs 46 it may have been a dream for many to keep the flag on their tables. Residents called up The Tribune to ask if the flag could be displayed on cars. The SSP said no till a clarification is sought on the issue if non-constitutional authorities can display the flag on cars. Meanwhile, a few foreign visitors turned up to watch the celebrations of the Republic Day at the Parade grounds. The Adviser to the UT Administrator, Ms Neeru Nanda, unfurled the National Flag. A colourful presentation by school children was impressive.
The elusive Aroona Aroona Irani seems to have quite a following in the city. On hearing about her possible visit to the city on January 24, many of her fans awaited upon her in the lobby of a local hotel. She was supposed to accompany film director Kuku Kohli and his unit of
Ye dil Aashiqana which included its cast Karan Nath and Jividha. Finally, however, while Preeti Sapru, Tej Sapru and Gurdas Mann turned up, Aroona Irani did not. Those waiting for the actress were quite disappointed. One man was overheard saying: "She may be busy shooting for another small screen soap. May be we have better luck next time." These days Aroona is concentrating on small screen and is acting in two serials
(Desh Mein Nikla Hoga Chand and Mehndi Tere Naam Ki) being produced by Kuku Kohli.
Fall guys The Haryana Government's reported recommendation to the Union Home Ministry to retire two IAS officers on attaining the age of 50 has sent shivers down the spine of the entire bureaucracy in the State. The two IAS officers are Mr S.K. Nanda and Mr
M. P. Bidlan. While the former belongs to the 1976 batch, the latter is of the 1987 batch. Informed sources reveal that their retirement has been recommended on the basis of their past service record. They were allegedly chargesheeted and were found guilty of the allegations levelled against them. Mr Bidlan is a former Deputy Commissioner of Sirsa and had allegedly fled from the spot when the fire broke out and a large number of children and their parents had sustained burn injuries in the Dabwali fire tragedy. Sitting in groups bureaucrats describe the move of the government as unfortunate. "This is a bad trend. Governments may follow this precedent and recommend the retirement of all those bureaucrats who are found inconvenient to them", remarked one of them. It is pointed out that certain officers who are considered close to the present regime may meet the same fate. One of the IAS officers, now holding a coveted post, also faced serious allegations during the Bhajan Lal regime. A few FIRs were registered against him. That all the cases were dropped and the officer was reinstated in service after a long time on the intervention of a powerful politician is a different matter.
Humbled During a promotional visit to the city recently, Shail Oswal, a rather fresh singer, had a somewhat tough time. After he had finished addressing the press in Chandigarh Press Club on January 16, some of the “adventurous” ones among the scribes decided to test the singer’s mettle. So they asked him to sing the title track of his latest album, which he was so fondly promoting. While most singers in the past have been eluding such situations on account that the normal mikes don’t have amplifiers to do justice with the high-pitched songs, Shail decided to take on the challenge. To his embarrassment, the mike could not amplify his voice when its range increased and the sound that reached the audience was too shrill to be applauded. Humbled, the singer submitted gracefully: “That is actually how it goes!”
Visitors to the Sector 34 shopping centre where important offices of the Punjab Government, Income Tax Department, the Regional Passport office, among others are located can heave a sigh of relief as a brand new parking area has been developed. New areas have been added and an old one lying in a state disrepair has been spruced up. Now there is no need to park on the roadside and go for work with fear of traffic cops in mind. Several times motorists faced a classic catch- 22 situation. There was no space to park and if one parked on the roadside cops towed away the vehicle resulting in a Rs 100 fine besides the waste of time. Now no one needs to park on the roadside, as adequate parking exists. In the past one decade various organisations and traders have requested for adequate parking, however, nothing moved in the bureaucrat-heavy Chandigarh Administration. A few months ago the Chandigarh Housing Board was entrusted with the task. A top official of a Sector 34 based company said with offices like the Punjab circle headquarters of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and the passport office also being here the number of visitors is very high. Thus more parking space should be added. Adding to the rush is a cinema and numerous commercial organisations which have their offices here.
A hearty laugh! Punjabi comedian Bhagwant Mann surely has a way with words. That explains why he was able to throw the audience into splits on the occasion of the annual award ceremony of Punjab Sangeet Natak Akademi on January 17, wherein he was also awarded. Right from the moment he took over the mike he threw people into fits of laughter. In fact, he began his presentation with a rather smart phrase:
Mere man-na hai ki je kise nu jehar vi dena hove taan gud vich milake ditta jave. His comparison of the election aspirant with the lion king was highly applauded by the audience. And one could see even the Punjab Governor (who is not known to laugh too much in public) having a hearty laugh, along with other officers, including Mr
R. T Jindal, Director, North Zone Cultural Centre. The interesting part of the show was that out of the four awarded personalities, namely Sardar Gursharan Singh, Gurmeet Bawa and Baba Pokhar, it was Bhagwant Mann who drew the maximum applause every time he ascended upon the stage. He was the youngest among them all! |
Jacob assures job to Major Mahal’s widow Chandigarh, January 27 Capt Vijay Pal Singh Mahal and Miss Jaspreet Singh, younger brother and sister of Major Mahal, received the Governor at their residence in Sector 33. The Governor condoled the death to Colonel O.S. Mahal (retd.) and Ms Jagjeevan Kaur, father and mother of Late Major Mahal. He said Major Mahal was a fine officer who had been snatched by the destiny. Condoling the sad demise of the officer to his young widow, Ms Navjot Kaur, who was holding her nine-month-old baby Guneet in her lap, the Administrator said the Administration would do its best to help the family. He said the sacrifice of Major Mahal would not be forgotten. On being told that Navjot was B.A., B.Ed and was teaching in Bathinda for quite some time, General Jacob assured that he would ensure a suitable job for her in the Chandigarh Education Department so that she could look after her family properly. Col O.S. Mahal (retd) informed the Governor that cremation of Major Mahal would take place on Tuesday. Major Mahal, originally from 33 Medium Regiment and a product of the National Defence Academy, joined the Army in the Artillery Corps in June, 1989. Later, in 1994, he opted for the Army Aviation
Corps. The valiant officer was a recipient of the prestigious ‘Silver Gunner’ award for bagging the first prize in the Young Officers Artillery course and the ‘Silver Cheetah’ award for the best pilot, while in service. He served in
Jammu and Kashmir as well. Major Mahal’s younger brother, Captain V.P. Singh, is posted in Assam. |
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Hit by car, blue bull sustains injuries Chandigarh, January 27 The animal sustained injuries below the neck area as also on both the legs. Such was the momentum of collision that mirrors of the car were reportedly broken. Villagers, who gathered all around after hearing the sound of collision informed that the car driver did not care to stop. People on the spot also said that a police gypsy visited the spot after some time. Till about an hour and a half the animal kept standing on the spot before it was finally shifted to the Sector 25 Veterinary Hospital where it is under medication still. UT Chief Wildlife Warden Ishwar Singh said that the animal had come from the Daria reserve forest area. Meanwhile, the Chief Wildlife Warden added that the injuries were not major and the animal was recovering. Those who witnessed the accident said that the blue bull kept crying in pain for a fairly long time before help came. |
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YOUNG VOICE HIS conception of art is not limited to a few good strokes of the paintbrush. Suresh Pushpakar is an artist who believes in the diversity of art. After completing BFA from the Government College of Art, Chandigarh, Suresh used his artistic pursuits to excel in many related fields. He has to his credit the first-ever beauty contest in the region, “Miss Chandigarh 86”. Suresh gets immense satisfaction from acting in plays. His serial was telecast on DD in 1991 and he was the art director for TV programmes like “Jhankaar” and “Sadraan”. Suresh was a member of the design committee for the Malaysian Carnival, which was held in Penang City, Malaysia, in 1992. He is the driving force of several social organisations of Chandigarh engaged in the uplift of the downtrodden. He has also lent support to NGOs active in the promotion of art, culture and theatre. “To crystallise my creations in any form of art, I draw inspiration from mother nature and the sufferings of humanity,” he says.
TNS |
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Rinwa's
meet-the-Press programme Chandigarh, January 27 |
Labourers kill factory driver Dera Bassi, January 27 Tension started when some members of the group reportedly started arguing with each other after taking drinks on the factory premises. Under the influence of liquor, two labourers Triloki and Prabhu Yadav, hailing from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar respectively, lost their temper and stabbed Raghubir Singh at chest, abdomen and thigh. He died on the spot due excessive bleeding. A factory guard Sukhdev Singh noticed the body lying in the pool of blood in the morning and informed Mr L.S. Verma and Mr Hitesh Gupta, owners of the factory. The police was informed about the incident at about 8 am. Mr Jatinder Singh Khaira, DSP, said five persons, Raja Gupta, Anil Kumar Gupta and Triloki Gupta from Uttar Pradesh, Arjun Singh from Nepal, and Prabhu Yadav from Bihar, were involved in the crime and had been arrested. A case under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code has been registered against them at the Dera Bassi police station. |
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